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At least eleven Taliban insurgents AT Monitoring Desk were killed in an airstrike in east- ISIS releases new ern Nangarhar province of Afghan- KABUL: The annual “Heart of istan, local officials said Tuesday. Asia’ summit aimed at shoring up video calling The airstrike was carried out support for peace and security by coalition forces in Khogyani development kicked off in Islam- Afghan Taliban a district of Nangarhar, provincial abad the capital city of Pakistan deviant group police spokesman Hazrat Hussain where Afghan and Pakistani offi- Mashriqwal said, adding that the cials reaffirmed their desire for The loyalists of the Islamic State air raid did not incur any casual- durable peace in the region as well of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist in Afghanistan have released a new ties to the local residents. The Tal- as in the world. iban militants group has not com- Tawab Ghorzang, spokesman video taking aim at the Afghan Tal- iban and calling it a deviant group. mented regarding the loss of their of the office of National Security The latest video by ISIS loy- KABUL: The power utility chief power metres could be another rea- fighters so far. Council tweeted that President alists in Afghanistan comes amid on Wednesday said a list of elec- son for load shedding,” he said. Nangarhar is among the rela- Ashraf Ghani and his national se- growing power struggle among the tricity bill defaulters has been sent Samadi said his department tively volatile provinces in east- curity advisor Hanif Atmar are vis- Taliban leadership with reports to the government and attorney had sent the list defaulters to the ern Afghanistan where anti-gov- iting Pakistan today to attend the suggesting the Taliban group lead- offices for action against them. Cabinet and prosecutor’s offices ernment armed militants are active- Heart of Asia Istanbul Process er Mullah Akhtar Mansoor has Da Afghanistan Bareshna Shir- and another list of individuals ly operating in a number of its dis- 2015, regional conference in Islam- sustained injuries or even has died kat head Abdul Razaq Samadi told stealing power was being prepared. due to his wounds following an tricts, including the restive Kho- abad. infighting in Pakistan. the upper house of parliament or He asked consumers not to use gyani. Extremists loyal to the new- Hekmat Khali Karzai, Depu- A man appears in the video and Meshrano Jirga that currently heaters which led to power cuts, ly emerged Islamic State of Iraq ty Foreign Minister and Sartaj Asghabat is holding TAPI identifies himself as Abu Yasir Al- there was 40 percent load-shed- saying without their cooperation, and Syria (ISIS) are also actively Aziz, Nawaz Sharif’s Advisor on Afghani, accusing the Taliban ding in Kabul and 22 percent in the issue could not be addressed. operating in a number of Nangar- Foreign Affairs on the summit groundbreaking ceremony group of working with Pakistan’s provinces. “We maintain a low level of har districts where periodic terror- called for an urgent, united re- military intelligence – Inter Servic- “The load shedding is only for load shedding for security organs, ist related activities are reported sponse to the menace of militancy AT Monitoring Desk es Intelligence (ISI). three months a year and the pow- heath centres and industrial parks along with clashes between ISIS threatening the region and the er is provided for 24 hours during and no government official is pro- affiliates and Taliban militants. world. KABUL: Pakistani media report- dia’s Gail Ltd, including Turkmen- the remaining nine months.” vided 24 hours electricity,” he said ed on Tuesday that groundbreak- istan’s Turkmengas, are holding Taliban storm This comes as at least fifteen Addressing senior officials He said load shedding could be of his department policy on pow- civilians and seven policemen sus- ing ceremony of much-awaited equal share in the TAPI Pipeline reduced if consumers stopped us- er distribution. Meshrano Jirga’s ahead of the opening of the Heart Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Paki- Company Limited (TPCL). tained injuries in an explosion in of Asia Conference, Khalil Karzai Kandahar ing heaters, adding that power con- first deputy chairman Mohammad Surkh Rud district of Nangarhar stan-India (TAPI) project will be- Saulat went on saying that In- sumption doubled in winters, Alam Ezedyar, who presided over said the emergence of terrorist gin from December 13 in Asghabat dia and Pakistan will get over 1.3 province earlier on Monday morn- group, Islamic State, also known airport prompting DABS to suspend today’s session, said the DABS ing. The incident took place after a the capital city of Turkmenistan. billion cubic feet per day of gas power to some areas in Kabul to chief’s remarks could not convince as Daesh in various parts of the TAPI project will commence from TAPI while Afghanistan will KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): suicide bomber detonated a truck region and the world is a serious Taliban fighters on Monday do justice with all parts of the city. lawmakers. He tasked the house packed with explosives near the next week, some 25 years after the get 0.5 billion cubic feet. More- “In addition to the use of heat- complaints commission with as- threat and concerted efforts are inception of the project, Pakistani over he added that India will pay evening forced into the Kandahar district administrative compound. needed to curb the new yet the International Airport and started ing systems, some people use un- sessing the issue of equal distribu- newspaper Dawn while quoting $200-250 million in transit fees to authorised electricity and faulty tion of power and load shedding. deadliest threat. managing director of Pakistan In- Pakistan and Pakistan will pay the clash with security personnel, but He added that a peaceful and there is no report regarding casual- terstate Gas Systems Private Ltd, same amount as transit fees to Af- ties. stable Afghanistan is in the best Mobin Saulat, as saying. ghanistan. This is worth mention- interest of the region. He also as- A group of Taliban opened fire TAPI is a $10 billion gas pipe- ing that the TAPI project will en- on security personnel at the en- sured that Afghanistan is deter- line project; leaders from Afghani- sure regional economic develop- mined to continue fight against ter- trance of the airport at around stan, India and Pakistan will at- ment and also it is taken as a per- 6pm, paved the way to enter into rorism in all its forms and mani- tend groundbreaking ceremony in fect example of energy integration a building in the airport from where festation. Ashgabat. in the region. When the region is they started firefight with securi- “Afghanistan is looking for- Dialogue to import gas for en- embroiled in tensions, and Afghan- ty personnel, the governor’s ward to have strong relations with ergy-starved Pakistan was initiat- istan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan and spokesman, Samim Khpalwak, AT News Report regional countries in a bid to bol- ed with Turkmenistan in 1990, India are looking to step forward, told Pajhwok Afghan News. ster up economic relations and also Saulat said. However, he added that TAPI is highly a beneficial project, There might be two or three KABUL: At least 54 Taliban fight- to address the challenges,” Khalil work on the pipeline will finally which will not only bring these attackers in the building, he said. ers have been killed in infighting in said. start next week. countries closer in terms of eco- Meanwhile, a Taliban spokesman, western Herat province, said a lo- Aziz termed the conference as Afghan Gas Enterprise, Paki- nomic interests, but it will eventu- Zabihullah Mujahid, asserted re- cal official. an effective platform to engage in stan’s Interstate Gas System, In- ally improve their political ties. sponsibly for the attack. Pajhwok Ehsanullah Hayat, spokesman result-oriented discussions on pro- for the provincial governor office, moting peace and stability in Af- US hails Ghani’s told Afghanistan Times that some ghanistan. MoCI vows to increase participation in 54 militants have been killed in He added that “Heart of Asia” Attack on political analyst foiled fighting between two rival groups summit, which was formed in 2011 regional export of Afghan carpets of the Taliban insurgents in Shin- had made breakthrough in promo- “Renowned political analyst, Jawed Kohistani, said Monday night that unknown AT News Report dand district of Herat province. He tion of durable peace and stability conference gunmen tried to assault his house, however, residents’ timely reactions, foiled said that the fighting between the in the war-hit nations. WASHINGTON: The United the attack” KABUL: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry militants started the other day Indian Foreign Minister, Sus- States on Monday expressed plea- (MoCI) vowed to pave the ground for development morning. “More than 40 other hma Swaraj is also visiting Islama- sure at the high-level participation AT News Report tigation of the team, a border policeman and a Ko- of carpet weaving. rebels haven wounded during the bad to attend the summit. from Afghanistan and India in the hestani’s neighbor, opened firing in the air when he The Minister of Commerce and Industry, Ham- clashes,” Hayat added. Foreign Ministers of China, KABUL: Unidentified gunmen at- thought some gunmen were trying to attack Kohistani’s ayun Rasa, said that he has devised special plans for Heart of Asia Conference in Islam- tempted to storm residence of a house. Recently unknown gunmen shot Ahmad Sye- He said that clashes are still Iran, and India including Afghani- abad. “We are pleased that Paki- development of carpet weaving industry in Afghan- ongoing in the district. well known political analyst Jawed di in the head but he survived the attack. istan. However, he said that the ministry will focus stan and Pakistan for the first time stan is hosting the Heart of Asia Kohistani on Monday night. Abdul Rauf Ahmadi confirmed will come under one roof to attend Summit. We are also encouraged Kohistani said that gunmen on increasing export of carpets to foreign countries. the infighting and said that the mil- the summit. that President Ghani, Indian Min- fled the area, when they were spot- According to the ministry, Afghanistan has ex- itants from both sides were using The United States of America ister of External Affairs Swaraj, and ted by local residents. ported around 850,000 square meters of carpets, AK 47, PK machine gun and RPG expressed satisfaction over partic- other senior officials will be attend- The Ministry of Interior in a worth of $90 million, to the international markets rockets. ipation of the high level dignitaries ing,” a State Department spokes- statement said that Kabul police last year. Export of carpets has dropped as compar- According to reports, the mil- from Afghanistan and India in the and National Directorate of Secu- ing to the past years. man said. The spokesman called rity (NDS) sent a team to the area itant groups belonged to the main summit. the meeting an opportunity for the To increase export of carpets, the MoCI has faction of the Taliban under the to investigate the incident. recently signed a contract with Turkish Airlines. Antony Blinken, Special Rep- US and all participating countries “The team could not find any leadership of Mullah Akhtar Mu- resentative for Afghanistan and to discuss their shared commit- evidence regarding presence of un- Based on the contract, Turkish Airlines will trans- hammad Mansoor and the splin- Pakistan along with other US offi- ment to a stable, peaceful and pros- identified gunmen in the area,” the port Afghanistan made carpets to 209 areas in a ter group led by Mullah Abdul cials is also attending the summit. perous Afghanistan. statement added. Based on inves- short time and with a reasonable price. Rasoul.

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72.60 71.10 This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 09, 2015 AFGHANISTAN TIMES Afghans battle Islamic State to

stalemate in east The barracks at the Afghan Nation- his U.S. trainers after completing station and told the police that he if you don’t stop I will record this base, serving them tea. Separated al Army (ANA) base in Jalalabad, his specialist training as a logistics knew the assassins – all people liv- conversation and indict you!” In from his extended family, it is an NANGARHAR PROVINCE — get, Sangin said. As the foreign the capital city of Nangahar prov- operator. ing in or around his village. Namat, his rage Mumtaz replied: “I am isolated existence. It’s slow going in the fight to dis- choppers lifted off, they were at- ince in eastern Afghanistan are half The Afghan soldier served Zahir Shah, and Ahmad Shah were already recording all of this,” pull- While talking to The Diplo- lodge Islamic State insurgents from tacked and fired back. Besides that, deserted. In the early morning along with other young men from arrested. Nonetheless, after ten ing his cellphone out of his pock- mat, Mumtaz pulls out a faded the mountainous area along the the general said, there had been no hours only a handful of soldiers his home – Mormandara district days all charges were dropped, and et. The judge abruptly stopped the photograph. It shows Mumtaz and Pakistan border, where Afghan other international strikes. can be seen walking down the in southeastern Nangahar – and as they were released. conversation and threw him out. his brothers during happier times soldiers are struggling against a new Police say most of the villag- base’s main road, which is flanked the years went on and they re- “The judge was either too Since then, Mumtaz has not a few years ago. It is the only pic- enemy they say is often better ers who could flee already have. by green trees and decrepit U.S. turned home on leave, they would afraid to condemn them or he was been back in his district. With the ture he has of all of them together. equipped and more motivated than Those who remain endure the B-Huts made of plywood – the proudly tell people in their villag- in the Taliban’s pocket all along,” Taliban slowly encroaching, even They look proud and determined. the Taliban. pounding by the Afghan army of military installation used to be es that Mumtaz is a good soldier Fighters for Islamic State — the surrounding hillsides and oc- American before it was handed and a favorite of his Afghan and which is also known as ISIS or casional heavy artillery fire from over to the Afghans in 2012. American superiors. Daesh — staged their first attack 122 mm howitzers and recoilless The soldiers of the base, mem- The Taliban, which have a on security forces in September, rifles. bers of the 4th Brigade of the 201st heavy presence in the district, soon killing and reportedly beheading On one clear day in early De- ”Selab” Corps of the ANA, have learned of the young ANA soldier. several police officers. The action cember, each exploding shell was been deployed in fighting Taliban They were already suspicious of struck fear in the local population followed by a rolling echo, like a and Islamic State militants in the his family: An older brother had districts of Achin, Dehbala, and joined the Afghan Border Police in Kot in the south of the province Torkham, the busiest border cross- for the past two months. One sol- ing between Afghanistan and Pa- dier of the 4th Brigade, 25-year old kistan and a gateway to the Khy- Mumtaz Momand, however, is ber Pass. not one of them. He has been con- At first they confronted him fined to the base for the past eight only verbally when he was on leave months. in his village. “I told them that I The reason? The Taliban killed support the government and that two of his brothers, and, now, with all Afghans should do so. They his monthly army salary of 14,000 threatened me that if I didn’t change Afghani (around $210) Mumtaz my ways and abandon the foreign- is the sole breadwinner for a fami- ers, there would be consequences. ly of 25. “My superior told the I brushed them off, however.” Kandak (battalion) commander Mumtaz married and his wife that I should not be put into the moved with him to Jalalabad. They frontline for if I die my family will started a family and soon had four have no one to take care of them children, three boys and one girl. and will starve.” Things were beginning to look bet- Mumtaz’s story is indicative ter. Then, a year and a half ago, his of the dangers the people of Af- older brother was assassinated by ghanistan face when trying to the Taliban in Torkham – killed in make a living in the war-torn coun- an ambush. Mumtaz went home try as law-abiding citizens. With for the funeral. He received fur- the Afghan government either in- ther threats. Again, he defied them. capable or unwilling to protect Eight months ago, he went back them, sooner or later they must to his village to celebrate a holiday face a confrontation with the Tali- with his family. He was walking ban. down the street with his other Mumtaz used to work as a brother when five Taliban men cleaner at a U.S. military installa- abruptly confronted them. He rec- tion in Nangahar. He was a diligent ognized three out of the five: and triggered a government coun- freight train among the jagged worker and often received praise Namat, Zahir Shah, and Ahmad Mumtaz angrily noted teary-eyed. Jalalabad is no longer safe for One of the brothers killed by the teroffensive. mountains. Flashes of high explo- from his American superiors for Shah – he had argued with them “Ten days for killing my brother! Mumtaz. He can only leave the Taliban shows off his new cell Here in Nangarhar province’s sives were followed by a shower his reliability and effort. They en- many times before in the bazaar. Where is the justice there?” Still base once a month to quickly sneak phone. Mumtaz wears a new leath- Achin district, the nascent Islamic of earth, then high, white columns couraged him to join the ANA. This time, however, there would unafraid he confronted the judge, home to see his wife and four chil- er jacket. State force in Afghanistan has made of smoke. There was sporadic gun- “I was eager to serve my coun- be no talk. recording the conversation on a cell dren. His black hair is neatly its greatest advances, seizing terri- fire as soldiers and police assault- try and it did not take long to con- They pulled out guns and be- phone. The rest of his family also trimmed. He stands in the middle, tory, battling both Taliban and gov- ed Islamic State positions. Occa- vince me. It was my plan all along,” gan shooting. His brother went “They killed my brother and moved to the provincial capital: in front of his brothers, a fraterni- ernment troops, and terrorizing sional pairs of MD-530 helicop- he told The Diplomat. He enlist- down, hit multiple times, and died they are set free?” he asked. “There the six children of his brother slain ty of optimistic strength. residents who regard the group’s ter gunships spewed bursts of .50 ed in 2008 at the age of 18 and instantly. Mumtaz hid behind a low is no evidence that Namat, Zahir in Torkham, eight children from his With his two older brothers fighters as more brutal than other caliber gunfire at unseen targets on received training in logistics from concrete wall. Shah, or Ahmad Shah killed him,” brother killed in their home village, assassinated, the Taliban deem him insurgents. Government forces say the ground. American advisors. As in his pre- He already had received a the judge replied. Mumtaz told the the two widows of his brothers, the head of the family. However, they will need more international The Islamic State militants vious job, he excelled in it and re- wound on his left hand and was judge that there were other wit- along with his only surviving given the deteriorating security sit- support if they are to defeat the appeared to lack artillery, but still ceived praise from his higher-ups. bleeding. The men emptied their nesses, and that he saw the assas- brother, his two sisters, and his uation in Jalalabad and his inabili- group, purportedly made up of threatened ground troops and air- Mumtaz proudly shows off magazine on the wall and then sins with his own eyes. mother. ty to leave the base, the Taliban Pakistani nationals and other eth- craft with heavy machine guns, the numerous awards and citations quickly took off. The judge did not rescind his While at the base in Jalalabad, have made sure that Mumtaz can nic groups, including Uzbeks, anti-aircraft weapons and rocket- that he has received over the years, The whole incident was over decision. “Are you working for the Mumtaz either stands guard on only fulfill his new role in absentia Chechens and Uighurs. propelled grenades. Even in mud- all neatly kept in a yellow folder. in less than a minute. Taliban or the government? one of the towers or he attends to – effectively giving him a choice of “We are fighting a new ene- walled neighborhoods ostensibly His most precious possession is a As a law abiding citizen Mumtaz screamed. The judge’s the occasional visitors at the al- death of solitary confinement. my,” Brig. Gen. Mohammed Nasim cleared by security forces, the crack metal coin he received from one of Mumtaz went to the local police voice also got louder. “Be careful, most always-empty guesthouse on The Diplomat Sangin, commander of the Afghan of bullets from Islamic State snip- army’s 4th Brigade, 201st Corps, ers sent soldiers scrambling for said as he coordinated clearing op- cover in between firing volleys erations and artillery barrages from their Russian-made recoilless An artwork links Miami to Afghanistan, Iran, and Mexico city against Islamic State positions. rifles and the guns of their Ameri- “Daesh is more brutal. They will can-made armored fighting vehi- Art Basel in Miami Beach brought Syrian refugee camp, in an effort the world is not as easy as a click span fails, you can't just change it was that we were taking the time kill anyone they want.” cles. the world to Miami, but there was to put a personal face on the issue of a mouse, and if your attention the channel, so to speak. to have the conversation at all. In Ground zero for the latest gov- For all the flash, however, the Inside Portals, the back wall is that I felt the project's vitality and ernment offensive is a scattering results appeared less than spec- a video screen, revealing a mirror purpose. Portals really does facil- of villages at the mouth of Ma- tacular, confirming reports by vil- image of the dark, wall-to-wall and itate a seemingly-dying form of mand Valley, one of three remote lagers of limited government ad- floor-to-ceiling carpeted room that face to face communication in a local mountain passes that mili- vances over the past two months. you are in. You are introduced to time when it's more scarce. tants reportedly use to cross the One army company commander your counterpoint and a helpful The shipping container is an border with Pakistan. They travel said in 20 days of occupying one translator, and are then left alone, apt vessel for Portal: they are stan- back and forth on foot or horse- village his men had managed to cap- to discuss whatever you wish. dardized, secure, and easy to place back, often guiding donkey trains ture only four sniper rifles while For 20 minutes, I talked to a in public places. It's also highly loaded with weapons and ammu- possibly killing an unconfirmed young artist and illustrator in Mex- symbolic of globalization, its pri- nition. number of militants. ico City, who, to my surprise, ap- mary purpose of transporting On the ground, government In areas now protected by gov- peared with several of his works goods making it the perfect vessel commanders described slow but ernment checkpoints and forts, that he wanted me to see. He asked for bringing people in far off lands steady progress against an estimat- residents praised security forces me about the art scene in the US together. ed 1,200 to 1,600 Islamic State for keeping Islamic State out. But and he discussed the strength of Fittingly, each shipping con- fighters in the area, roughly six the fear caused by the marauding the network of young artists in tainer is also printed with numeri- miles from the Pakistani border. militants still lingers. As many as Mexico City. cal codes referring to the ports of But residents and local leaders de- 50 civilians have been taken hos- While the conversation wasn't call it has passed through, offering scribe the situation as more like a tage by Islamic State fighters holed incredibly out of the ordinary, per a history of its travels across the stalemate. up in the mountains, said Moham- se, in terms of what we talked globe. "It has a legacy to it," said Military and police officials mad Aref, another tribal leader. about, what was significant about Bakshi, "which is really cool." claim they’ve killed more than 500 Residents say most hostages are only one artwork in the city that of migrants. Islamic State fighters in more than taken to try to extort money, and brought Miami to the world: Amar Depending on the time of day, 70 days of operations that have many villagers report losing hun- Bakshi's Portals exhibition, a gold- the Miami installation was con- Doctor works to reduce Ghazni targeted the group’s strongholds in dreds of dollars (a fortune in these en shipping container that allows nected to different cities around the Nangarhar province. Those num- impoverished areas) to Islamic people from disparate locations world. At night, Bakshi sometimes bers are estimates and not actual State. across the globe to converse as if had a line of visitors waiting for body counts. Soldiers and locals share un- they are in the same room. their turn, while earlier in the af- maternal mortality rate “We will defeat Daesh,” said verified videos of bloody public The Miami edition of Portals ternoon he sometimes had to ap- An Afghan doctor who lives in the of reducing the maternal and child "In Jaghori when a boy is Maj. Gen. Fazel Ahmad Sherzad, beheadings, while rumors of grue- connected a shipping container lo- proach passersby to find someone U.S has spent a month in Afghan- mortality rate in the country. born they call the villagers togeth- Nangarhar provincial police chief. some murders of children by Is- cated in front of the Sagamore Hotel to pair with a person from another istan where he volunteered his time "During this trip I taught the er before cutting the baby's um- But he cautioned that more inter- lamic State are rampant. Islamic to shipping containers in Tehran, city linked up via the portal. After to train doctors in obstetric sur- hospital doctors modern surgery bilical cord but this wait can lead national help was needed. “If they State is reported to have closed Havana, Mexico City, and Herat, this reporter's session, artnet News gery at a Ghazni hospital in a bid and I worked with them and also to the child's death," Mujadadi keep fighting like this, they will schools, barred women from many Afghanistan using a live video link. editor and chief Benjamin Genoc- to reduce the maternal and child brought some surgical equipment said. Officials from the Shohada occupy the whole government. public places and killed local lead- Bakshe conceived of the project, chio happened to pass by, pop- mortality rate. to the Jaghori district hospital," Foundation, that founded the They are a threat not just to Af- ers. he told artnet News, as a "global ping into Portals for a mini-ses- Doctor Qudratullah Mujada- Mujadadi said. hospital in Jaghori, praised Mu- ghanistan but the whole world.” “They are trying to spread civic space" that would allow peo- sion of his own. di, a lecturer at a Florida universi- He said unsafe traditions are jadadi for his work and said he Residents say the govern- psychological terror,” said army ple to get a sense of what daily life Although Portals was only in ty, trained the doctors from Jag- the main reasons for maternal and has carried out 20 surgeries at ment’s efforts have found only lim- Lt. Col. Qanagha Safi, whose men is like in disparate locations across town for Art Basel, Bakshi is look- hori district hospital in surgical child mortality especially as peo- their facility. Head of the foun- ited success. While security forc- occupied an empty compound in the globe. ing to find the piece a long-term procedures. ple take women to Mullahs and dation, Abdul Raouf Nawid said: es appear to have bottled up Is- the village of Abdul Khel, which The project launched one year home in the city. With Portals cur- In addition, he checked 20,000 not to doctors. " The residents had lots of prob- lamic State fighters, preventing was among the villages first struck ago, linking New York and Tehran. rently expanding at a rate of about prescriptions written out by doc- "Lots of traditional issues lems and when the doctor came, them from gaining new territory by Islamic State in September. "We expected it to be a neat expe- one every two weeks, Bakshi cur- tors from 11 provinces. Of these, cause maternal and child mortali- more than 400 patients came to or raiding surrounding villages for “They are extremists who are de- rience," Bakshi recalled, but he rently has his eye on Lesbos, the only 10 were correct. In line with ty, most of the people take a preg- visit him and the doctor also pre- supplies and hostages, they have faming Islam. We are also Muslim, wasn't prepared for the deeply most common point of entry of this, he called on Afghan doctors nant patient to the Mullah and the formed 23 surgeries and trained yet to break into the group’s so they are fighting Islam.” emotional response from partici- Middle Eastern migrants coming to not prescribe medication if they Mullah lashes them as they might the Jaghori hospital doctors." strongholds in the mountain val- Security officials identify the pants. The very first pair of visi- to Europe. are unsure of their diagnosis. have spirits in them, then often the He said the doctors at Jag- leys. majority of the Islamic State’s tors spoke for an hour, while the Other potential future loca- Mujadadi said his reasons for [unborn] child and mother dies," hori are talented and learnt quick- “Daesh is still in the same plac- fighters in the region as Pakistani second person to enter in New tions include a series of Portals training the doctors was in the hope Mujadadi said. ly from Mujadadi. es it was two months ago,” said nationals. Some are disaffected York, who was originally from placed at the site of the world's Malik Kameen, a local tribal lead- Taliban, but others are working Iraq, came out sobbing after just a major religious sites, such as Jerus- er. “The only service the Afghan directly for Pakistani military and few moments. alem, Mecca, and Notre Dame. security forces could provide was intelligence services, declared Part of the appeal, Bakshi sus- Bakshi envisions a space where to limit the access Daesh has out- Sherzad, the provincial police pects, is that while it is easier than pilgrims from all faiths can come side its stronghold in Achin, but chief. But in a border area with ever to communicate, our increas- together as part of a positive dia- they are not eliminated.” close ties to Pakistan, the officials ing reliance on technology makes logue. The operation combines sol- produced no hard evidence to back it all too easy for us to avoid hu- An artist in Mexico City diers, police, and local militia, in- up their claims of official Pakistani man interaction. When, for exam- shows his work to artnet News cluding some former members of involvement. ple, was the last time you struck via the Portals project by Amar the Taliban who have joined the What soldiers and police do up a conversation with the person Bakshi. government to fight Islamic State. agree on, is that the Islamic State next to you on the bus, rather than Having been through the por- Afghan soldiers bemoan the fighters pose a dangerous threat. catching up on your e-mail? tal ourselves, artnet News under- lack of American airstrikes and, in “Last year there were Taliban, "This idea came to me because stands the appeal. Unlike video light of America’s support for Pa- but they were weaker than Daesh,” I missed having random encoun- services like ChatRoulette, which kistan, sometimes question the said Sohrab, an army intelligence ters with strangers," said Bakshi. allow users to quickly chat with a U.S.’s commitment to ending the officer, who like many Afghans, Since the project began, Bak- succession of other people around conflict. only uses one name. “But this year shi has been approached from the world, Portals is about real But international forces have Daesh is here. And they are fight- people around the world looking conversation. You only get one not been entirely absent from the ing to the death.” to host a shipping container of conversation partner, and to end fight in Achin. At one point, for- Shaheedullah Sangin and their own. The United Nations, for your chat you must physically eign special operations soldiers Zubair Babakarkhail contributed to instance, arranged for a Portal in a leave the shipping container. Sev- arrived by helicopter along with this report. ering your link to the other side of Afghan commandos to attack a tar- Stripes This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 09, 2015 AFGHANISTAN TIMES

India to deliver Russian attack copters to Afghanistan NEW DELHI: The decks have Six children drowned Tuesday af- been cleared for India to deliver ter a rubber dingy carrying Afghan four MI 25 attack helicopters to refugees to Greece sank off Tur- Afghanistan this month, signaling key’s Aegean coast, the Associat- a decisive shift in New Delhi's ap- ed Press (AP) reported, citing Tur- proach on supplying lethal offen- key's state-run news agency. Five sive systems to Kabul. refugees were reportedly rescued Until now, India had confined by the coast guard, while a search itself only to providing training and was underway for two others re- non-lethal supplies to Afghanistan, ported missing, according to the largely due to Pakistan's sensitivi- Anadolu Agency. ties that were of concern to the According to the local report, Western coalition. Also, New Del- the bodies of the children were re- hi could never conclusively decide covered from the sea. The ages of on the risks of such a decision at- the children remained unclear, but tracting terror attacks against In- EMERGENCY one of them was a baby, AP re- dia. CALLS ported. The refugees were report- Senior government sources told edly aiming to reach the island of ET that India has already obtained Khios from the resort of Cesme, an inprinciple approval to trans- Police despite bad weather. fer these helicopters from Russia, Turkey has been stepping up which is the original manufacturer 100 - 119 efforts to stop migrants from leav- of the MI-25s. Russian deputy ing to Greece by sea after it Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin reached a deal with the European who is here on an official visit is Hospitals Union to stem the flow of refu- expected to convey the formal ap- gees into Europe. Last week, Turk- proval during his official delibera- FMIC Hospital ish authorities detained around tions on Tuesday. 3,000 refugees -- mainly from the Further, sources said, the gov- Behind Kabul Medical war-torn regions of Syria and Iraq, ernment is also actively consider- University: ing a high-level visit to Afghani- in the town of Ayvacik, north of 0202500200-+93793275595 Cesme -- who were planning to stan this month, adding to the ur- cross the Aegean Sea to Greece. gency of completing the delivery Turkey reportedly hosts over 2 soon. Afghan president Ashraf Rabia-i-Balkhi Hospital million refugees, who have been Ghani has been quite keen on PM Pule Bagh-e- Umomi fleeing the violence of the Islamic Narendra Modi visiting Afghani- State group and other extremist stan at the earliest. 070263672 organizations in Syria. The configuration of the chop- Europe is facing its worst ref- pers will be that of an attack heli- ugee crisis since the Second World copter, added sources, indicating Khairkhana Hospital War. According to estimates by the ple have crossed into Europe, main point of entry into Europe become tough to handle for the through its worst financial crisis that the delivery may happen with- 0799-321007 United Nations, over 700,000 peo- mostly from Syria. Greece is the for the refugees, and the influx has country, which is already going in decades. in the next couple of weeks. The decision to go ahead with 2401352 the delivery comes when external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj is headed for Islamabad on Tuesday Indira Gandhi Children for the Heart of Asia conference cohosted by both Afghanistan and Hospital, Wazir Akbar Pakistan. India's military relation- Khan, Kabul 2301372 ship with Afghanistan has been a sore point with Pakistan, which has always made it a point to red Ibn-e- Seena flag such issues to the US. Washington has often sent out Pul-e-Artan, Kabul Isis is steadily growing in strength “When our commander raised the conflicting signals on this front. 2100359 even in the heartland of the Tali- issue some 20 days ago, he was While it has wanted India to play ban, according to an investigation told that the money had been dis- an active role to help strengthen into the state of the Afghan army patched. It shouldn’t take that long the Afghan National Army, it has Wazir Akbar Khan in the south of the country that is for a few thousand notes to travel on many occasions conveyed the Hospital to be delivered to President Ashraf from Kabul to Helmand,” the sol- need for India to be sensitive to Ghani this week. dier said. Pakistan's concerns. 2301741, 2301743 The report, by the country’s Army officers raised the issue But in 2011, India and Afghan- senior generals, will warn that the of “ghost” national and local po- istan entered into an umbrella stra- jihadist group, which has already lice, whose names are on the pay- tegic partnership agreement that Ali Abad taken over territory in the eastern roll but who are not members of gave room for weapons supplies Shahrara, Kabul province of Nangarhar, is winning any police unit. Up to 40 per cent in the future. Yet, India continued new followers in Helmand and two of the nominal strength of the Af- to restrict itself largely to cooper- 2100439 other southern provinces where the ghan national police is fictitious, ation on training military and po- Afghan military faces growing they said. Meanwhile, the army lice personnel. Indian assets in pressure from the Taliban. is suffering from high desertion Afghanistan were being targeted Malalai Maternity “Isis is recruiting soldiers in rates which soldiers taking leave quite often, which was always a Hospital Helmand,” Afghan National Army and not coming back. Half the worrying factor for New Delhi. chief General Qadam Shah Shahim members of counter-IED units, One such attack took place at 2201377/ 2301743 told The Independent. “They are tasked with finding and defusing the Indian consulate in Herat just spending money and are recruiting potential bombs, existed “only on ahead of Modi's swearing-in cere- Banks across the province.” paper”. mony. economictimes The general’s warning was 24-Lashkar-Gah-corbis.jpg echoed by a tribal elder from north- The regional capital of Lash- Da Afghanistan Bank ern Helmand. “My son was re- kar Gah nearly fell to the Taliban 2100302, 2100303 cruited by Isis, along with many in late October (Corbis) young people in our village,” he Last month 65 soldiers in the said. “He had been educated at Sangin district, among them three Kabul Bank Kandahar University, but after he army commanders, defected to the 222666, 070285285 finished he was recruited. There Taliban, taking their vehicles, are black flags in our village, and weapons and equipment. Azizi Bank photographs of al-Baghdadi (the There have been near-constant 0799 700900 Isis leader).” clashes between the security forc- Representatives from Doctors zation officials then plan to make be judges." "While the United Senior Afghan officials say the es and insurgents in the past six Without Borders will renew their public remarks during a rally in States and NATO have recently Pashtany Bank report, which follows a fact-find- weeks in Marjah, Nad Ali and Ba- call for an independent investiga- Lafayette Square. issued the main findings of their 2102908, 2103868 ing visit to Helmand by Gen Sha- baji areas that surround Lashkar tion of an airstrike at one of the The organization has repeat- own investigations, those findings him and the deputy Interior Min- Gah. Though Afghan forces foiled organization's Afghanistan hospi- edly called for an independent in- are understandably rooted in the ister, Mohammad Ayub Salangi, a Taliban attempt in October to tals by delivering a petition to the vestigation into the airstrike. context of U.S. military doctrine Air Services will paint a “bleak picture” of the overrun the provincial capital, they White House this week. "While the U.S., NATO, and and practice, not international hu- wider situation in the south, where have not been able to dislodge the The organization will deliver the Afghan government have manitarian law," the officials add- Safi Airways British and American troops made insurgents from outlying districts. the petition - signed by 545,000 launched investigations, it is im- ed. "An investigation carried out huge efforts – with many lives lost Helmand’s newly appointed people -asking President Obama possible to rely only on the par- by an entity that is not party to 020 22 22 222 – to make the country secure. Lash- police chief, General Sarjang, said to approve an outside look at the ties involved in the conflict in Af- the conflict in Afghanistan is nec- kar Gah, the regional capital, near- intense fighting is now under way circumstances around the Oct. 3 ghanistan to carry out independent essary to determine possible vio- Ariana ly fell to the Taliban in late Octo- in Marjah. He said night raids by airstrike. and impartial investigations of acts lations of international humanitar- ber. Afghan Special Forces and more Last month, U.S. military lead- in which they are implicated," of- ian law and how hospitals must be 020-2100270 It will highlight failings that than 39 air strikes by coalition forc- ers in Afghanistan said the airstrike ficials for the organization said in protected from attack." critics say are seriously undermin- es were “the only thing that has in Kunduz was the result of a trag- a release. "Perpetrators cannot also fayobserver Kam Air ing the Afghan National Army’s kept Marjah from falling into Tal- ic and avoidable accident. 0799974422 ability to hold together against the iban hands”. Some involved in the mistake increasing Taliban assault. Military Now internal Taliban squab- have been suspended, officials said Electronics expo kicked off in Kabul mismanagement, corruption and bling has given an opportunity to when discussing the results of two Hotels lack of accountability are blamed Isis, which has growing financial investigations - one by the U.S. AT News Report Safi Landmark by soldiers, middle-ranking offic- muscle, to back up its military and one by a joint U.S-NATO- ers and commanders for growing ambitions. A police commander in Afghan group. KABUL: The first four-day elec- ceremony, he said that similar ex- er, voiced his pleasure over open- dissatisfaction within the ranks. Kajaki district said: “Isis is recruit- Army Gen. John F. Campbell, 020-2203131 Weapons and ammunition are ing by paying good money to peo- tronic expo has been inaugurated hibition will be also held in other ing of the expo. He urged Afghan commander of the Resolute Sup- in Kabul on Tuesday. provinces. He urged Afghan trad- businessmen to invest inside the also said to be missing in large ple in the villages. People are poor. port Mission and U.S. Forces-Af- SERENA quantities, and the Taliban have But it is also because of the in- The exhibition was organized ers to invest in Afghanistan. He country. ghanistan, said human error com- in Afghanistan Expo Center (AEC) stressed that there are many busi- He said that Afghan investors pounded by systems and proce- in Shahr-e-Naw, where different ness opportunities inside Afghan- by investment in Afghanistan can 0799654000 dural mistakes led to the tragedy. electric and electronic equipments istan. He said that the government lead the country towards self-reli- "No nation does more to pre- were showcased in 60 booths. is committed to support traders ance. “Investment will also create New Rumi Restaurant vent civilian casualties than the Some 15 of the booths were dis- and the issues of lack of enough jobs and will prevent from illegal 0776351347 U.S.," Campbell said, "but we playing domestic products. electricity, land and security was immigration of youths to foreign failed to meet our own high expec- The Deputy Head of Afghan- under discussion. countries,” he added. tations on Oct. 3." istan Investment Support Agency While talking about quality of Traders, who had put their Internet Services The attack on a Doctors With- (AISA), Mohammad Ebrahim goods in the market, he said that it products to display, termed the out Borders hospital by an Air UA Telecom Shams, said that exhibition was was the right of consumers to have exhibition as a good step towards 0796701701 / 0796702702 Force AC-130 led to the deaths of aimed at introducing electronic access to high quality products. introduction of new electronic 30 staff, patients and assistants equipments to people and finding Thus, he urged traders to import equipments to people. They urged and injured 37 others, according to market to the products. or produce high quality products. the concerned organizations to Exchange Rate officials. Speaking at the inauguration Abdul Qader Zazai, a lawmak- hold similar expos in the future. The intended target, Campbell Purchase: said, was a former Afghan Nation- al Directorate of Security com- pound that had been taken over One US$ = by Taliban fighters after they cap- 66.83Afs tured the city in late September. Malfunctions within the gun- One Pound Sterling= ship's electronic systems and an 99.51Afs adjusted flight path, caused after One Euro = the air crew was targeted by a mis- sile, combined to limit the accura- 70.31Afs penetrated police and army radio fighting among Taliban command- cy of sensors on board the plane, 1000 Pak Rs = encryption, enabling them to ers and factions.” Campbell said. The air crew then 618Afs eavesdrop on communication. Isis is being helped by the de- relied on a physical description of “My men have been fighting mise of Mulla Mohammed Omar, the compound, which roughly Sale: for 12 days without a break,” an the Taliban’s charismatic former matched the hospital site, he said. One US$ = Afghan local police commander leader, and repeated rumours that Officials in Bagram did not catch 67.03 Afs from Marjah said in Lashkar Gah. his recently appointed replace- the mistake. "This was a tragic, “We have got no backup. I have ment, Mullah Akhtar Mansoor, but avoidable accident caused pri- One Pound Sterling= been raising red flags for days, but may have been killed. By contrast marily by human error," the gen- 100.31Afs no one seems to be listening.” Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the Isis eral said. A spokesman for the or- One Euro= A soldier from Nad Ali district leader, is seen as an alluring figure ganization said the petition would complained that his unit has not who attracts new recruits. 70.91 Afs be delivered to the White House 1000 Pak Rs= 626Afs been paid salaries for three months. Independent on Wednesday afternoon. Organi- This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. WEDNESDAY . DECEMBER 09, 2015 AFGHANISTAN TIMES Indian FM Sushma Swaraj arrives KARACHI: Pakistan is facing un- conventional challenges that should be viewed on a broader can- in Islamabad vas of global and regional environ- ment, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said y. “Our national resolve and com- mitment to eliminate terrorism has earned us a sound repute and re- spect in international society,” he said while speaking at a firepower demonstration of Pakistan Air Force at the Sonmiani Range in Balochistan. PM, army chief to co- chair law and order meeting The PM said despite many external and internal challenges, Pakistan was steadily gaining strength and sail- ing through difficult times. He vowed the country’s resolve to combat terrorism was unwavering. “The unmatched courage and her- oism of our air warriors have al- ways made the entire nation proud,” he said, appreciating that the air force’s personnel were play- ing their part well in Operation Zarb-e-Azb and other campaigns against terrorists. PM Nawaz also extended felicitations to the Chief of the Air Staff for successful com- personnel to exhibit their skills in On watching the aircrafts per- Military police, Rangers at- forces will serve them with an even pletion of the inter-squadron com- using air-to-ground weapons with formances, the PM appreciated the tackers arrested, Sindh police chief stronger blow.” At the end, the petition, in which the PAF fighter precision. Several frontline aircraft aerial warfare capabilities. tells PM “The proof of our resil- PAF chief presented a painting of squadrons demonstrated their ex- demonstrated high-level speed, Air Chief Marshal Sohail ience is the extremists have not JF-17 Thunder to PM Nawaz. cellence in weapon delivery stan- precision and lethality. The indig- Aman said the air force was pre- been able to undermine our will. Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali dards. Karachi operation to suc- enously produced JF-17 Thunder, pared to thwart the nefarious de- We have sent a clear message to Shah and Federal Defence Minis- ceed at all costs: PM The event painted in the national flag colours, signs of those who dare to disturb them that for every mischief they ter Khawaja Asif also attended the was an opportunity for the PAF also presented aerobatic displays. the country’s peace. make, the Pakistani nation and its event. ISLAMABAD: Indian Foreign on-one meeting with army chief Minister Sushma Swaraj arrived in Gen Raheel Sharif to discuss 'se- Islamabad Tuesday evening, amid curity-related matters.' Sri Lanka seeks to bridge India and China criticism in New Delhi, to attend Swaraj's visit is the first min- the Heart of Asia Conference and isterial-level visit to Pakistan since COLOMBO -- The newly elected dence that things can be done here," cooperation as long as the projects brought "economic return." He said Sri Lanka was open to investments hold talks with Pakistan on multi- the then foreign minister, SM Sri Lankan government is seeking he added. from any country with good intentions. "China, Japan, Korea. Why exclude anybody? We have a friendly ple issues. Krishna, travelled to Islamabad in to be a "bridge" between its giant Karunanayake belongs to foreign policy. Friends with all, enemies with none," the finance minister said. Colombo has been working Swaraj was received by senior 2012, which was before Modi be- Asian neighbors -- India and Chi- the United National Party that on a "rebalancing" act, resuming ties with India while not completely distancing itself from China. Located foreign office officials. came prime minister. na -- in the Indian Ocean, a region swept into power in the August virtually at the center of the Indian Ocean, the island nation is strategically important as it stands as a maritime Talking to reporters after her Since Modi's ascent to power, where they are generally viewed general election, smashing hopes gateway to Africa, the Middle East and Europe. arrival, she said, “It is a crucial tensions between the two coun- as competitors, the island nation's of a political comeback by former conference [Heart of Asia] that I tries have remained high, with for- finance minister has said. president and "pro-China" leader have come to attend.” eign secretary-level talks cancelled In an interview with the Mahinda Rajapaksa. She said she hoped for im- last year and security advisers' di- Nikkei Asian Review, Ravi On coming to power, the proved relations between the two alogue abandoned in August this Karunanayake said Sri Lanka fol- new leadership, under Prime Min- countries and that was the mes- year. But the relationship appears lowed a non-aligned, neutral poli- ister Ranil Wickramasinghe, moved sage she brought with her. to have thawed after Modi and cy for both countries and referred to stall some infrastructure “I am looking forward to meet- Sharif resumed high-level contacts to his country as a "genuine friend projects, including the $1.13 bil- ing PM Nawaz and adviser on for- with a brief conversation at a cli- of India and China." At the same lion China-funded Colombo Port eign affairs Sartaj Aziz,” she add- mate change summit in Paris last time, Karunanayake said Sri Lan- City, on the grounds that the agree- ed. Her visit is also expected to week and their national security ka envisioned a greater role for it- ments entered into by the previ- clear confusion over stalled crick- advisers met in Bangkok on Sun- self in the economic regionalism of ous government needed to be in- et ties between the two countries, day. the Indian Ocean. "Singapore vestigated. with a green signal expected for a The brief and unannounced brought China and Taiwan togeth- However, construction on much-hyped India-Pakistan cricket meeting between the two security er. If we bring China and India to- the controversial project is likely series scheduled for later this advisers in Bangkok and a joint gether in Sri Lanka, what a plat- to begin soon following some month. statement they issued shows New form it would be!" he said, adding amendments to the earlier agree- Swaraj is leading an Indian del- Delhi rowing back from its recent that one is a powerhouse, the oth- ment. egation to Islamabad for talks on position and agreeing to discuss er a consumer hub, with Sri Lanka "For Colombo Port City ... Afghanistan, India's foreign min- Jammu and Kashmir in the other- in the middle. "India is looking at freehold land will no more be giv- istry spokesman Vikas Swarup had wise familiar mix of issues. the export market, China is look- en at all. Now it will be leasehold. said yesterday on Twitter. Earlier, security adviser level ing at the silk route, we can prove There will be amendments to the Earlier today, PM Nawaz talks between India and Pakistan, to be a nodal point." present model. China has accept- chaired a high-level meeting in Is- scheduled for August 23 and 24, "Our input [in Indian ed it and are going forward. It is lamabad, attended by army chief were canceled as both nations Ocean economic regionalism] already in motion, now it is up to and senior cabinet members, to reached a deadlock over Pakistan's would be a genuine working rela- them to begin construction," hash out Pakistan’s stance, partic- insistence to hold a meeting with tionship with India and other re- Karunanayake said. ularly regarding Afghanistan and Kashmiri Hurriyat leaders in New gional neighbors. [We will] keep He added that now was the India. Delhi on August 23 despite India’s the leadership that they expect time for India to come forward and Later, Nawaz also held a one- ‘advice’ to the contrary. from us and give a sense of confi- build another port city, promising

The European Union has granted Pierre Mayaudon was quoted in income country. “Therefore, time- Bangladesh €8 million to help the the statement. Pierre Mayaudon ly investment in low-carbon and country’s most vulnerable commu- was quoted in the statement. "The climate resilient development can Amid China's muscle-flexing in rai A civil nuclear deal? A key pri- nities build resilience to climate European Union acknowledges the generate jobs and growth. The EU Asia, Japan's PM Shinzo Abe will ority of the Abe-Modi talks will change and related disasters. The efforts of all stakeholders in the will continue supporting these ef- embark on a three-day India visit, be to advance negotiations on both grants will be routed through the country to adapt to climate change forts through transfer of technical hoping to seal key defense and defense ties and civil nuclear ener- Global Climate Change Alliance+ and reduce the impact of disasters. and financial assistance as part of trade deals, as well as a civil nucle- gy cooperation. In fact, both sides Flagship Initiative (GCCA+). Bangladesh is rapidly growing and a joint response on mitigation and ar pact. DW examines the Indo- are working to seal a nuclear pact Starting early 2016, a new four- has just become a lower-middle adaptation,” the ambassador said. Japanese partnership. during the three-day summit. A key year project will be implemented India's Prime Minister Naren- factor driving the negotiations is by the Ministry of Local Govern- dra Modi (R) and Japan's Prime India's desire to significantly in- ment, Rural Development and Minister Shinzo Abe shake hands crease the size and sophistication Cooperatives, the UNDP and the before their talks at the state guest of its nuclear energy sector, not UN Capital Development Fund house in Tokyo, Japan, 01 Sep- least in order to help to reduce the (UNCDF). The GCCA+ aims at tember 2014 country's air pollution woes. Ja- strengthening dialogues and coop- It's been described as a rela- pan, on the other hand, wants to eration among developing countries tionship in an upward trajectory. clear the way for the export of its most vulnerable to climate change. And ties between India and Japan nuclear technology to India, says The project is in line with national are likely to get a further boost analyst Brown. "Given the enor- of defense equipment," said an infrastructure partner for India. policies and priorities, the EU says when PM Abe visits New Delhi mous problems the Japanese nu- Brown. Above all, having eased its As economist Biswas points out, in a statement. The community- for the 9th annual Indo-Japanese clear industry is facing domesti- long-standing restrictions on arms urban development is a key area based adaptation actions will be summit scheduled for December cally, international contracts have exports in April 2014, Tokyo is of Japanese development cooper- financed through grants to local 11-13. While leaders of both na- taken on ever greater importance." eager to increase sales of military ation with India, with Tokyo aim- government and local civil society tions have institutionalized the Despite these incentives on both technology overseas, he added. ing to help New Delhi design and organisations. Allocations will be annual visits, the upcoming meet- sides, it seems unlikely that a deal DW RECOMMENDS India's plan new townships and industri- based on performance criteria. The ing will be closely watched given will be signed on this occasion. Modi sets sights on Africa As Chi- al estates in the Delhi-Mumbai move will directly benefit 200,000 that Abe and his Indian counter- "There are still some hurdles from na's slowdown impacts ties with Industrial Corridor, as well as new households in the hard-to-reach part Narendra Modi are likely to the Japanese side, since India has Africa, India is seeking to step in smart cities and townships in the areas of Bangladesh. “The poor- sign a host of key investment, de- not yet signed the Nuclear Non- and boost political and economic states of Maharashtra and Andhra est and marginalised people of vul- fense and energy-related agree- Proliferation Treaty. Therefore the relations with the continent. The Pradesh. Another example is relat- nerable areas of Bangladesh suffer ments. The leaders of Asia's sec- discussions will aim to make grad- upcoming India-Africa Summit ed to railways. For many years the most from the effects of cli- ond and third-largest economies ual progress towards reaching a may offer a key opportunity to now, Japan has been eager to ex- mate change,” EU Ambassador are also expected to review the im- bilateral civil nuclear pact," Rajiv do just that. (23.10.2015) Indian port its high-speed rail technolo- plementation of a series of deci- Biswas, Asia-Pacific Chief Econ- PM Modi launches 'charm offen- gy to India, a country whose rail sions made during Modi's 2014 omist at the analytics firm IHS, sive' in Silicon Valley What Japan's infrastructure requires significant visit to Japan, in which the two told DW. Michael Kugelman, a defense policy revision means The new investment. Tokyo is now Minority refugees from Pak, sides decided to elevate their ties South Asia expert at the Washing- first major defense deal likely to providing official development as- to a Special Strategic Global Part- ton-based Woodrow Wilson Cen- be finalized during Abe's trip re- sistance to India for many railway nership and significantly boost ter, has a similar view. "This is the lates to the joint production of Ja- projects, including the develop- Bangladesh can stay trade ties. Against this backdrop, closest two sides have ever been pan's US-2, an amphibious plane ment of urban mass rapid transit James D. J. Brown, a Japan expert to signing one. But there are a lot that Japan's Self-Defense Forces (MRT) systems in major Indian at Temple University's campus in of delicate matters still to be use for search and rescue opera- cities, including an extension without valid documents Tokyo, argues that Abe's trip to worked out. And given that nucle- tions as well as maritime surveil- project in Delhi, said Biswas. India will be "highly significant" ar issues are so sensitive in both lance. But Tokyo's interests in this Moreover, the Indian govern- Refugees of minority communities ladesh and Pakistan namely, Hin- ladesh can obtain Indian citizen- in both symbolic and practical countries, they will insist on strict matter are not only economic. "The ment is shortly due to decide on from Pakistan and Bangladesh, dus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Par- ship under the provisions of Citi- terms. "This visit not only further safeguards." Defense secrets Also Abe administration has been seek- whether to go ahead with the first who have entered India on or be- sis and Christians, who entered zenship Act, 1955 and the rules entrenches Japan's close relations likely to top the agenda are de- ing to strengthen security relations "bullet train" project between fore December 31, 2014, can stay into India on or before December made there under. Persons resid- with India, but it is also seen - es- fense-related issues. To be specif- with all countries in the region that Mumbai and Ahmedabad, as the in the country on humanitarian 31, 2014, from the application of ing in Indian enclaves on Bang- pecially in Japan - as an effective ic, Japan and India are expected to could assist to balance against the Japanese offer a soft loan for the grounds, even without valid travel the provisions of the Foreigners ladesh side of the border are al- way of counter-balancing the rise agree on measures aimed at pre- rise in Chinese power. This policy $15 billion project at an interest documents, Lok Sabha was in- Act, 1946 and the orders made ready Indian citizens. “However, of Chinese power within Asia," venting the leak of technological has already been enacted with the rate of less than 1 percent. The formed on Tuesday. there under in respect of their stay 14,864 persons residing in erst- Brown told DW. secrets - a deal which would pave Philippines, Vietnam, and Austra- project could cut short the travel In response to a written ques- in India without valid documents, while Bangladeshi enclaves on In- E2 series shinkansen set J7 the way for arms transfers be- lia, and the same is being under- time in the 505-kilometer corridor tion, Minister of State for Home including passport or other travel dian side of the border have been heads the southbound Yamabiko tween the two countries. "This is taken with India," Brown pointed from seven to two hours. 'A natu- Affairs Kiren Rijiju said the gov- document; or with valid docu- granted Indian citizenship with 152 service into Omiya significant because the stricter con- out. Smart cities and a bullet train ral convergence' But why elevate ernment vide its notification dated ments including passport or other effect from August 1, 2015, the Japan promised India millions trols that this agreement will es- Apart from defense and energy- the ties now? Japan and India are September 7, 2015, has granted travel document and the validity date of transfer of enclaves, as per of dollars for the development of tablish are considered an essential related issues, the Japanese side two of the oldest democracies in exemption to persons belonging to of any such documents has ex- the provisions of section 7 of Cit- infrastructure and offered cooper- prerequisite for Japan to increase will likely use Abe's visit as an Asia and among its three biggest minority communities in Bang- pired. “The immigrants from Bang- izenship Act, 1955,” he said. ation in areas such as high-speed cooperation with India in the field opportunity to promote Japan as economies. This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. WEDNESDAY . DECEMBER 09, 2015 AFGHANISTAN TIMES News-in-Brief Canada to pull jets bombing ISIS ‘within weeks’ Britain to review Canada’s new Liberal government will act within weeks to fulfill a cam- defences paign promise to withdraw six fighter jets that have been attacking ISIS positions in Iraq and Syria, a top official said on Monday. The Liberals, after floods who took power last month, say Canada can contribute more effective- Carlisle : The British govern- ly to the U.S.-led campaign against the militants by assigning more ment is to review its flood troops to train Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq. “It’s a matter of weeks, defences after a powerful not months,” Foreign Minister Stephane Dion told reporters when asked storm caused severe flooding, when the jets would be pulled out. Dion’s comments were the most swamping hundreds of homes, specific so far from a cabinet member about when the planes would Prime Minister David Cam- return home. “We’re carrying out two percent of the air strikes. We’re eron said . The Conservative going to do something more efficient for the coalition,” he said. Diplo- leader visited Carlisle, a city matic sources say the United States, France and Britain have privately in the hard-hit Cumbria region expressed their unease about Canada’s pledge on the grounds it could of northwest England, where undermine the effort to contain ISIS. The Liberals of Prime Minister he viewed a flooded home and Justin Trudeau took office after defeating the Conservatives, who took met soldiers who helped evac- the decision to send the jets and trainers to the Middle East. In Parlia- uate residents. "It's an abso- ment on Monday, the Conservatives noted that when U.S. President lutely horrific thing to hap- Barack Obama on Sunday cited close allies who were taking part in the pen and for some of these operations against ISIS, he had not mentioned Canada. “Why is the people it's not the first time prime minister stepping back from the fight when our allies are stepping it's happened," Cameron said, up?” asked interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose. Trudeau replied adding that the Environment that he had “engaged with our allies on these issues, and they reassured Agency would study how to me that we are continuing to be helpful”. improve flood barriers. "We will ask all those questions because people want to live free from the fear of being UN calls for flooded. We need to make sure they get all the support they need." Cumbria police de- clared a "major incident" after Libya accord the region was lashed by Storm Desmond, and weath- er warnings were issued for the rest of the week. More after rival than 350 military personnel were deployed in Carlisle to help evacuate people to recep- tion places as the water deal emerges reached waist height in place. The incident raised questions The United Nations urged Libyan egations of HOR and GNC, who over why barriers built follow- lawmakers who signed a separate signed a declaration in Tunis yes- ing serious flooding in Cum- peace proposal to back a U.N.- terday. I urged them to join the bria in 2005 failed to contain sponsored deal between the coun- process; Libyan people cannot the weekend's heavy rainfall, try’s warring factions, saying re- tolerate any more delay.” in which 2,000 buildings were flooded. Following criticism, the Environment Agency said £45 million ($68 million, 63 million euros) had been spent on the defences in the last de- cade, and described the rain- fall as "beyond the forecasts and beyond the models". "Unfortunately the flood de- fences were just not going to be able to protect every sin- gle property," John Leyland, deputy director of operations at the Environment Agency, told BBC radio. Violence, fraud, Iran tested a new medium-range as saying the test was held near on its nuclear program. According month that they said violated U.N. ballistic missile last month in a Chabahar, a port city near Iran’s to a July 20 resolution endorsing sanctions. So far, no action has been kidnapping hits breach of two U.N. Security Coun- border with Pakistan. All ballistic that deal, Iran is still “called upon” taken by the committee. Nigeria guberna- cil resolutions, two U.S. officials missile tests by Iran are banned to refrain from work on ballistic Several Security Council dip- said. The officials, both speaking under a 2010 Security Council res- missiles designed to deliver nucle- lomats said on Monday that they torial vote on condition of anonymity, said olution that remains valid until a ar weapons for up to eight years. had received no official notifica- the test was held on Nov. 21. One nuclear deal between Iran and six In October, the United States, tion of a new alleged violation of Yenagoa : lence, fraud and the of them said the missile traveled world powers is implemented. Britain, France and Germany called the U.N. missile sanctions against kidnapping of election officials within Iranian territory. Fox News Under that deal, reached on for the Security Council’s Iran Iran since the October notification. have forced a partial re-run of a earlier on Monday on its website July 14, most sanctions on Iran sanctions committee to take action The diplomats spoke on condition vote for a new governor in cited Western intelligence sources will be lifted in exchange for curbs over a missile test by Tehran that of anonymity. former president Goodluck Jonathan's home state, the elec- toral body said . Voters went to the polls on Saturday in the southern state France urges EU to act faster of Bayelsa but the election was extended into Sunday because maining differences could be Western governments and Lib- of unrest in the Southern Ijaw worked out after the accord. yan leaders plan to meet in Rome local government area. against extremist finances After a year of negotiations, next week to push the factions to Rival supporters of incum- the United Nations has proposed agree to the U.N. proposal that bent governor Seriake Dickson, a national unity deal between Lib- calls for a presidential committee of Jonathan's Peoples Demo- Canada’s new Liberal government ya’s two rival governments and of representatives to name a gov- cratic Party (PDP), clashed will act within weeks to fulfill a their parliaments, one based in ernment. But splits within each with those of former governor campaign promise to withdraw six Tripoli, and the internationally faction have delayed the signing of Timipre Sylva, from President fighter jets that have been attack- recognized one in the east. any deal with each camp demand- Muhammadu Buhari's All Pro- ing ISIS positions in Iraq and Syr- Western powers have backed ing more concessions. Opponents gressives Congress (APC). ia, a top official said . the U.N. proposal as the only so- say the agreement does not address One woman was shot dead, The Liberals, who took pow- lution to a conflict that is allowing key points on balance of power according to police. Unofficial er last month, say Canada can con- Islamic State militants to gain a and security arrangements such as reports said at least four peo- tribute more effectively to the U.S.- foothold in the North African oil the new Libyan army. ple died. The local commission- led campaign against the militants producer. A group of lawmakers from the er for the Independent Nation- by assigning more troops to train Moderates in both camps have House of Representatives said on al Electoral Commission Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq. accepted the U.N. agreement, but Monday they still backed the U.N. (INEC), Baritor Kpagih, said “It’s a matter of weeks, not hardliners are resisting any deal to deal rejecting any separate negoti- the vote in Southern Ijaw was months,” Foreign Minister end the conflict four years after a ations. After the fall of Qaddafi, "substantially marred by vio- Stephane Dion told reporters when NATO-backed rebellion ousted rival brigades of former rebels who lence, ballot box-snatching and asked when the jets would be Muammar Qaddafi. once fought together turned against hostage-taking of electoral of- pulled out. Dion’s comments were A group of lawmakers from one another, fighting for control of ficers". He added: "This falls the most specific so far from a cab- Tripoli’s General National Con- the country and its resources. short of internationally accept- inet member about when the planes gress (GNC) and the House of Tripoli has been controlled able thresholds for credible elec- would return home. Representatives over the weekend since last year by a faction called tions. "Consequently, the com- “We’re carrying out two per- announced in Tunisia a separate Libya Dawn that drove with ri- mission has decided, in the in- cent of the air strikes. We’re going deal without U.N. involvement and vals inside the capital, set up its terest of the integrity of the to do something more efficient for said they would put that to the own government and reinstated process, to cancel the governor- the coalition,” he said. vote in each parliament. the old parliament. ship election in Southern Ijaw Diplomatic sources say the “I encourage those who still The internationally recognized Local Government Area. United States, France and Britain oppose to join the majority; the government and the elected House have privately expressed their un- ter defeating the Conservatives, Sunday cited close allies who were asked interim Conservative leader remaining questions can be ad- of Representatives now operates ease about Canada’s pledge on the who took the decision to send the taking part in the operations Rona Ambrose. Trudeau replied dressed after forming the new gov- in the east backed by another coa- Beijing red alert grounds it could undermine the ef- jets and trainers to the Middle East. against ISIS, he had not mentioned that he had “engaged with our al- ernment,” U.N. envoy Martin lition of former rebels and a former for smog prompts fort to contain ISIS. In Parliament on Monday, the Canada. “Why is the prime minis- lies on these issues, and they reas- Kobler said in a statement late on Qaddafi ally Gen. Khalifa Haftar The Liberals of Prime Minis- Conservatives noted that when ter stepping back from the fight sured me that we are continuing to Monday. who they named armed forces partial shutdown ter Justin Trudeau took office af- U.S. President Barack Obama on when our allies are stepping up?” be helpful”. “I have met today the two del- commander.

Half of Beijing's private cars have been ordered off the streets and many construction Yemen confirms 7-day ceasefire for peace talks sites and schools closed after Yemen’s president told the United that the Houthis would re- the government raised the alert Nations that he has asked the Sau- spect the ceasefire, and to on pollution in the Chinese di-led coalition to begin a 7-day take practical steps to en- capital to the highest level, red. ceasefire on Dec. 15 to coincide sure adherence to the per- A grey haze descended on with U.N.-sponsored peace talks manent ceasefire, so that Tuesday on the city of around aimed at ending months of fight- the Coalition forces would 21.5 million people, with lev- ing. not deal with any breach els hitting above 300 micro- “I have notified the leadership of the ceasefire,” Hadi said. grams per cubic metre, accord- of the Coalition of our intention to He added that the ing to the US embassy, which cease fire for a period of seven ceasefire came “out of our issues independent readings. days, starting December 15 until desire to create an atmo- The World Health Organ- December 21,” President Abd- sphere for the success of isation's recommended maxi- Rabbu Mansour Hadi said in a let- the U.N.-led consultations mum exposure is 25. The alert ter on Monday to U.N. Secretary- that the government in- coincided with global climate General Ban Ki-moon. tends to participate (in) in change talks in Paris, where “This will coincide with the the coming days, and in or- Chinese President Xi Jinping starting of consultations and will der to help avoid further has vowed "action" on green- automatically be renewed upon bloodshed and expand the house gas emissions. Al commitment by the Houthis,” he medical and humanitarian Jazeera's Adrian Brown, re- added. relief efforts.” porting from Beijing, said the Hadi’s letter, which it said was Forces loyal to Hadi, pollution level on Tuesday also sent to the U.N. Security backed by air strikes and was much lower than that re- Council, confirmed remarks made ground forces from a main- ported on November 30, earlier on Monday by U.N. spe- ly Gulf Arab coalition, when the pollution index hit cial envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould have been locked for nine as high as 634 in some areas. Cheikh Ahmed, who said Hadi’s months in a battle with But the Chinese government government and the Houthis were Houthis militias. "was stunned into action" af- committed to the peace process Earlier attempts at ter being openly criticised last laid down by the Security Council ceasefires in the conflict fell week, and it wanted to show in April. apart after the two sides that is was responding to the “I hope you would inform the accused each other of vio- public by issuing the red alert. U.N. envoy of the need to ensure lations. This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF.

MONDAY . DECEMBER 07 2015 AFGHANISTANTIMES

We a r e a n a t ion a l in st it u t ion a n d n ot t h e voice of a gov t or a p r iva t e or ga n iza t ion AFGHANISTAN TIMES Editor: Abdul Saboor Sarir Phone No: +93-772364666 E-mail: [email protected] Email: [email protected] By Tom Hussain www.afghanistantimes.af Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Photojournalist: M. Sadiq Yusufi and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday agreed Advisory editorial board to seek to revive suspended peace talks with the Taliban, but the Saduddin Shpoon, Dr. Sharif Fayez, Dr. Sultana Parvanta, Dr. Sharifa Sharif, political odds are stacked against their success because of distrust Dr. Omar Zakhilwal, Setara Delawari, Ahmad Takal between all involved. Since the Taliban romped into Graphic-Designers: the northern Afghan city of Kun- duz in late September, relations Mansoor Faizy and Edriss Akbari between Afghanistan and Pakistan Marketing & Advertising: have been at rock-bottom. Afghanistan has repeatedly Mohammad Parwiz Arian, 0708954626, 0778894038 accused Pakistan of playing a role in the militant insurgents’ first sei- Mailing address: P.O. Box: 371, Kabul, Afghanistan zure of a major urban centre since Our Bank Accounts: Azizi Bank: 000101100258091 / 000101200895656 the US-led invasion in 2001. Paki- stan has told Afghanistan’s nation- Printed at Afghanistan Times Printing Press al unity government it had invited trouble by revealing, the day be- fore scheduled July 31 peace talks, that Taliban founder Mullah Mo- The constitution says hammed Omar had died two years previously, at a hospital in the meeting with the Pakistani prime being overly susceptible to influ- planned, but was called off be- southern Pakistani city of Kara- minister, President Ghani made no ence by Pakistan’s military. cause of President Ghani’s call for Article 84 chi. bones about the lack of trust be- Nonetheless, the Taliban lead- peace talks. “We will wait and see Members of the House of Elders shall be elected and appointed as follows: Reporting on November 25, tween the two countries, which he ership council on October 15 is- what comes out of the meeting in 1. From amongst each provincial council members, one individual shall be elected by the Abubakar Siddique of Radio Free described as being at “an unde- sued an ambiguous but apparent- Islamabad,” he said. “If there’s respective council for a four year term; Europe/Radio Liberty cited an clared state of hostilities”. ly positive statement on its avail- nothing positive, the attack will 2. From amongst district councils of each province, one individual, elected by the respective anonymous Pakistani source as “The focus is to have a seri- ability for renewed peace talks. take place another time.” councils, for a three year term; saying Afghanistan had asked for ous choreography where we can “The Islamic Emirate believes a Teetering government “some practical steps to remove move in tandem and focus on res- military solution is not a way out Despite the threats to its ex- the trust deficit”. It would like to olution of the issues between now of the Afghan issue. All problems istence, however, Afghanistan’s see “some kind of a cut-off date and the end of winter,” he said. can be resolved through dialogue national unity government (NUG) for ending sanctuaries (in Pakistan) “Pakistan can be a broker. The after the withdrawal of foreign is torn by infighting between Pres- to achieve some semblance of neu- trust needs to be earned.” troops from Afghan soil,” the Tal- ident Ghani and Abdullah Abdul- trality,” the source said. Speaking to Reuters on Mon- iban leadership council said in the lah, who was appointed the gov- “It will not be enough to just day, an unnamed senior Afghan statement. “We are ready to ini- ernment’s CEO as part of a pow- bring the Taliban to the negotiat- official was similarly wary. “Don’t tiate meaningful negotiations with er-sharing agreement reached after ing table,” he said. “Ensuring there get your expectations too high,” all concerned sides.” presidential elections in Septem- will be a lasting ceasefire will be he said. “If Pakistan says ‘we’ll The Taliban’s October 15 ber 2014. the most important question. The do something for you in the peace statement was issued a few hours The Afghan public was out- Afghan side would like to get some process’, we’re not going to rush. ahead of a widely anticipated raged by the government’s inabili- Let’s TAPI be the We will have to verify it”. White House announcement that ty to foresee and prevent the fall guarantees to avoid what happened after the first round of talks in For its part, Pakistan has re- President Barack Obama had of Kunduz to no more than 3,000 July.” engaged the Afghan government, scrapped plans to pull the US mil- Taliban fighters. The blame has In fact, both sides have justi- but only under heavy US pressure itary out of Afghanistan. A subse- fallen squarely on the Abdullah- game changer fiable cause for complaint, but nei- applied during Prime Minister quent statement from the White allied leadership of the National ther ever disputed that talks, soon- Sharif’s official visit to Washing- House’s National Security Coun- Directorate of Security; it had also Finally, the ground breaking ceremony of construction of much-anticipat- er or later, should resume. ton in October. cil said about 5,500 US troops will announced the death of Mullah ed, TAPI gas pipeline project is going to be held in Ashgabat—the capital Under considerable pressure An Afghan security officer remain stationed at bases Bagram, Omar without first consulting Pres- from the US and China, the ice prays during an ongoing operation Jalalabad, Kandahar and Kabul, the ident Ghani. city of Turkmenistan, next week. The idea of TAPI was floated some 25 between Afghanistan’s President against Islamic State militants in capital. There are currently 14,000 Were the Taliban to make a years back. This is a $10 billion project, which has the capacity to usher in Ghani and Pakistan’s Prime Min- Nangarhar province on Tuesday NATO troops in Afghanistan, in- substantial assault on Kabul, it a new era of economic opportunities in the region. On one side, the project ister Sharif was broken on Mon- . NOORULLAH SHIRZADA/ cluding 9,800 Americans. would bring down the NUG, some day, on the sidelines of the UN AFP/Getty Images The policy change was the “re- analysts believe. “Government will protect many of Pakistan’s factories from biting the dust as it has Climate Change summit in Paris. In a statement issued on Tues- sult of an extensive, months-long security forces would be capable become an energy-starved country while on the other hand, it will come The two leaders “held discus- day, Pakistan’s foreign ministry review”, the council said. The US of repelling any Taliban assault on sions on the resumption of the emphasised its participation in the commander of NATO forces in Kabul, [but] an attack similar to closer to India. On one side it will usher in economic opportunities in peace and reconciliation process”, renewed push for peace talks with Afghanistan, General John Camp- Kunduz – where the Taliban were Afghanistan while on the other it will bring Pakistan closer to Afghanistan according to a joint statement. the Taliban was part of a “quadri- bell, had told the Senate in early able to gain control of some neigh- for its energy needs. Once the region is linked through billions-dollars “Both leaders agreed to work with lateral initiative” with China and October that Afghan forces could bourhoods of the capital, even for all those who would enter such a the US as “vital partners”. not resist the Taliban without West- a very short time – would likely projects, political sensitivities will subside and economic relation will process as legitimate political ac- “Since it has to be an Afghan- ern military support. be politically devastating for the cement. tors, and act, alongside the Afghan led process, we are confident that NATO Secretary-General Jens NUG,” said IHS Country Risk’s The project has the potential to bind South Asia and Central Asia togeth- government, against all those who the Afghan government and the Stoltenberg on Tuesday an- head of Asia analysis, Omar Ha- would refuse to take the path of Taliban would step forward with nounced the alliance would con- mid, in a press release distributed er in a stronger economic bond, which will help in enhancing cross-border peace.” concrete ideas and proposals and tinue to fund the Afghan National on November 20. “Such an event cooperation. This region has huge importance as it sits on treasures of British Prime Minister David engage in meaningful reconciliation Security Forces to the tune of $4 would almost certainly expedite trillions dollars besides neighbored by China and Russia—the two nuclear Cameron was a last-minute addi- talks,” said a foreign ministry state- billion annually up to 2020, while the breakup of the coalition, and tion to the meeting, suggesting the ment attributed to Prime Minister retaining 12,000 NATO troops in subsequently leave an extremely powers and biggest economies. Though India and Pakistan are also nuclear need for an arbiter to bring the Sharif. “Pakistan is prepared to Afghanistan up to the end of 2016, weak central government. While powers, but the latter is a worst case as it‘s economy is dwindling and it is South Asian neighbours together. extend its full support and assis- with US troops making up more President Ghani would continue to descending into destabilization caused by homegrown terrorism. South Asia Distrust at the Heart of Asia tance in promoting any such ini- than half the force. lead the government even in the The situation will become tiative.” The decision followed the Tal- event of a resignation of Abdullah needs overcoming a huge gap in infrastructure as it has been investing only clear at the ‘Heart of Asia – Istan- No military solution iban’s seizure of the strategic north- and his allies, his ability to control 4% to 7% of GDP per year in infrastructure over last decade. This percent- bul Process’ regional conference on The Taliban has yet to re- ern city of Kunduz in September provincial governors, and military age is lower than what the East Asian governments have invested. Even Afghanistan, being held in Islama- spond to the statement. and other territorial gains by the commanders in distant regions, bad, the Pakistani capital, on De- However, probably in prepa- insurgents in the east, north and would become very limited.” Vietnam is ahead of South Asia as it invested above 10%. China has been cember 9. ration for renewed talks, the Tali- south of the country during the It is conceivable that former investing 12-13% of GDP. Pakistan’s ministry of foreign ban last week appointed Sher first year Afghan forces have tak- President Hamid Karzai would Growth benefits developed by regional energy deals such as TAPI, CASA affairs on Tuesday announced Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai as en responsibility for national se- once again attempt to wield direct President Ghani would visit Islam- the head of its political office in curity. or indirect control over the gov- and IPI, will increase market integration and give birth to industrial revolu- abad to jointly inaugurate the event Doha, Qatar. He would lead the The announcement on Mon- ernment, possibly forcing the in- tion which will be more important for smaller economies as they will get with Prime Minister Sharif. The Taliban delegation in the event of day coincided with a warning from cumbent President Ghani into the enough tariff to setup their own small scale industries and factories. Small conference “provides an oppor- renewed negotiations. the US embassy in Kabul that the role of a figurehead, Mr. Hamid tunity to evolve a common road- Notably, the appointment was Afghan capital faced an “imminent said. and landlocked countries, like Afghanistan, Nepal, and Bhutan, will benefit map for result-oriented reconcili- also necessitated by internal dis- attack” by Wednesday. Such circumstances would se- from the huge markets in South Asia by improved access to the markets in ation in Afghanistan”, the joint putes. Tayyab Agha, the former A Karachi-based former Tali- verely hamper US-led parallel ef- the region. But, this is unfortunate that despite reforms, South Asia re- statement issued in Paris on Mon- personal secretary of Mullah ban minister, speaking on condi- forts to keep the Taliban at bay day said. Omar, stepped down from the tion of anonymity, told The World militarily, while finding a negotiat- mains the victim of most restrictive tariff policies compared to other re- But in an interview with Doha position in August after crit- Weekly on Wednesday that an at- ed political solution to Afghani- gions of the world. France 24, held shortly after his icising the new Taliban chief for tack on Kabul had, indeed, been stan’s political morass. In market integration, agents, play an effective role. Market integration allows agents to interact across spatial scales. The scales are regional, international and local. Given that security improves and tariff restrictions normalize, South Asia will cease suffering from high trade and transporta- tion costs. Poor transportation and borders restrictions are other means that cause troubles. Ignorance which is prevalent in the region, partly be- cause of illiteracy and partly being deliberately sown by state actors for political purposes, strengthen the appeal of groups that preach hatred based on ethnic, sectarian and religious differences. However close market inte- gration and enhanced energy ties will raise the living standard of people living in the region which eventually take them out from the mindset that thrives on ignorance and hatred. Geoeconomics and energy must shape the collective destiny of the peo- ple living in the region in a better way. The policymakers who have had pushed this region into a hell, now must realize their blunders have repeat- edly ensued deadliest results, then why to repeat them again and again. Many of the issues are not real but perceived. The supernatural power is too generous with us as our region has trillions-dollars natural resources, but the problem is man-made problems as we are unable to exploit these natural resources for our benefits. We need building a grand strategy how to transform South-and-Central Asia into a region of opportunities, terror- free, hate-free and an abode of love. Subscription Rates Categories Fee Afghanistan Times Annual Afg: 3600 at your door step For fast delivery service Six Months Afg: 1800 Afghanistan Times seeks the names, addresses of your International Organization $200 per year organizations and the number of copies you want. This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF.

MONDAY . DECEMBER 07 2015 AFGHANISTANTIMES Playing politics with boots on the ground By Jamal Khashoggi guarantee its one condition: “Syr- lowing Saudi Arabia and the Unit- majority (“a free Syria”). These Can we call that a Saudi-Turk- Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ia without Iran”. ed States to support and train the three positions form the founding ish military alliance? Those who By Michael Knights I wrote an article last week warn- Until this condition is met, the revolutionaries from its lands but, principles for understanding the are suffering from Ikhwanophobia was forced to clarify his position ing that Russian president The issue of sovereignty is a ongoing Russian interference might at the same time, does not wish to Syrian conflict rather than the tran- reject it, or do not want to believe on December 2, noting: “There is Vladimir Putin might be a threat to sensitive one in any country but make the kingdom think twice be- get involved in a struggle it is un- sient and changing American, Eu- it, and insist on considering Tur- no need for foreign ground combat Saudi Arabia due to his stubborn- particularly so in the Middle East. fore stepping on Syrian ground to able to handle. For its part, the ropean or Russian stances. In this key as an organization rather than troops. Any such support and ness and politics in Syria. I also Governments have been critically avoid any confrontation with the United States is a ball of contra- case, what would be the role of an a regional power! Turkey is not an special operations anywhere in pointed out that it would be wise weakened over the issue of allow- Russian giant. Nevertheless, it did dictions. It is against Assad but, in orphan stance such as the “politi- organization; however, Iran and al- Iraq can only be deployed subject to anticipate this danger in order ing foreign troops too much lee- not alter its firm stance. Here, we parallel, is preventing the arma- cal Islam” or the “Muslim Broth- Assad’s regime as well as their ally to the approval of the Iraqi gov- to prevent it from happening. way: for instance, Ayatollah Ru- can go back to the statements of ment of the revolutionaries and erhood” in the conflict? Russia are observing the alliance ernment.” Later Abadi went fur- My article, which was widely hollah Khomeini made devastating Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir intends to conduct a military I will go back now to my pre- and are, most probably, getting ther, adding that the Iraqi govern- read, attracted tremendous atten- use of the 1964 US-Iranian status who, even after the downing of the ground operation against ISIS in cedent article and respond in short ready for it. They are aware that ment “would deal with the pres- tion and received the highest num- of forces agreement, which he Russian plane by the Turks, is still Syria, with the support of the to the colleagues that an article the crisis is a struggle among coun- ence of foreign ground troops in ber of comments from al-Hayat’s claimed “reduced the Iranian peo- insisting on Assad’s departure as a Kurds, that is launched from Tur- written in a newspaper cannot in- tries that are bigger than a simple Iraq as though their presence were readers, most of whom were sup- ple to a level lower than that of an condition to reach a solution key, which is the state that fears fluence the kingdom, which has a organization, and a race of move- a hostile act and a violation of porting my point of view, accord- American dog”. In Iraq, the scene “through peaceful or hostile the Kurds and their ambitions. consistent principle it will not de- ments. So could you please do the Iraq’s national sovereignty”. Aba- ing to what the IT department of of a prolonged occupation by a US- means”. Even the kingdom, which is reject- viate from, even if it adapts its same? di has also been drawn into a seri- the newspaper told me. led coalition, the government has On the other hand, if we con- ing the Russian interference in Syr- positions to arising developments This article was first published ous dispute with Turkey since the However, along with this at- recently pushed back on the pres- sider the crisis from an Iranian per- ia and had, indeed, warned them and its own capabilities. More- in al-Hayat on Dec. 5, 2015. media announced the presence of tention, the article was targeted by ence of both US and Turkish spective, Iran is defending its in- straight away from its consequenc- over, it cannot be dragged to line Jamal Khashoggi is a Saudi 150 to 200 newly added Turkish a smear campaign led by colleagues “boots on the ground”, citing sov- fluence, which has spread to the es, is still developing its trade rela- up with Turkey because it is al- journalist, columnist, author, and troops plus heavy equipment at a who are supposed to be wise ereignty concerns. But in both cas- Eastern Mediterranean and is al- tions with Russia; perhaps such ready on the same page with it. general manager of the upcoming training base inside the Kurdish enough and refute one argument es, the presence of such troops lowing it to reconstruct history approximation could constitute a They have also overlooked the fact Al Arab News Channel. He previ- region of northern Iraq. These forc- with another, adding what might was nothing new: instead the con- according to its narrow sectarian possibility of agreement between that the Turkish Prime Minister ously served as a media aide to es were deployed to the Zilkan have been missing and correcting troversy tells us more about the vision. And if they lose Syria, they both countries. After rejecting Ahmet Davutoglu stated last Prince Turki al Faisal while he was base in November to join about 30 what might have been wrong. Nev- internal politicking between Iraqi will also lose Lebanon and their NATO’s operations in Libya, Ger- Monday, while standing next to Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the Turkish trainers who had already ertheless, a colleague started shout- Shia factions and how Iraqi groups influential party there. Therefore, many is planning to send five thou- NATO’s Secretary-General, that United States. Khashoggi has writ- been working at the base since 2014 ing “who does he [the author] and their foreign backers care more it is a war of existence that the Ira- sand fighters to fight ISIS in Raqqa, his country, Saudi Arabia and a ten for various daily and weekly to train Arab policemen to take think he is to give the impression about the local power balance than nians are waging in our world. As not to mention the stands of the third unspecified nation are pre- Arab newspapers, including part in the recapture of nearby that we are in a state of war with defeating the self-styled Islamic for the Turks, they agree with Sau- rest of the countries. paring to launch a military opera- Asharq al-Awsat, al-Majalla and Mosul city. In one of Iraq’s quiet Russia?” State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). di Arabia on rejecting the Iranian Making judgments based on tion in Syria to fight terrorism. al-Hayat, and was editor-in-chief complexities, the Saddam regime Well, “he” is a writer just like A clash over the return of US presence and have a number of in- the previous details is useless as Saudi Arabia did not deny such of the Saudi-based al-Watan. He and subsequent Shia-led govern- you, defending your right to ex- troops has been a long time com- terests such as protecting the Turk- stances can change. We should, a high-level statement, and Davu- was a foreign correspondent in ments have tolerated a large press your views freely, form the ing. In June 2011, just months be- men minority there, and prevent- rather, form our opinion based on toglu would certainly not say that Afghanistan, Algeria, Kuwait, 15,000-strong Turkish ground public opinion and analyze the fore the full withdrawal of US mil- ing the extension of the Kurds in a consistent stands like the ones of if he did not personally participate Sudan, and other Middle Eastern force presence in the Kurdistan ongoing situation. Therefore, if he itary forces, Iran-backed militias micro-state of their own. Global Saudi Arabia (“Syria without or, at least, know about top secu- countries. He is also a political Regional Government (KRG) area were to be muzzled, so would you killed 16 Americans to drive home race Globally, it is a race between Iran”), Iran’s (“red lines in Syria”) rity meetings between the three commentator for Saudi-based and and constant Turkish aerial incur- be, which would affect the pro- the point that US forces must Russia and the West, extending and the most important of all, countries dedicated to planning international news channels. Twit- sions since the early 1990s. As long cess of forming opinions. Another leave. Waking nightmare for from the Crimean Peninsula and which is the position of the Syrian such an operation. ter: @JKhashoggi as the Turks were keeping Kurdi- colleague qualified those who are Iran The return of US and other Ukraine to the Eastern Mediterra- sh interests in check, there was lit- warning against Putin’s threat as Western forces to Iraq is like a nean, and to the Republic of Mon- tle opposition to this presence opportunists and started hitting waking nightmare for Iran and her tenegro. The latter country previ- from Baghdad. But Baghdad has below the belt stating: “These are proxies in Iraq, notably Badr, ously belonged to Yugoslavia, con- become more critical of the pres- the author’s desires that serve both Kataib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl sidered as a part of the old Soviet ence since Turkey’s role shifted to a cause he is fond of and his affili- tomb, the news exploded tourism has taken on even al-Haq. These militias (and others strategic realm inherited by Putin, By Anthony Sattin alliance with the KRG. ‘A viola- ations outside his country’s bor- such as Muqtada al-Sadr’s follow- who wants to rehabilitate it after around the world. Although greater importance. tion of Iraq’s sovereignty’ On ders!” ers) have been levying threats NATO declared its intention to add In November, the possibility of Damati was cautious in his ini- But years of revolution and July 30, Abadi referred to Turkish Such criticisms are usually against the 3,500-strong US pres- Montenegro to the Alliance, infu- two major archaeological dis- tial assessment, he has taken a civil unrest has taken its toll air strikes on Kurdistan Workers’ unworthy of any response, had ence ever since it returned in 2014, riating the Russians. coveries were announced, but prominent role in the story. and last month - which should Party sites inside the Kurdish re- they not been approved by many threatening to kill US advisers if The race might expand to in- they are likely to have very dif- gion of northern Iraq as “a viola- who were affected by the nihilis- In Egypt, archaeology and have been the beginning of they have crossed red lines such clude Egypt, which is under pres- tion of Iraq’s sovereignty”. The tic conflict between movements, ferent impacts. tourism are intimately connect- high season in Luxor and the as in the establishment of US-only sure to choose a side after it be- addition of 150-200 troops plus and considered the article as an In Mexico, a tunnel has ed and in some ways, the econ- south - most hotels had low bases or the direct US arming of came confused due to the resolu- 35 armoured vehicles at Zilkan led “attempt to drag the kingdom into been found under the Great omy is maintained by the pha- occupancy and the majority of Kurdish or Sunni Arab paramili- tion of its internal struggle in favor Abadi to declare on December 6 a Turkish-Russian conflict that Temple of Tenochtitlan, in the raoh's gold standard. the 300 Nile cruisers were tied taries without Baghdad’s involve- of the army, which came to power that the presence was a “serious serves the interest of the Muslim heart of Mexico City. The tun- ment. Most recently the Iranian- in July 2013. It seems clear that Two weeks ago, after two up. In the south, where the breach of Iraqi sovereignty” that Brotherhood,” as a former col- backed groups have started a sus- the latter’s tendencies are directed nel contained the decapitated nights of radar scanning and majority of people are involved Turkey needed to withdraw with- league and editor-in-chief wrote to tained push to replace the US-led towards the East, to achieve its heads of two children, but what other tests in the tomb, he an- in tourism, this represents mil- in 48 hours or face “all available me, confining the Syrian crisis and coalition with Russia and Iran. vision of independent decision- is exciting for Aztec specialists nounced a 90 percent chance lions of personal calamities. options”, including recourse to the its repercussions to the Brother- This has included unsuccessful ef- making. Nevertheless, Egypt is still is the discovery of two sealed UN Security Council. The Turk- hood. Some persons are suffering of there being at least one more Although a string of recent forts to transfer the overall com- unbalanced. The persisting pres- ish case is illustrative of the role from a very advanced state of Ikh- chambers at the end of the tun- chamber. Yet, if something is discoveries in Egypt has failed mand post for the war from the sure will compel it to choose one that politics plays in the sover- wanophobia – or fear of the Mus- nel. The archaeologist leading discovered, it will be Damati's to catch our interest, Zaazou is Combined Joint Operations Cen- of the two sides as it is impossible eignty debate. The October 22 lim Brotherhood – which is blur- the dig believes that the cham- colleague Hisham Zaazou who hoping that a major discovery tre (collocated with the coalition) and unacceptable for it to stand in Hawija raid caused outrage among ring their vision and preventing bers will contain the incinerat- will be the most delighted. in Luxor, involving Egypt's to a new intelligence-sharing cen- two places at the same time. This supporters of the Iranian-backed them from seeing the real immi- ed remains of some of the great tre housing representatives from might explain the Saudi position, 'The pharaoh's gold stan- great asset, Tutankhamun, will militias but at no point did such nent danger. This phobia might Iraq, the Shia militias, Russia, Iran, putting up with the excesses of the Aztec rulers, including Mocte- dard' encourage us back to the tem- supporters seek to place any re- happen to any author who would Lebanese Hezbollah and the As- Egyptian media expressing the zuma I. Zaazou is Egypt's minister ples and tombs - and in that he strictions on the combat role then discuss and correct others’ sad regime. Recent events have opinions of the powers inside the But for all the excitement of tourism. First appointed in might be right. played by Iranian Revolutionary opinions, but once it affects deci- played into the hands of the groups system that are heading east, and surrounding the Mexican an- Guard Corps’ Qods Force or Leb- sion-making, it becomes more dan- 2012, during the Muslim Broth- Package tourism on the Nile trying to knock the US-led coali- its enacting of the Saudi-Egyptian anese Hezbollah special forces in gerous and vicious. nouncement, and how much it erhood presidency of Moham- - which dates back to 1869 tion out of Iraq. On October 22, coordination council which held a Iraq. Iran’s proxies like Badr have A regional power struggle helps advance Aztec research, ed Morsi, he has survived sev- when Thomas Cook took his US special forces took part in a series of other meetings in Riyadh established a parallel security sec- The Syrian crisis is a compli- it is the news from Egypt that eral governments and a string first group to see the sights - Kurdish raid in Hawija, resulting a few days ago. There is a prevail- tor with little connection to the cated regional and international is grabbing headlines, as ar- of crises - the latest being the has been buoyed by several in one US soldier being killed, and ing and deliberate state of ambigu- constitutional Iraqi chain of com- matter bigger than the Muslim chaeologists take steps to since then other evidence has ity that can be clearly discerned fallout from the downing of a waves of Egyptomania. mand. In contrast, US President Brotherhood, and all of political emerged of US special forces spo- when listening to the press con- prove that there is more than Russian passenger plane flying The opening of Tutankha- Barack Obama underlined that on Islam, which are nothing but small radically undertaking sniper and ference of the foreign minister of meets the eye in the Tomb of out of the Red Sea resort of mun's tomb in 1923, and the April 16 the US was committed to players in a larger playground. It mortar attacks on ISIL forces along any country “involved in the Syr- Tutankhamun in Luxor's Valley Sharm el-Sheikh. subsequent drip of sensation- working exclusively through the is a revolution for freedom for the the Kurdish front line. On Novem- ian conflict” as floating statements of the Kings. Abadi government,noting ”any large number of the Syrian people In most other countries, al discoveries - helped by a se- ber 29, US Senators John McCain joined together bear more than one foreign assistance that is helping who had to take up arms and de- The possibility of there be- you might be forgiven for won- ries of odd deaths ascribed to and Lindsey Graham visited Iraq interpretation. to defeat [ISIL] has to go through fend themselves against the re- ing at least one more chamber dering what possible link there a mummy's curse - was the and publicly touted ideas for an It is an attempt from every- the Iraqi government. That’s how gime’s oppression. And when re- in the young king's tomb was might be between an archaeo- greatest of all and has made expanded US presence of 10,000 one to avoid the “moment of truth” you respect Iraqi sovereignty”. solving the crisis, we must listen first raised in August by Nicho- logical discovery and the na- Egypt somewhere we all want personnel as part of a multinational which requires an explicit sorting Washington has consistently infu- to them. For this purpose, the king- las Reeves, the British Egyp- ground force to counter ISIL and of positions as relations and inter- tional economy: The discovery to visit at least once in our lives. riated proponents of directly arm- dom was keen to invite some fif- “to neutralise the Shia militia ad- ests are intertwined. Even Iran – tologist. Reeves had been of British King Richard III's re- The tour of Tutankhamun's ing the Kurds and the Sunni Arabs teen armed factions to represent vantage to some extent”, Graham which is the evident enemy of Sau- studying the results of scans mains beneath a car park in Le- treasures to Europe and the by funnelling all its military aid via them in the Syrian general confer- noted. Backlash from Iranian- di Arabia, for example – is neither of the tomb made by Madrid- icester was spectacular, but it United States in the 1970s, Baghdad. What the current com- ence which will be held in Riyadh backed groups These comments an absolute enemy of Turkey be- based Factum Arte - an art and motion over sovereignty and or Abha in a few days, in addition didn't affect the value of the which drew thousands to the coincided with comments by US cause it has interests in its oil and “boots on the ground” tells us is to Syrian national and religious fig- preservation organisation - British pound. British Museum and elsewhere, Secretary of Defence Ashton markets, nor that of Western coun- that many of the factions fighting ures, as well as representatives of which had completed the most In Egypt, however, archae- created another surge in Nile Carter on December 1 that Wash- tries currently seeking economic ISIL have more urgent priorities the minorities. extensive scan of the ancient ology and tourism are intimate- tourism. ington would deploy “a special- gains for its companies in the big than defeating the terrorist move- The crisis is a struggle among surfaces while creating a repli- ly connected and in some ways, The near certainty that ised expeditionary targeting force and virgin Iranian market, after ment. For groups such as Badr, countries that are bigger than a sim- ca of the burial chamber It hap- to assist Iraqi and Kurdish Pesh- they signed the nuclear agreement the economy is maintained by there might be another cham- Kataib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl ple organization, and a race of merga forces … able to conduct with Iran that is, in reality, a his- pened in ... Luxor the pharaoh's gold standard. ber in the treasure-packed tomb al-Haq, the urgency of defeating movements. Jamal Khashoggi The raids, free hostages, gather intelli- torical reconciliation. Looking at a set of black Egypt has two great tour- and the speculation, already ISIL is low because the predomi- crisis is a regional power struggle. gence and capture [ISIL] leaders”. UAE, Jordan, U.S. and white scans, Reeves no- ism assets: its hundreds of rife, of the wonders it might nately Shia areas cannot be over- If we consider it from a mere Saudi Though the Iraqi government was A state such as the UAE is ticed that one wall of the cham- run by ISIL any more. The key perspective, the kingdom will nei- miles of Red Sea beaches and contain - including the remains fully supportive on the special completely aligned with Saudi Ara- fear for Badr and other Iranian prox- ther stand nor accept a permanent ber had traces of what might the great monuments from its of the great beauty Nefertiti - forces unit, one of a number of bia in Yemen but does not want ies is now that ISIL will be dealt a Iranian military influence in its be two hidden doorways and long history. will only help. such groups already operating with any cooperation with Turkey in series of defeats by rival forces - northern part or in Syria. To date, he published an academic pa- Beach tourism took on And just now, as anyone Iraqi permission, the backlash from Syria, and is maintaining its trade the government of Iraq, the Iraqi no party has provided Saudi Ara- per with his findings. greater significance after the who has been in the south of Badr and other Iranian-backed relations with Iran. Jordan is army, the Peshmerga and the US- bia with a regional solution that I met him in London before groups was sufficiently fierce that against Bashar al-Assad and is al- Islamist trouble along the Nile Egypt recently will know, help led coalition. would ease its security fears and the story took off - August can in the 1990s: the creation of the is needed. be a difficult time to attract Red Sea Riviera label helped Anthony Sattin is an expert press attention - and he was separate the coast from what on North Africa and the Mid- quietly confident that at least was happening inland, and re- dle East, and the author of re- LETTER TO THE EDITOR one chamber would be found. sorts such as Hurghada and cently published Young On October 1, when Mam- Sharm el-Sheikh flourished. Lawrence. duh al-Damati, Egypt's minis- Which is why, with much of The views expressed in this ter of antiquities, announced a Sinai out of bounds and with article are the author's own and 70 percent chance of there be- Sharm el-Sheikh now suffering do not necessarily reflect Al Peace talks a mirage ing something hidden in the after the Russian jet crash, Nile Jazeera's editorial policy. President Ashraf Ghani is expected to visit Pakistan to attend the heart of Asia conference in Islamabad. Main focus during the visit will be on peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. Most of the people of Afghanistan are still doubtful about Pakistan’s role in the peace process. Pakistan should be asked to target the Taliban militants sectaries on its soil, if he truly want to bring peace to Afghanistan, or at least give up its support to militant groups. Afghan government should not waste its time with these mere promises of peace talks. Usually peace talks give the Taliban time to receive equipment during winter to launch coordinated attacks in summer. Thus, the government should be very careful in its policy towards Pakistan and should have a clear stance towards the Taliban. Hamid Khan, Kot-e-Sangi, Kabul

Letter to editor will be edited for policy, content and clarity. All letters must have the writer’s name and address. You may send your letters to: [email protected]

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the articles are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views or opinions of the Afghanistan Times. This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. WEDNESDAY . DECEMBER 09, 2015 AFGHANISTANTIMES India's disap- In late August 2006, John Mearsheimer and Steve Walt pub- pearing lished a book called 'The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy', ever since life, says Mearsheimer, nomads has been fundamentally altered. Sumdo, India - At sunset, a group "If you criticise Israel or criti- of Tibetan nomads gather at a large cise the lobby, you pay a signifi- prayer wheel in the isolated Indi- cant price and most people are un- an mountain village of Sumdo. willing to pay this price," Light from the setting sun Mearsheimer told Al Jazeera. catches the faces of men, women, A specialist of international and some children, but there are politics and author of several few young families. Where are all books, Mearsheimer maintains a of the nomads going - and why? critical view of United States for- The people gathered this eign policy with special emphasis evening are refugees who fled Chi- on its Middle East policies. na's Cultural Revolution in the late He argues that the Islamic 1960s, crossing from western Ti- State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) bet over the mountains to India's will not be defeated in traditional side of the Changthang Plateau. warfare because "you do not de- When they arrived in India, many feat an ideology". of them joined another group of Mearsheimer is working on a nomads already living there - Lada- new book that tackles the relation- khi pastoralists who have lived in ship between liberalism and na- the region for thousands of years, tionalism in international politics. moving seasonally with herds of "My argument is that nation- goat, sheep and yaks. alism is the most powerful ideolo- As of last year, 2,300 Tibetan gy on the planet and, whenever lib- nomads were living in eight camps eralism and nationalism clash, na- on the Changthang Plateau. tionalism wins almost every time," India is home to about 80 mil- he said. He spoke to Al Jazeera lion nomads, who belong to hun- about the war on ISIL, US foreign dreds of distinctive groups. Many policy and the Palestinian ques- make their livelihoods as travellers, tion. Al Jazeera: What is your take blacksmiths, craftsmen, storytell- on the US-led coalition war on ers, entertainers and herdsmen. ISIL? John Mearsheimer: My view But, while the situation for nomads is the West - and here we are talk- in India differs from village to vil- ing mainly about the US - has a lage and state to state, most no- clear strategy for how to deal with madic communities are witnessing ISIL, but it is a deeply flawed one. a breakdown in traditional modes There are two components to the argue that the only way to defeat Mearsheimer: I think there is Bush did. itary units, and in our fight against certainly in terms of the occupied of living. The nomads relocate eight US-led approach: first to topple ISIL is by putting boots on the no question that the the US is prin- The big difference is: Bush in- ISIL, we are in effect back in Iraq. territories it is an apartheid state, to ten times a year and live in ro- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad ground. The US is already consid- cipally responsible for the creation vaded two countries [Afghanistan There is no question that the and you can make a plausible ar- bos, or tents, sometimes made from from power and, second, to use ering sending a special force to of ISIL. and Iraq] with American ground US has little interest in inserting a gument when you include the pre- yak wool [Augusta Thomson/Al Western air power, coupled with Syria and there are already some There was no ISIL before the forces, but Obama knows that it is large number of ground troops but, 1967 border. Jazeera] local forces on the ground, to in- forces in Iraq. US invaded Iraq. And ISIL is large- not a good idea, and that is why he in terms of influence in Syria and And the issue, from an Israeli On the Changthang Plateau, the flict a decisive defeat on ISIL. Mearsheimer: There are two ly a consequence of the US inva- does not want to put ground forc- Iraq, the US is still in the game in a point of view, is that once you go biggest obstacles nomads face are ISIL fighters will not stand and issues here. Who will put boots sion of Iraq in 2003 and toppling es in Syria. serious way. It is just trying to do to the one person, one vote sys- the harsh environment, climate do battles with the US military. on the ground to deal with ISIL? of Saddam Hussein. Nevertheless, President it from the air or with small Amer- tem, the Palestinians will outnum- change, lack of education, poor What they will do is melt away Everybody agrees that ISIL This has been compounded by Obama, much like President Bush ican special forces on the ground. ber the Jews and it will cease to be healthcare and economic instabili- into the towns, the countryside and cannot be defeated with air power the fact that since roughly 2011, before him, is deeply committed Al Jazeera: And on the Pales- a Jewish state. So the Israelis will ty. Sonam Palkyi and Yungdung cities, and they will come back to alone, and we need boots on the the US has been committed to top- to fostering regime change in the tinian question? have a powerful interest in main- Dolma fled from western Tibet in fight another day, so there is no ground. The Americans - and Eu- pling Assad from power in Dam- Middle East. Mearsheimer: The Obama ad- taining the apartheid state. the 1960s, and have lived outside military solution to defeating ISIL. ropeans, for sure - do not want to ascus, which has helped to create Obama, like Bush, is interest- ministration has gone to great The problem, however, is that Sumdo, a small Tibetan settlement The problem with this approach send ground troops because they a civil war in Syria now, in addi- ed in the remaking of the Middle lengths to convince Netanyahu Israel likes to think of itself as part on the Changthang Plateau, ever is, now that the Russians, Iranians know what happened in Afghani- tion to the mess we created in Iraq. East [by force]. As we all know, [the Israeli prime minister] that the of the West, and supporters of Is- since. Today, they are both in their and Hezbollah are committed to stan and they know what hap- This of course provided fer- the US played a role in toppling two-state solution is in everyone's rael go to great lengths to say we 60s. They say the difficulties keeping Assad in power, that there pened in Iraq. tile territory for ISIL to grow by the government in Libya in 2011, interest. However, Netanyahu's share the same values, but there is posed by Changthang's evolving is no way the US, and the West It just makes the problem leaps and bounds, so there is no and the US has been deeply in- government is adamantly opposed no way you can make that argu- landscape cannot be underestimat- more generally, are going to topple worse. Get the local forces to in- question in my mind that the US volved in trying to foster regime to the two-state solution. They are ment once it is widely recognised ed. Each year, their pastureland Assad from power. tervene on the ground and have the played a main role. change in Syria since mid-2000 bent on creating a greater Israel and, that Israel is an apartheid state. shrinks, probably because of a Instead what you will end up US and Europeans provide air Al Jazeera: Was this a deliber- when Bush was in office. indeed, one could argue that they Al Jazeera: Does the Israel combination of climate change and with is a situation where the Rus- power to support those ground ate action? Obama has not changed that have already created greater Israel. lobby still maintain its power and increased tourism in the area. sians and the Americans fight a forces. However, the fact is that Mearsheimer: What is remark- policy at all. He is deeply com- Obama failed in his attempt to clout in Washington's corridors of Palkyi is quick to note the tri- proxy war over Assad which is there are no local actors who are able about all of this is that the mitted to the idea that Assad must convince the Israelis to accept the power? als of nomadic life. "Many animals going to detract from the Ameri- willing to put boots on the ground. Bush administration did not antic- go. two-state solution and, as a result Mearsheimer: The lobby is as die during the winter when sup- can-led efforts against ISIL. It is also hard to see where we ipate any trouble in Iraq. They So the US is, in many ways, a of the ensuing conflict between powerful as ever. The lobby is alive plies are cut off. Generally for no- Even more importantly, there are going to get the troops that thought that we were going to go revolutionary force in the Middle Obama and Netanyahu over that and well, and Israel is going to have mads, it is all problems," she said. is no way that you can decisively would be necessary to topple ISIL. in there, topple Saddam Hussein East whether you are talking about issue and Iran's nuclear deal, rela- to rely heavily on the lobby to deal "But we don't have any choice. So defeat ISIL because you are trying And even if you topple ISIL from power, put some benevolent Bush or Obama. And just listening tions between the US and Israel with the fact that it is rapidly be- we have to live this life anyway. to defeat an Ideology. and inflict a military defeat on it - leader in charge in Baghdad and we to various US presidential candi- are at an all-time low. coming - if it is not already - an We had to escape from Tibet. So There is no question that if the let's just say the Americans and would be able to leave and march dates, there is no reason to believe I have been an advocate of the apartheid state. this is the only option we have." US and the European powers put Europeans put down ground forc- on to the next country to invade. there will be any rethinking of that two-state solution. It is not the This will cause huge problems While both women's sons have a large number of ground forces in es and roll up the ISIL military This is what the Bush doctrine basic policy of regime change. best alternative, but it is a good in the US - and the West more gen- left for the town of Choglamsar, Syria and Iraq they could defeat units that now control all that ter- was all about and, of course, this Al Jazeera: But the dominant one. However, I think we are past erally. What the Israelis are bet- on the outskirts of Leh, their daugh- ISIL in a traditional war, but the ritory in Iraq and Syria - in the was a remarkably foolish way to perception in the region is that the the point where it is a viable op- ting is that the lobby will protect ters remain at home and assist their problem is that ISIL fighters would end, this will not matter because think about what would be the US, during Obama's previous years tion. them. If there was no lobby, the families with herding. According to just evaporate. They would just you cannot defeat an ideology. consequence of an American-led in office, adopted a hands-off ap- There is not going to be a two- discourse on Israel in the US Dolma, the main obstacle to their disappear into cities and towns ISIL fighters will not stand and invasion. And what we have seen proach to the political turmoil in state solution. There is now - and would be fundamentally different children's development - especial- just like the Taliban did, and the do battle with the American mili- is that we created a chaos in Iraq the Middle East? will continue to be - a greater Isra- from how it is today. Moreover, ly that of their daughters - is lack end result would be twofold; one tary. What they will do is melt that led to the creation of ISIL. Mearsheimer: There is no ques- el, and inside that greater Israel the policies of the US government of education. In a place where peo- as long as the West occupied Syria away into the towns, countryside Al Jazeera: As we approach tion that the US pulled its troops Palestinians will soon outnumber and European governments would ple depend on shrinking grasslands and Iraq,this would just generate and cities, and they will come back the end of President Barack out of Iraq and we definitely de- the Israeli Jews. That means you be fundamentally different. for their income, and do not re- more terrorists. Secondly, once the to fight another day, so there is no Obama's second term, how would creased the troop level in Afghan- will have an apartheid state. The lobby, however, is such a ceive much governmental assis- US and its allies left, ISIL fighters military solution to defeating ISIL. you assess his Middle East poli- istan. And the important question is powerful factor that it alters - in tance, education is seen as a way would come back as Taliban fight- Al Jazeera: Messy US intelli- cies? Was he executing the Bush Although I would point out whether Israel can maintain itself profound ways - both the dis- towards a better future. ers did in Afghanistan. gence failure in the war in Iraq has doctrine by another face and name? that Obama is not leaving Afghan- as an apartheid state in the fore- course and the policies. The prob- Although there is one small So again, trying to topple As- resurfaced recently. To what ex- Mearsheimer: I think there is istan. The US will leave some re- seeable future. lem is that if you criticise Israel or primary school in Sumdo, children sad makes no sense now that the tent do you think the US is re- a great deal of similarity between sidual force there for the foresee- Al Jazeera: But is Israel not criticise the lobby you pay a sig- seeking quality education must Russians have entered the fray. sponsible for the rise of ISIL? what Obama is trying to do in the able future. With regard to Iraq, already an apartheid state? nificant price, and most people are board at schools in the Leh area, Al Jazeera: Several analysts Obama vows to destroy ISIL Middle East and what President we have begun to insert small mil- Mearsheimer: I believe that unwilling to pay this price. and these schools are becoming more expensive. Their economic situation is challenging, said Palkyi. "We get almost nothing … During summer we sell some dairy products like butter and cheese. And we sell wool Gaza City - Zinat al-Jundi was in tained 93 beds and handled about The frailties of Gaza's health higher education because they Gaza hospitals altogether, either an Israeli prohibition on equipment and cashmere. So that's the only her bed in the maternity ward at 70 deliveries a day. Also in the sector are deep and diverse. One were not able to join their pro- due to a lack of specialists or a needed for radiotherapy and can- source of income for us. But half Gaza's al-Shifa hospital when building were a gynaecology ward, year ago, maintenance and clean- grammes in time … Nonetheless, lack of equipment, forcing patients cer diagnostics. the income we have to spend on chunks of cement and concrete an outpatient clinic and a neonatal ing companies went on strike after we hold regular conferences and to be transferred to Israel or the Jundi, the patient from Shifa's animals themselves, so our income began to fall on to a nearby bed, intensive care unit that received failing to receive their salaries, and have resorted to online lectures occupied West Bank. maternity ward, said it is time for is very limited." occupied by a mother who had just cases from throughout the Gaza the ensuing financial crunch forced with foreign experts and tutors." Shifa's Prince Nayef Oncolo- the government to step up: "I call Tibetan and Ladakhi nomads given birth. Strip. Two private hospitals in hospitals to stop serving patients' Several specialties, such as gy Centre, built in 2005 with a on President Abu Mazen and ev- living in Changthang say they are "My roommate had just Gaza are now helping to manage meals. Charity organisations pediatric cardiac surgery and radi- price tag of more than $5m, has eryone to save us ... We have no- forced to sell their cashmere to a moved her baby to make the bed the cases that otherwise would stepped in to help fill the void. ation therapy, are missing from yet to become operational due to where to go now." government-run cooperative with when a block of concrete fell, right have been directed to Shifa. Shifa's old and rusty laundry a monopoly on the trade. Many where the baby was," Jundi told Medhat Abbas, director gen- machine stopped working more nomads are underpaid, forced to Al Jazeera. "It was a miracle that eral of the Shifa complex, told Al than a year ago, and since then, accept the only deal they can get, we were not hurt." Jazeera that even before the cave- sheets, robes and gowns have to although some independent mer- The debris fell into their room in, patients in the ward sometimes be carted 30km away each day to chants visit during the summer. after the building's concrete roof had to stay in the hallways due to Nasser hospital for washing. Given the economic difficul- caved in last month, causing panic overcrowding. Attempts were Meanwhile, vacancies left by re- ties, a large number of Tibetan and throughout the facility as it was made to secure funding from inter- tiring employees have not been Ladakhi nomads are no longer able evacuated in a hurry. national agencies for a new build- filled: For the past three years, to sustain a nomadic lifestyle. The incident, however, was far ing, he said, but to no avail. there has been no significant, per- Many move to urban areas, such from unforeseen: Used daily by "We alerted everyone and pro- manent recruitment in Gaza's pub- as Leh or New Delhi, to pursue thousands of people, the 60-year- vided situational updates," Abbas lic sector. work in the service industry. old building - part of the complex said. "No one listened." Consequently, despite hun- The Changthang region is lo- that makes up Shifa hospital - had Around $10m is needed to re- dreds of vacancies, scores of new- cated on the northwestern plains long been showing signs of disre- place the two crumbling buildings ly graduated doctors, nurses, tech- of the Tibetan plateau in India pair, as cracks crept into the walls at the Shifa complex, he added - nicians and secretaries remain un- [Augusta Thomson/Al Jazeera] and ceilings. but who would finance these employed. The nomads of the Changth- The roof cave-in at Shifa was projects remains unclear. Tens of Subhi Skaik, medical director ang Plateau are not alone in the just the latest manifestation of thousands of former Hamas em- at the Shifa compound, estimates challenges they face. Gaza's ongoing health crisis, as the ployees in Gaza have gone with- that the hospital runs with 20 per- According to Elliot Fratkin, a besieged territory struggles to pro- out their full salaries for months, cent less staff than it needs - and professor of anthropology at vide adequate care to its 1.8-mil- and the consensus government in smaller hospitals are probably suf- Smith College, pastoralist societ- lion population. Ramallah has shied away from fering more, he added. ies - in which people make their Several Gaza Strip hospitals managing Gaza's crises. Gaza's health ministry and the living by herding animals, often are six decades old. Nasser hospi- Even if funds were secured, Palestinian Medical Council, taking them from one place to an- tal, the main facility serving the progress could be further stalled which oversees training pro- other to graze - currently face southern Khan Younis district, was by Israeli restrictions on building grammes, has offered new gradu- greater threats than ever before. built under Egyptian rule in the late materials entering the territory. ates the chance to fill these vacan- These threats include "the ex- 1950s and named after Gamal Ab- Munther Ghazal, the manag- cies without pay in exchange for pansion of farmers, ranchers, and del Nasser, the former president. ing surgeon at Shifa's department experience certificates and the pos- game parks on their lands; the pri- I call on President Abu Mazen of gynaecology and obstetrics, sibility of employment down the vatisation, commodification, and and everyone to save us ... We have says he is frustrated by the cur- road. Dozens of people have tak- subdivision of the range; the nowhere to go now. rent situation [Ahmed Abdelall/Al en advantage of the programme growth of cities, the outmigration Zinat al-Jundi, Gaza resident Jazeera] Munther Ghazal, the but, with no permanent solution of poor pastoralists to urban ar- Three of the five main build- managing surgeon at Shifa's depart- on the horizon, dozens more have eas, and dislocations brought about ings at Shifa are from the same era, ment of gynaecology and obstet- emigrated or are seeking a chance by drought, famine, and political and two are now collapsing: In rics, could not conceal his frustra- to leave Gaza. conflict". Nomadic societies also addition to the obstetrics building, tion at the situation. "Medical education is a con- have to grapple with a legal sys- the internal medicine building was "You cannot have patients, tinuous process. We need scholar- tem that often works against them. evacuated four months ago after operation rooms and the neonatal ships and delegate exchanges to Nomads generally lack the legal engineers warned that a collapse ICU scattered at different areas update our knowledge and improve protection needed to maintain their was imminent. The building hous- across the city," he told Al Jazeera. our skills and experience," he said. traditional lifestyles in a rapidly ing Shifa's maternity ward con- "This has to be temporary." "Dozens of doctors lost grants of modernising world, and they are frequently invisible from human. This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. WEDNESDAY . DECEMBER 09, 2015 AFGHANISTANTIMES Clinton offers new 'exit tax' on US-foreign company mergers WASHINGTON : Hillary Clinton on Wednesday will unveil a pro- prices edged away from nearly 7- "OPEC countries will contin- posal for a new "exit tax" aimed at year lows on Tuesday as China ue to pump as much as possible cracking down on corporate inver- reported strong commodity im- for now," consultancy Energy As- sions, a practice that permits U.S. ports despite economic weakness, pects said. companies to merge with corpora- but overall the market remained On the demand side, China's tions overseas to lower their tax weak due to global oversupply appetite for cheap oil was helping bill. compounded by OPEC's decision to support prices as the govern- The new tax would be part of to keep output high. ment looks to build up its strate- a broader effort to target what ex- Benchmark Brent and WTI gic reserves. perts say is roughly $2 trillion in futures both fell over 6 percent the "There is no doubt that weak profits U.S. companies are hoard- previous session to reach 2015 commodity prices have induced ing abroad to reduce their taxes. lows, and they are closing in on some opportunistic buying. This The Democratic presidential front- levels last seen during the credit should be mildly supportive for runner will propose spending the crunch of 2008/2009. Should they commodity markets," ANZ bank revenue raised by the new tax to break through 2008/2009 lows, the said. But it added that given the boost manufacturing jobs in the next downward target would be country's slowing economy, "we U.S., campaign aides said. They levels not seen since the early still don't expect to see Chinese spoke on condition of anonymity 2000s. consumers start to aggressively ahead of the official campaign an- Internationally traded Brent restock with the outlook remain- nouncement. futures were up 31 cents at $41.04 ing weak." China's crude oil im- Clinton's proposals are part of a barrel at 0805 GMT. U.S. crude ports for the first 11 months of the economic agenda her campaign was trading at $37.82 a barrel, up the year rose 8.7 percent to 6.61 has been rolling out this month. just 17 cents from its last settle- million barrels per day while its They include boosting infrastruc- ment and close to the 2015 and 7- November crude imports grew 7.6 ture spending by $275 billion and year lows of the previous session. percent from the same month a making other new investments in "The decision by OPEC mem- year ago, according to preliminary research and clean energy. bers to keep oil production out- customs data released Tuesday. Her new jobs plans come amid put at record high levels ... sug- China's November new vehicle charges that Clinton's personal and gested that the organisation was sales also jumped 17.6 percent over political fortunes are far too inter- effectively abandoning its long- the same period. With crude pric- twined with Wall Street, a posi- term strategy of limiting produc- es near record lows, China is seen tion rivals like Vermont Sen. Bern- tion and acting as a cartel, leading as likely to double its strategic ie Sanders say will prompt her to to more downward pressures on crude oil purchases in 2016, add- take a softer position toward reg- oil prices in the short term," said ing some 70-90 million barrels to ulating — and taxing — American Sanjiv Shah, Chief Investment Of- its strategic petroleum reserves corporations. ficer of Sun Global Investments. (SPR). Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, made at least $35 million by giving 164 speeches to financial services, Wall Street jumps, dollar gains after US jobs report real estate and insurance compa- U.S. Labor Department said. Sep- cent, to 2,091.69 and the Nasdaq Spot gold (XAU=) rose as nies after leaving the White House tember and October data was re- Composite (.IXIC) added 104.74 much as 2.5 percent to its highest in 2001, according to an Associat- vised to show 35,000 more jobs points, or 2.08 percent, to in almost three weeks at $1,088.70 ed Press analysis of public disclo- than previously reported "The 5,142.27. Less-than-expected an ounce, and was trading at sure forms and records released by numbers did not disappoint. We tweaks to the European Central $1,086.15. her campaign. cleared the last hurdle for a rate Bank's stimulus package on Thurs- The dollar (JPY=) was last up In an op-ed published on Mon- increase," said Chris Gaffney, pres- day sent markets into a tailspin 0.57 percent at 123.16 yen, while day, Clinton pledged to take a ident of EverBank World Markets but will make it easier for the Fed the euro (EUR=) slid 0.62 percent tough approach toward financial in St. Louis. U.S. stocks jumped to raise rates, said Omar Aguilar, against the dollar to $1.0870. The regulation, saying she would im- more than 2 percent, with the Dow chief investment officer of equi- dollar index (.DXY), which mea- pose a new risk fee on big banks, industrials and the S&P 500 post- ties at Charles Schwab Investment sures the greenback against a bas- strengthen oversight and impose ing their biggest gains in three Management. ket of six major rivals, was last up tougher penalties on executives and months. All 10 major S&P 500 sec- The euro, which gained 3 per- 0.73 percent at 98.337 (.DXY). institutions that break the rules. tors climbed except the energy in- cent on Thursday, will ease the The gap between 10-year U.S. "Republicans may have decid- dex (.SPNY), which fell after the impact of a strong dollar on U.S. and German bond yields narrowed ed to forget about the financial cri- Organization of the Petroleum Ex- corporate earnings, and should to its tightest in more than a month sis that caused so much devasta- porting Countries failed to cap help bolster equity markets, he on Friday as investors bet that a tion — but I haven't," she wrote in near-record output. Stocks rallied said. "I can see from now until the divergence in monetary policy be- the New York Times. "The prop- in a sign investors are taking their end of the year moderate gains, tween the Fed and the ECB may er role of Wall Street is to help Main cue from economic performance growing into a nice steady pace," be less stark than previously Street grow and prosper." instead of central bank monetary Aguilar said. European shares end- thought. Her proposal received the cru- policy. "We're going to see the mar- ed lower, with oil stocks (.SXEP) The euro on Thursday made cial support of Massachusetts Sen. ket focussed on what the U.S. falling almost 2 percent on the its biggest one-day move in more Elizabeth Warren, a progressive economy is doing, rather than Fed news from the OPEC meeting in than six years in a dramatic rever- leader on fiscal issues who's re- policy," said Brad McMillan, chief Vienna. The pan-European FT- sal of its recent rally after ECB mained staunchly neutral in the investment officer at Common- SEurofirst 300 index (.FTEU3) fell President Mario Draghi surprised Democratic primary race. wealth Financial Network in 0.34 percent to its lowest level in investors with less monetary stim- "Secretary Clinton is right to Waltham, Massachusetts. almost three weeks. ulus than markets expected. fight back against Republicans try- MSCI's all-country world Brent crude oil futures Benchmark 10-year Treasury ing to sneak Wall Street giveaways NEW YORK : Stocks on Wall porters to keep pumping near- vember paved the way for the Fed stock index gained 0.8 percent. (LCOc1) settled down 84 cents to notes were last up 15/32 in price into the must-pass government Street rallied on Friday after strong record output pushed crude pric- to raise rates for the first time in The Dow Jones industrial av- $43.00 a barrel. U.S. crude futures to yield 2.2746 percent. funding bill," wrote Warren on her jobs data made it almost certain es down. The dollar rose, gold nearly a decade at a two-day meet- erage (.DJI) closed up 369.96 (CLc1) dropped $1.11 to settle at Yields on German 10-year Facebook page. the Federal Reserve would raise climbed about 2 percent and base ing that ends Dec. 16. points, or 2.12 percent, to $39.97 a barrel, just below the key yields climbed 6 basis points on The November announcement interest rates in two weeks, while metals, including copper, gained The U.S. economy created 17,847.63. The S&P 500 (.SPX) price level of $40 that has been a Friday, rising above 0.70 percent of a plan to merge drug-makers a surprise move by major oil ex- after the U.S. jobs report for No- 211,000 jobs in November, the gained 42.07 points, or 2.05 per- major battleground for traders. for the first time in 2-1/2-months . Pfizer and Allergan to create the world's biggest pharmaceutical company reignited a fierce politi- cal debate over whether such deals should be permitted. CHINA SAW RECORD Arab Aviation Summit Under the deal, New York- based Pfizer would move its head- quarters to Ireland, where Aller- gan is based. That would enable CAPITAL OUTFLOWS IN predicts record growth Pfizer to slash its tax rate from around 25 percent this year to about 18 percent. Ireland's lower profitability and success of avia- corporate tax rate would have NOVEMBER: EXPERT of GCC airlines tion industry in each nation as “it saved Pfizer nearly $1 billion of would create more jobs and even- the $3.1 billion in U.S. taxes it paid The constant stream of capital leaving $57 billion in foreign ex- shore is currently at its weakest The Arab Aviation and Media importance of opening up the sec- tually prosperity.” He said that in 2014. outflows from China that have change sales by the central bank. level against the more tightly con- Summit 2015 opened in Manama tor to increased foreign invest- currently out of every 11 em- Though the Treasury Depart- bedeviled global financial markets Combining the foreign ex- trolled onshore counterpart, sug- amid optimism and prediction of ments. ployed person in the globe, one ment has unveiled new rules to likely reached a record in Novem- change sales with Capital Econom- gesting traders expect further de- unprecedented growth of airline Hussain Dabbas, regional vice was an employee of either any air- deter companies from considering ber, according to estimates from ics' trade surplus estimate of around clines. "A rise in offshore interest industry in the region, particular- president of IATA, called 2015 a line or affiliated with airline indus- inversions, officials say only Con- Capital Economics. $55 billion for November (official rates due to the increased likeli- ly in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the successful year for the aviation try. “The aviation sector’s growth gress has the authority to halt the Julian Evans-Pritchard, China data are out Tuesday) leaves net hood of a December Fed rate hike United Arab Emirates. industry which has registered an in the Arab world has greatly ben- practice. Democrats favor imme- economist at the Singapore office capital outflows at $113 billion. will also have added to outflow efited the tourism sector and there- diate action and are seeking to use of Capital Economics, has estimat- It is worth noting that these pressures," said Evans-Pritchard. the issue as a political wedge ahead ed that net capital outflows totaled estimates can vary. Capital Eco- The inclusion of the yuan as a re- of next year's presidential election, $113 billion last month, accelerat- nomics reckons that net capital serve currency in the International accusing the GOP of protecting ing from $37 billion in October. outflows stood at $86.3 billion in Monetary Fund's (IMF) Special corporate loopholes. Top Repub- But getting an accurate picture August, the month when China Drawing Rights basket last week licans say the only way to ade- of how much money is actually rocked financial markets by deval- represented a nod from the IMF quately address inversions is to fleeing China is somewhat tricky. uing the yuan. In contrast, the U.S. that Beijing's reforms were mov- overhaul the tax code, making it Data released Monday showed Treasury believes capital outflows ing in the right direction. more attractive for businesses to China's foreign exchange reserves were closer to $200 billion during But a disappointing result locate in the U.S. fell by $87.2 billion in November the month. Despite the differenc- from the official manufacturing Clinton has said she has "deep to $3.44 trillion. Evans-Pritchard's es, observers note that the out- Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), concerns" about the $160 billion calculations suggest that fluctua- flows reflect expectations for the a measure of factory activity, for drug company merger and has tions in exchange rates accounted yuan to weaken further as China's November sent investor confi- called on Congress and regulators for $30 billion of that reduction, economy slows. Yuan traded off- dence tumbling once again. to act immediately to stop com- panies from shifting profits over- seas. "They're doing it to save money on taxes," she said last month at a campaign event in Boul- der, Colorado. "I want the Trea- sury Department to do everything Kamal Bin Ahmed Moham- average growth of over 5 percent, it can to stop that kind of behavior med, Bahraini minister of transpor- taking its revenue to approximate- by contributing to the growth of and call it for what it is: gaming the tation and telecommunication, in ly $727 billion with an estimated the economy underpinned by con- tax system." Under current rules, his inaugural address revealed Bahr- profit of nearly $29.5 billion. He sistent growth which continues to U.S. companies can reincorporate ain’s plan for airport development predicted that Saudi Arabia will drive investment, job creation and abroad if they acquire a foreign which will kick off early January register a growth of over 5 percent bilateral trade,” Adel Ali, Chief company and transfer more than next year. He said the new project in its aviation industry in the next Executive Officer, Air Arabia 20 percent of their shares to for- will meet Bahraini civil aviation five years. He echoed the state- Group, said. eign owners. The Obama adminis- requirements for next 20 years. ment of Bahraini transport minis- “Although the sector will con- tration has proposed raising that He traced the history of avia- ter that some very small countries tinue to be regarded as a catalyst threshold to more than 50 percent. tion in Bahrain and said that the have extremely large airlines while for future economic growth, the Clinton will reiterate her support Island nation has the honor of op- large countries have some very industry is still faced with numer- for the change this week. The erating first commercial flight in small airlines. Without naming Sau- ous challenges for growth. The idea White House and Clinton believe 1932. Attended by over 200 in- di Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE, behind the AAMS platform is to that new standard would discour- dustry leaders and media, this the IATA executive expressed op- create meaningful dialogue on how age inversion deals by requiring the year’s conference covers a variety timism over their business and some the unique challenges can be U.S. company to purchase a larger of issues, including the overall im- operational performance in the resolved while continuing to un- foreign entity. Any company that pact of aviation and tourism on coming year. lock exciting opportunities for the still attempts to move its headquar- Arab economies. He said the IATA was moti- decades to come,” he said. ters overseas for tax reasons would Industry leaders are set to dis- vated by safety, sustainability and A joint initiative by leading be subject to the new exit tax, which cuss the direct and indirect bene- profitability. In the backdrop of industry organizations such as Air would levy taxes on foreign earn- fits of aviation and tourism sec- his optimism, Dabbas lamented on Arabia, Airbus, among others, ings at the time of the inversion tors on regional economies and how the current situation world over Arab Aviation and Media Summit deal. The profits a U.S. company the activities and the consequent and said that nearly 40 percent of is often described as the ‘voice of earns overseas are not taxed until benefits can be expected to grow the skies were virtually no flying the industry’ and is the largest as- they are brought back into the U.S., in the future. They will also dis- zone as they were either in war sembly of Arab media together prompting many companies to cuss the growing significance of zones or other dangerous territo- with top executives from the avia- hold cash and invest abroad to private sector contribution and the ries. He emphasized on need of tion and tourism industry. avoid the taxes. This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. WEDNESDAY . DECEMBER 09, 2015 AFGHANISTANTIMES

Kajol in a candid conversation reveals why she chose to wait Sanjay Dutt to be for years before coming back to films and about her 22-year-old friendship with Shah Rukh Khan freed from jail Kajol is munching on a protein bar and chiding herself at the same time. She's running a tad late for her back-to-back media by March 2016 interactions for her upcoming film, 'Dilwale'. Interviews have been lined up at her buddy and 'Dilwale' co-star Shah Rukh Khan's production house office. She has been given a landmark - it is in the vicinity of a coffee place. Now her other buddy, film- maker Karan Johar's production house also has a coffee place in the vicinity. So, no prizes for guessing that the actress found herself near KJo's place before veering towards SRK's. "I can't believe I got lost in Bandra. Me, being a Mumbai girl, how can I not find my way?" she says. Wearing a maxi dress, her hair is tied up in an unkempt bun. Her sunglasses are perched on her nose which come off at one point during the conversation. Devoid of make-up, except for the mas- PUNE: Incarcerated Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, whose five-year cara-laden lashes, the protein bar sentence for his involvement in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts was is holding her in good stead for confirmed by the Supreme Court in March 2013, will be freed from the marathon media rounds. She prison by March 7, 2016, official sources said on Tuesday. warns us that she is not the type The sources indicated that barring last-minute glitches, Sanjay would who will volunteer information. be released by March 7 after completing the remaining 42-month period "You will have to ask me what of his sentence. Munna Bhai 3 in the making, Sanjay Dutt to play lead exactly you want to know," she Sanjay was acquitted of terror charges under the TADA, but found asserts. Straightforward and firm, guilty of possessing illegal arms, acquired ostensibly to protect his she does not flinch from answers, family during the communal conflagration that engulfed Mumbai after but apologises every time the the demolition of the Babri Mosque on December 6, 1992. Following phone beeps for SMS alerts. Ex- apex court orders, his bail was cancelled and he was ordered to surrender cerpts from the interaction with within four weeks, which he complied with on May 16, 2013 and was the actress... Q. Over the years, lodged in Arthur Road Central Jail. A week later, he was shifted to the what significant change you see Yeravada Central Jail, Pune, where he has been lodged since then and has in yourself? A. I can say that I earned the reputation of being a well-behaved inmate. Sanjay Dutt to have become a Dilwali... Kajol stay behind bars Of the five-year sentence, the actor had already served Dilwali. That's quite a tongue- 18 months as an undertrial and was required to undergo another 42 twister. I have become more car- months, which are now on the verge of completion. In between serving ing, large-hearted and giving; what time, he was granted either parole or furlough on various grounds, at- I wasn't earlier (laughs). But we tracting a lot of criticism from various quarters, while some prominent all do change over the years, isn't personalities demanded his release from jail. it? Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift lead Grammy nominations historical allusions and jazzy in- terludes. Lamar — who hails from the gangsta rap capital of Comp- ton in southern California but un- like many stars has had few per- sonal controversies — examines the state of US race relations on To Pimp a Butterfly, with mock- ery of Washington politicians and explorations of his search for in- ner strength. More magical music enters Grammy Hall of Fame Lamar’s heavy haul comes in part due to his collaborations with oth- er artists; he was also nominated for work with the DJ Flying Lo- tus and with Swift herself. Lamar also won acclaim for his last al- NEW YORK: Rapper Kendrick try’s biggest awards, the highest bum, Good Kid, M.A.A.D. nominations each for the Grammys, which will be announced at a gala Lamar on Monday received a near- number in a single night other than City,and was nominated in seven ceremony in Los Angeles on February 15. But Swift was ahead in the record number of Grammy Award Michael Jackson’s 12 nods in 1984 categories in the 2014 awards. = four most-watched categories, with nominations in all of them except nominations, with pop superstar during the King of Pop’s Thriller But he did not win any awards, Best New Artist. She enjoyed nods for Album of the Year for 1989 — Taylor Swift leading for the most days. To Pimp a Butterfly, leading some critics to allege a dou- which marked her transition from country to pop — as well as Record prestigious categories. Lamar — Lamar’s first album in nearly three ble-standard against African Amer- of the Year and Song of the Year for her hit Blank Space. 1989 was the who has won wide critical acclaim years, is unusually innovative for ican artists. - Swift tapped in lead- fastest-selling album in more than a decade although it was recently for his politically charged album such a commercially anticipated ing categories - Swift and The surpassed by 25, the latest blockbuster by English ballad singer Adele. To Pimp a Butterfly — earned 11 album, with long sections of unac- Weeknd, the rising Canadian R&B 25 was not eligible for the Grammys, which cover releases in the year to nominations for the music indus- companied spoken word, frequent star, followed Lamar with seven September 30.

When Deepika surprised everyone Reuniting with the two protagonists of 'Bajirao Mastani', ace action director Sham Kaushal said he was surprised to see Deepika Padukone executing the combat scenes with perfection, while he had to ask Ranveer Singh to mellow down for the action sequences. Director- producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Bajirao Mastani' has Ranveer as Peshwa Bajirao and Deepika playing Mastani. It features Priyanka Chopra as Kashi Bai, the wife of Bajirao. "The action in the film is very authentic. You can't compare it with the modern day or past. We had to keep it real. The technique is modern but the way of doing it is old," Kaushal told PTI in an interview here. The 59-year-old action director has worked with both Ranveer and Deepika in several films but said the dedication the two actors brought for "Bajirao Mastani" was commendable. "Deepika is dedicated, committed and intelligent. She gets into nitty-grittes. It is not easy to portray 'Mastani'. When going for war sequences she has to show softness on her face and be strong at the same time. Deepika surprised me... She has never done that kind of combat action earlier," Kaushal, who has directed the action sequences of "Krissh" franchise, said. This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. WEDNESDAY . DECEMBER 09, 2015 AFGHANISTANTIMES IPTL 2015: Philippine Mavericks and Joshua vs Whyte: Chris Eubank Jr will have Indian Aces won matches in Manila bonded with trainer Adam The Philippine Mavericks won a second consecutive match on home Booth in father's absence soil with a 25-21 win against the Japan Warriors in the Internation- al Premier Tennis League. Serena Williams, the 21-time Grand Slam winner and the Mavericks' star player, won two legs in the singles and mixed doubles on Monday in Manila. After the Mavericks' Mark Philippoussis and the War- riors' Philipp Kohlschreiber earned a win apiece, Williams took centre stage for the hosts. Serena Will- iams demonstrated great reflexes and superb play at the net to win this point in the International Pre- mier Tennis League. The Indian Aces also earned a victory in Ma- nila after a comfortable 30-18 re- sult against the UAE Royals. The Aces won all five legs against their Chris Eubank Jr will have benefit- qualities have made up for the outmatched opponents with Rafael ed from his father's absence ahead weaknesses in his technique and Nadal putting the finishing touch- of the grudge fight with Spike that's why he took Billy Joe Saun- es on the match. Nadal teamed O'Sullivan, says Johnny Nelson. ders all the way to the wire, with- with Ivan Dodig to beat Daniel I think it's a plus that Chris out the skill that he needed. That Nestor and Tomas Berdych. The Eubank's Jr's father has not been was on heart, was on fitness, and esteemed Spaniard then defeated there for a lot of his training camp. his bottle. There are not a lot of Berdych 6-4 in the singles. His father gets the media attention, fighters who have got that bottle. he gets people talking, but I don't It's a great characteristic and I think his absence will have too would choose that over technique much effect on how Eubank Jr pre- any time, because you can always Jamie Carragher on lacklustre Chelsea's latest league loss pares for a fight. teach somebody technique. Adam Booth is now in the driv- Chris Eubank Jr and Gary It was the lowest point yet in posing sides appear to be showing "They've got to be flying past less of it, he did not expect to see teams. Nine kilometres at the top ing seat so it's a good chance for 'Spike' O'Sullivan appear on the Chelsea's miserable title defence in games against them. him. They had a 20-yard head start only Nemanja Matic feature from was the biggest difference of the him to gain a better understanding latest Gloves Are Off on Tuesday and losing to Bournemouth on Sat- Carragher highlighted an inci- on him and they needed a goal." Chelsea among the players who weekend between any two teams. of Eubank Jr, without any outside 8th December. Here's a brief look urday highlighted one thing in par- dent in the closing seconds of the In all, Bournemouth's players covered the most distance. "Also, you look at the top seven influences. It will be a year or so at what you can expect... ticular: how much they are being game which saw Bournemouth's ran nine more kilometres over the "Everyone's putting out run- players. Now, Chelsea had 60 per before we see the benefits of Chris Eubank Jr and Gary outrun by opponents. Dan Gosling surge forward and course of the match than Chelsea's, ning stats on teams now on a week- cent of possession so you'd expect Booth's influence on Junior and 'Spike' O'Sullivan appear on the Enduring the first defeat suf- lose possession. a total which surprised Carragher. ly basis," former Anfield defender Bournemouth to cover more this situation with his father not latest Gloves Are Off on Tuesday fered by reigning champions Rather than punish him for it, While he expected them to Carragher added. "But that was the ground but certainly not that sort being around can only be good. 8th December. Here's a brief look against the previous season's Chelsea's laboured moves upfield chase the ball more given they had biggest difference between the two of difference." I was impressed by his intelli- at what you can expect... Championship winners in Premier as they sought an equaliser allowed gence, his way of thinking and he I think he can go all the way League history was bad enough for Gosling to get back into position actually reminded me of his father. because he's got the discipline, he's Stamford Bridge fans. to stop their attack. I was actually impressed with how got the desire, the natural elements With a deeper look at the match "Where I do not have sympa- Eubank Jr handled himself in the that fighters need now and has got statistics, however, the manner of thy for Chelsea is in injury time," 'Gloves are Off'. This kid can turn the coaching, too. If he listens and the 1-0 reverse becomes a lot hard- Carragher said. "Dan Gosling has it on at the drop of a hat and I like stays on the same track, Eubank er for followers of Jose Mourin- made a run to try and keep the ball that. He's a lot more mature than Jr will do very well in regard to ho's team to accept. in the corner. what you think, he's a lot more how far he goes. Jamie Carragher analysed the "He's very unlucky (to lose the intelligent. He uses his words wise- Billy Joe Saunders technically distances run by both sides during ball) but let's not forget it's the ly. Up until this point, he's been outsmarted him, so we're going to Saturday's match on Monday 92nd minute. He (Gosling) is think- very hard to read, and then we did find out if he's learned his lesson. Night Football and the points he ing: 'I'm getting blamed for maybe the show. I was impressed by his That's the test I want to see. If he raised make painful reading for making a stupid run, doing some- intelligence, his way of thinking and hasn't learned from his mistakes, Mourinho. thing silly, losing the ball.' he actually reminded me of his fa- then that is where his progression Not so long ago, Liverpool "Chelsea need a goal and Will- ther. halts. When he gets frustrated, struggled under previous manager ian, Pedro and (Eden) Hazard have His dad looked at the world bored and stumped mid-fight, he Brendan Rodgers but with Jurgen got to be busting a gut to get into from a different planet than many cannot switch off. He's got to use Klopp in charge now, their run- the box. of us and he could be classed as what he's learned. ning figures are far better and re- "In the last minute of the game, eccentric. Eubank Jr seems to be I think it's going to be a close, sults have consequently improved. Chelsea had one man in the box as the same, he looks at things very hard points win for Eubank Jr. Chelsea, on the other hand, they tried to score and Gosling has differently, and I could see that. Without a doubt, we'll see a bit of continue to toil and one factor is run past the players highlighted As a fighter, he has already drama and maybe even both men undoubtedly the extra drive op- before. shown his heart and desire. Those hurt along the way. Oscar Pistorius granted bail and set to appeal murder conviction UFC president Dana White has confirmed Ronda Rousey will get a rematch with Holly Holm for the women's bantamweight title. Rousey was undefeated in six UFC contests prior to being knocked clean out by a head kick from Holm in the second round of their contest at UFC 193 in Melbourne last month. The 28-year-old from Cali- fornia faced being suspended by the UFC for six months for fear of concussion but White has now confirmed a rematch is very much on the cards. "Holly agrees she deserves a rematch, and we'll figure it out," White told ESPN. "Ronda Rousey has gone un- defeated, taken the sport to an- other level and was beating the Oscar Pistorius has been granted best women in the world in 14 bail ahead of his sentencing for the seconds or 30 seconds, so she murder of his girlfriend, although deserves a rematch. his lawyer has sought permission "That fight's going to hap- to appeal the conviction to South pen. I don't know when, but Africa's highest court. Pistorius, that's the fight that will happen. 29, will discover on April 18 "I think that if we didn't whether his appeal to the Consti- make the rematch, me and [UFC tutional Court has been accepted CEO and co-owner] Lorenzo after the Supreme Court of Ap- [Fertitta] should probably lose peal last week threw out his earli- our promoters' licence." er conviction on the lesser charge Meanwhile, UFC interim of culpable homicide for killing featherweight champion Conor Reeva Steenkamp in the early McGregor suggested Rousey had hours of Valentine's Day, 2013. He been a little over-worked in the must pay 10,000 rand (approx build up to her fight with Holm. £456) before December 11 to se- "I know there was prob- cure his bail and will continue to lems," McGregor said. be under house arrest in Pretoria "I don't know her situation. after serving one year of his origi- From looking from where I was nal five-year prison sentence. at, I could see that maybe she's Judge Aubrey Ledwaba said Pis- doing a little too much on the torius would be electronically mon- media side. That coupled with itored to track his location, but personal life that I don't know would be allowed to leave the about, maybe could've hampered house at set times with official her training a little bit. Maybe permission.Should he fail with his could have hampered her mind. appeal, Pistorius faces the pros- "And then the particular style of opponent in Holly. It all Jazz Carlin won her second gold medal at the Europe- pect of a minimum 15-year jail sen- an Short Course Swimming Championships in Israel tence for murder, although the term kind of combined into making her a little bit too emotionally invest- as Great Britain rounded off the meet with a total of could be shorter if he is released 11 podium finishes. on parole. "(Pistorius's bail) affi- ed." But White is unsure wheth- The 25-year-old from Wales finished first in a davit deals... with the basis for the thrilling 400m freestyle final in a time of three min- application for leave to appeal to er Rousey's schedule contribut- ed to her defeat, suggesting she utes 58.81 seconds, edging out Katinka Hosszu of the Constitutional Court," lawyer Hungary by 0.03 seconds, to add to her 800m gold on Barry Roux told the High Court in lost to a finished article fighter in Albuquerque's Holm. Thursday. Pretoria. Pistorius killed Steenka- Hannah Miley failed to join Carlin on the podi- mp, a model and law graduate, at "I don't know what the an- swer is - this woman who was um, finishing Sunday's final in sixth, but Chris Walk- his home in Pretoria two years ago, er-Hebborn set a new British record time of 23.09 saying he mistook her for an in- so dominant - other than the fact Holly Holm is for real," White seconds in claiming silver in the 50m backstroke. truder when he shot four times Siobhan-Marie O'Connor and Liam Tancock could through the locked door of his bed- said. "She's very, very good. Ron- not add to Britain's medal haul, finishing seventh in room toilet. The appeal court rul- the 100m butterfly and sixth in the 100m medley ing changed his conviction to mur- da had been a workhorse before that. Maybe everything caught respectively. der and sent the case for re-sen- Carlin and Walker-Hebborn's efforts on the final tencing, saying the original trial up with her. Maybe she was ex- hausted. Or maybe Holly Holm day saw Great Britain finish the competition with judge had made "fundamental" er- two golds, seven silvers and two bronze medals. rors in her ruling. was that good." This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF. WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 09 . 2015-Qaus 18, 1394 H.S Vol:X Issue No:131 Price: Afs.15 This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. This page will not be added after purchasing Win2PDF.