Eye on the News [email protected] Truthful, Factual and Unbiased Vol:X Issue No:203 Price: Afs.15

www.afghanistantimes.af www.facebook.com/ afghanistantimeswww.twitter.com/ afghanistantimes SUNDAY . FEBRUARY 21. 2016 -Hoot 02, 1394 HS Yo ur Yo ur ad ad he re he re 0778894038 UN AGENCIES MEET ON 2016 UPLIFT PLANS FOR AFGHANISTAN

The Afghan government has re- dren and Armed Conflict. well as the Presidential decree crim- of recruitment processes for the on all parties to respect interna- iterated its commitment to fully "The political will and inalizing the recruitment and use Afghan Local Police tional humanitarian law and to take implement its action plan to end progress I have seen on the ground of children in the ANSF, and (ALP).Further, noting the large in- all precautions to reduce the im- and prevent the recruitment and are encouraging. stressed that effective implemen- crease in the number of UN veri- pact of conflict on children," she use of children in national secu- The government's commit- tation and enforcement of these fied cases of child recruitment in added. According to reports, gov- rity forces, said a press release ment will be instrumental to turn tools are critical to prevent recruit- 2015 – mostly by the Taliban and ernment signed an action plan with Saturday sent by the UN office. the page on the recruitment and ment and use. Zerrougui recognized other armed groups – she called the United Nations in 2011 to end According to the press release, use of children in the Afghan Na- progress made to end underage re- for a general prohibition of under- and prevent the recruitment and the commitment was made dur- tional Security Forces (ANSF)," cruitment in the Afghan National age recruitment and use. use of children in its national secu- ing a visit by Leila Zerrougui, the the Special Representative said. Police (ANP) and Afghan Nation- "The current security situation rity forces, and a road map to com- UN's Special Representative of She commended the launch of na- al Army (ANA), but raised con- is creating great challenges to pro- pliance was endorsed in August the Secretary-General for Chil- tional age assessment guidelines as cern regarding the lack of oversight tect children," she stated. "I call 2014. (ToloNews)

Paktika roadside Tribal elder stabbed to death, Daesh fighter captured bombings leave 5 MAIMANA/FEROZKOH : A He asked relevant government or- civilians dead, 2 injured tribal elder has been stabbed to gans to ascertain the motive be- SHARAN : At least five civilians death in the Pashtunkot district of hind his assassination. lost their lives to two separate ex- KABULinfo-icon : United Na- Calling disaster risk reduction an northwestern Faryab province and Elsewhere, a Daesh fighter was plosions in the Wazikhwa district tions agency headsmet last week area important to Afghanistan, he an Islamic State (IS) member de- detained in Ghor, police spokes- of southeastern Paktika province in Kabul on their programmes for said the UN agencies had been tained in western Ghorinfo-icon, manAhmad Mohammadi said, on Saturday. A woman and two the current year, stressing closer working together in support to the officials said on Saturday. Abdul identifying the detainee as Maul- children were killed on Saturday alignment with development plans government and its youth strate- Qadir Qadiri, Pashtunkot district viinfo-icon Abdur Rahman -- a res- afternoon when the car they were of the unity government. Mark gy – a critical issue, given the pro- travelling in struck a roadside Bowden, the secretary-general’s portion of young people. chief, told Pajhwok Afghan News ident of the Murghab area of Fer- bomb in the district, resident Syed Halim Bai was stabbed to death ozkoh. He said the IS militant was deputy special representative for “These issues directly touch upon Noor told Pajhwok Afghan News. Afghanistaninfo-icon, said: “At a the lives of people in Afghanistan, by unidentified assailants on his arrested in Pozalich area by Af- The car’s driver was also killed way from a local mosqueinfo-icon ghan intelligence operatives late on time of many challenges, we are but in addition to this, the UN while a fifth person was seriously focusing on how we can best sup- system has also been working in to home on Friday night. Friday. Rahman is currently under wounded, the resident said. How- port the government and people support of the work of the Gov- He said Bai was a tribal elder investigation. Mohammadi accused ever, he would not say who was of Afghanistan.” ernment, such as its statistical ser- from the Bocha area of the district. the Daesh fighter of involvement behind the bombing. Abdul Ghani He added the UN team’s discus- vices. “I think we, the UN Agen- Intelligence agents had launched a in at least 14 civilian killings on Paktin, provincial council chair- sions focused on how to enhance cies, Funds, and Programmes, have search for the attackers, he added. the Kabulinfo-icon-Ghor highway, man, said one man was killed and there partnership in Afghanistan, made real progress in working to- A resident of the area, who including the traffic chief for Ghor, another injured when the motor- working together as One UN, gether as part of one effort in sup- wished not to be named, hailed three traffic officers and a judge. bike struck a roadside bomb in the drawing together the strengths of port of the people of Afghanistan.” Halim Bai as a social-spirited man. (Pajhwok) same district. (Pajhwok) different parts of the UN system. (Pajhwok) Experts link success in battlefield to good leadership MRRD Funded Projects As embattled Afghan security per- Taliban's stronghold, is one of the sonnel continue their counter in- most volatile provinces and Afghan surgency efforts against insurgents security forces have long been bat- The National Solidarity Programme in several fronts across the nation, tling insurgents there. Soldiers some Afghan military commenta- who are battling Taliban on the The National Solidarity Program (NSP), under The Ministry of Rural Rehabilita- tors on Saturday criticized the ground have also been critical of tion and Development (MRRD), works through a community-driven development present management of the war, poor leadership of the war in the urging that only good leadership area. "They must issue us the nec- approach that gives control of decisions and resources to communities. NSP can guarantee success against the essary orders so that we take the militants on the battlefields. This initiative and act resolutely and views people as assets and partners in development and strengthens their institu- comes after militants this winter provide security to our region," an tions to work through representative and inclusive decision-making processes. continued their offensives against Afghan National Army soldier in the over stretched forces in sever- Helmand, Sardar Mohammad MRRD’s National Solidarity Program has been working in rural Afghanistan for al regions - contrary to a draw down Mashriqiwal, said. in fighting during the colder "They must provide us with the past 13 years and has established over 35,000 elected Community Develop- months over the past few years. more support in terms of weap- "There is the need to draw a clear ons, heavy weapons, tanks and ment Councils (CDCs) that plan, manage, and implement rural development strategy for war which can help us other necessary equipment," an- projects. NSP’s projects are multi-sectorial and include transport, irrigation, water encourage our forces and to differ- other ANA soldier Ali Sina said. entiate between friends and ene- While insurgents still look firm in and sanitation, education, and health. CDCs engage local people in development mies. But regrettably we do not their military struggle, even during fessional individuals, they do not have the courage, have such an effective strategy in the winter, the question posed by necessary knowledge and academic background, planning through discussions about the various needs in the community and the Afghanistan so far to help our forc- many is what strategy needs to be therefore they must be fired from the job and pro- best use of the limited resources available to benefit most people. es win on the battlefields," a mem- formulated to tackle the militants fessional people must be appointed. Capacities must ber of parliament's internal securi- in the short term period? "Those be utilized appropriately so that the enemy realizes But community members’ involvement goes beyond planning, with communities ty commission, Abdul Hai who are failing to lead the war ef- that we have a strong armed force," military analyst Akhondzada said. Helmand, once fectively are comprising the unpro- Jawed Kohistani said.(ToloNews) contributing a minimum of 10 percent of the value of the project (in labor, cash, or kind). So far, rural people have contributed over $200 million. In this way, NSP builds on the customary practice of ‘hashar’ where people work together, on a voluntary basis, to achieve a larger goal, such as cleaning an irrigation canal. NSP’s inclusive and participatory process has also contributed to a better understanding between people and has created unity within and between villages. This particular- ly important given the tremendous cultural diversity and the decades of conflict AT News Report KABUL: The National Directorate of Security that have led to social divisions. Families of twelve Afghan National taking solid steps to secure their (NDS) operatives on Saturday captured two lead- Army ANA soldiers being held release. The Taliban captured at ers of the Al Qaeda-linked Haqqani network in In each community in which CDCs have been established, NSP has also created hostage by the Taliban on Satur- least 12 ANA soldiers after their the southern Khost province. NDS in its press day blasted government for not helicopter crashed in Pashtoon Kot release to media, said that two group leaders of Community Participatory Monitoring (CPM) committee, which is independent of district of Faryab province three Al Qaeda linked-network were arrested along the elected Community Development Councils. Through this active involvement months ago and since then the fam- with their four fighters in Sabari district of the 25 insurgents ilies of the soldiers have had no province. The two captured insurgent leaders in decision-making, implementation, and monitoring, rural people have control killed in different information as to their fate, they Rahimullah and Sattar were involved in different say. It is believed that three of the subversive activities in the province, the state- over local development processes and a sense of ownership. They protect the operations 15 crew members were killed after ment said. They confessed to their crimes dur- engaging in a battle with the Tali- assets they have built, with the support of their Government, and maintain them as AT News Report ing primary investigation, statement said, adding ban and twelve others were cap- that the two leaders were handed over to the far as possible. However, communities are not always able to mobilize the re- KABUL: 25 Taliban insurgents tured by the group in Khawja judiciary organs for further investigations. Five were killed and 10 others were Musa village in Pashtoon Kot dis- sources needed for repairs and maintenance or lack the technical know-how. This trict of Faryab. "We knocked on AK-47 machine guns, 54 missiles, 20 82mm can- received injuries in different op- nons with 84 boxes of light bullets were confis- erations conducted by Afghan se- the door of every official, but our is why MRRD is now embarking on an infrastructure Maintenance Grant initiative curity forces during past 24 voice was not heard. (ToloNews) cated in the district, the statement concluded. hours, officials said Saturday. through which communities can repair critical public infrastructure. “Afghan National Army (ANA) ICRC RESUMES OPERATIONS IN GHAZNI in collaboration with Afghan Na- NSP has been able to improve the living conditions by providing the resources for tional Police (ANP) and Nation- al Directorate of Security (NDS) CITY AFTER RELEASE OF WORKERS people to build roads that improve access and movement within and between has conducted operations against KABUL info-icon : After the release care of our workers. But we vehemently deny the communities, to bring water to fields through irrigation schemes, to ensure clean insurgents in different provinces of its workers, the International payment of ransom or any other deal for their re- such as Baghlan, Ghazni, Badghis Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) lease.” He said the humanitarian organisations had drinking water through pumps, wells, and water networks, and to contribute to and Kandahar. In these opera- on Saturday resumed its operation suspended its operations in Ghazni City and all tions, 25 rebels were killed and in the capital of southern Ghazni districts of the restive province in reaction to the improved access to schools and health services through the construction of schools 10 others were injured. Unfortu- province. The five ICRC staffers, kidnappings. Ayaz added: “We will resume activi- nately, four ANA soldiers also and health centers. lost their lives in the offensive who had been abducted by unidenti- ties at the district level only when all parties to the during exchange fires, the state- fied gunmen on the outskirts of Ghaz- conflict give us fresh guarantees of our staff securi- Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development ment added. Furthermore, ANA ni City three days back, were set free ty.” According to the ICRC spokesman, two of the also seized weapons of rebels at yesterday (Friday). ICRC spokes- kidnapped workers hailed from central Bamyan prov- National Solidarity Programme the side of operations, the state- man Ahmad Ramin Ayaz told Pajh- ince and three from Ghazni. He stressed respect for Public Communications Department ment concluded. wok Afghan News: “We take a lot of ICRC operations across Afghanistaninfo-icon. 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. SUNDAY . FEBRUARY 21, 2016 AFGHANISTAN TIMES AFGHANISTAN TO FLY AMERICAN DRONES NEXT MONTH

been taken in the fog of war. Those lack of access to proper medical duz unless it gets answers and an responsible have gotten away with care is a direct result of an Ameri- ironclad promise that such an at- murder, Afghans say. can attack aircraft striking a hos- tack will never happen again. While the United States’ com- pital protected under internation- Until then, many Afghans bat role has officially ended in Af- al law. Its coordinates were wide- wounded by landmines, rockets, ghanistan, with remaining Ameri- ly known by American and Afghan bullets and the like have no choice can troops said to be focused on forces -- the trauma center was on but to make the long haul to the training, advising and assisting Af- a no-strike list. capital or settle for expensive, less- ghan forces, the Kunduz attack has While the U.S. military has than-ideal medical care. raised questions over America’s told The WorldPost that they’ve “I wish the MSF hospital was role -- particularly that of special made serious changes in the wake not bombed,” said Salim, Burha- forces -- in the country. of the attack, including a review of nuddin’s uncle who drove him to It remains unclear whether or their targeting process and retrain- Kabul. “All the patients of the not the presence of wounded Tal- ing on rules of engagement, U.S. neighboring provinces and Kunduz iban patients, and insistence by Central Command has yet to re- were treated there. I am really Afghan forces and officials that the dact and publish a reportedly mourning.” Responding to the U.S. extremists were using the hospital 3,000-page investigation into why destruction of MSF’s trauma cen- compound as a military staging it occurred. ter, Emergency printed their logo ground, prompted the U.S. strikes. Basic facts, like how long the clearly on the hospital roof in Kab- Taliban fighters had taken over attack lasted -- the U.S. military ul, just for extra measure, and made much of the city, including the gov- says 29 minutes while MSF in- sure the lights illuminated the logo For Americans watching at home, ernment-run hospital, as well as sists it lasted for an hour or more - so it would be clear to an attack drones defined the War in Afghan- civilian homes and businesses, in- - are still starkly at odds. aircraft. An aerial attack would be istan under Obama’s tenure. Vari- flicting terror on those they Many wounded MSF staff highly unlikely in the dense city ously depicted as cartoonishly in- deemed contrary to their hardline and patients, were rushed to Emer- center, and Radaelli said he hoped ept or maliciously evil robots, the views. gency hospital in Kabul after the disaster wouldn’t strike twice. But spectre of armed unmanned aerial No armed Taliban gunmen attack. the October strike on the MSF vehicles animated heated campus were seen inside the hospital Yousef, a nurse at Emergency building changed everything. “We discourse about what, exactly, grounds at any time before or dur- who gave only his first name, said even built a bunker [at our hospi- America was doing overseas. Burhanuddin, a 35-year-old farmer and father of four, lays in a bed at Kabul's Emer- ing the attack, according to a doz- he’ll never forget that day. There tal in Lashkar Gah] able to fit staff Since the early 2010s, military en MSF staff, surviving civilians, was something hauntingly unfair and patients,” Radaelli said. “Af- drones have faded from the minds gency Hospital after surviving a rocket attack in Kunduz, northern Afghanistan. family members of patients and about treating medical staff, he re- ter Kunduz, anything is possible.” of much of the public. In that time, Kunduz residents that The World- called, who were attacked while Radaelli was right. Anything is other nations like Iraq and Nigeria KABUL : Burhanuddin lay still When patients enter Emergen- care and free access to treatment Post interviewed in Afghanistan. they were trying to save lives. “I possible now, it seems. Just two and Pakistan have joined America and silent in the hospital bed, his cy, medical staff ask three ques- at Emergency that draws so many Burhanuddin was not one of cried,” he said as his colleagues weeks later, on Feb. 17, Afghan as wielders of armed remotely pi- face wrapped in so much thick, tions: From where are you com- patients. It’s the questions Emer- the 42 MSF staff and patients who treated a woman next to him who forces attacked a clinic south of loted aircraft. And even more na- white gauze that he looked more ing? What’s the injury? How long gency medical staff don’t ask that tions have adopted unarmed drones mummy than man. The 35-year- has it been? really sets the trauma center apart as flying cameras to guide their old father of four young children Often, as in the case of Burha- from many public and govern- military. The latest country to join could barely speak when the Ital- nuddin, the answers are shocking. ment-run hospitals. that list is none other than Afghan- ian doctor asked him from where It took him two days to reach Just like the former Doctors istan. he had come. here. His wounds were so dire that Without Borders hospital in Kun- A U.S. military official an- “Kunduz,” he muttered, his both a local doctor and a govern- duz, Emergency treats anyone nounced yesterday that Afghani- swollen lips preventing him from ment-run hospital in Kunduz sent wounded by war, regardless of stan is expected to field its own saying any more. him to Emergency instead, accord- their political or ideological affilia- drones starting in March. Rather A stump where his right arm ing to his uncle. tions. Civilians, Afghan soldiers, than the menacing armed Reapers used to be hung limply at his side, “People are coming from all Taliban and other insurgents are or the plane-sized missile-carry- blown off when a rocket landed over Afghanistan, with broken fe- treated as patients once they pass ing Predators, Afghanistan’s army near his farm just two days earlier murs and bullet wounds,” said Luca through the front door seeking help will fly the modest ScanEagle. At during fighting between Taliban Radaelli, Emergency’s program (and leave any weapons outside). just 5 feet long and with a 10-foot and government forces. A plastic coordinator, who estimates he’s No questions asked. wingspan, these hardy drones are bag stapled to his medical chart seen some 14,000 injured patients It’s this neutrality that has launched not from runways but held the grape-sized stones that in Afghanistan over the past eight made Emergency what it is today from truck-mounted catapults. were lodged in his upper body. years. “This is crazy.” and why the Kunduz attack hit so That makes them much easier to With one eye now blind and the The Italian-run Emergency close to home. deploy than airplanes, and when other damaged, he’s lucky to be with 120 beds, an intensive care “Kunduz was a cold shower,” they need to come in for a landing, alive. unit and two operating theaters, is Radaelli said. “We never expected a specially set up sky hook will If the rocket had landed on his now the only free, specialized trau- something like that. There’s no jus- snag them out of the air. Despite farm six months ago, Burhanuddin ma hospital of its kind treating war tification. It makes everyone real- only weighing 50 pounds, ScanEa- would have been able to seek emer- victims in Afghanistan. It has small- ly think. We don’t have an evacu- gles can fly for up to 24 hours, and gency treatment for free at the 92- er hospitals and clinics across the ation plan. Our policy is to stay. they fly slow, cruising around 60 bed Doctors Without Borders trau- country, but nothing like the one If there’s fighting, you’re supposed mph. This makes them a useful ma hospital in Kunduz, which in Kabul, which serves as a refer- to stay.” tool for watching open spaces from highly trained Afghan and interna- ral point for Afghans with serious This Afghan boy was among a lofty height of nearly 20,000 feet. tional medical staff ran. war-related injuries that require those wounded in the U.S. air- Think less like a hawk, more like a But ever since a U.S. attack in major surgery. strikes on the Doctors Without vulture. October destroyed the hospital -- Emergency staff say the num- Borders hospital in Kunduz, who perished in the U.S. attack -- some was injured in a Kabul suicide Kabul run by the Swedish Com- The United States is currently the only trauma center like it in ber of patients coming from the was later treated in Emergency. of whom burned in their hospital bombing. “It was so difficult. They mittee for Afghanistan. According training soldiers in Afghanistan’s the country’s north -- Afghans like north has increased exponentially Much has been debated about beds or were gunned down while were helping poor people.” “I’m to one doctor working at the 10- army in piloting the aircraft, so that Burhanuddin now have to travel since the Kunduz attack. Mean- the highly controversial U.S. at- running for their lives. Nor was he proud of my job,” he continued. bed clinic, some of the security the country can use them in the 200 miles to the Emergency Hos- while, the country only seems to tack, which Doctors Without Bor- one of the dozens of grieving fam- “If we didn’t have this hospital, forces were English speaking and fight against the still insurgent Tal- pital in Kabul to receive life-sav- become more violent in the wake ders -- also known as Médecins ily members or survivors left what would they do?” This wound- seemed foreign. The U.S. military iban on its own. The U.S. is pro- ing treatment. The journey takes of U.S. troop withdrawal. Sans Frontières -- labeled a poten- wounded afterwards, some of ed staff member of Doctors With- has so far denied involvement. Se- viding eight ScanEagle units, each hours, sometimes days by car, “The situation was already tial war crime but the top U.S. gen- whom told The WorldPost they out Borders in Kunduz was among curity forces reportedly hand- with six drones and the systems much of it on a worn-out, snaking bad,” Radaelli said. “And it’s wors- eral in Afghanistan called an un- had received “condolence pay- those to survive the U.S. attack cuffed and beat medical staff, forc- needed to operate them, for a total mountain route prone to avalanch- ening day by day. "There are very fortunate combination of human ments” of roughly $7,000 from the and receive treatment at Emergen- ing two patients and a 15-year-old of 48 ScanEagles. The drones have es and rockslides that passes few [treatment] options for peo- error and technical malfunctions. U.S. military. Yet, he felt the blow cy hospital. Doctors Without Bor- child out of the clinic. Then, they powerful cameras that feed live through the Hindu Kush moun- ple. We’re here trying to do our As has happened time and of the attack long after. ders has said it will not rebuild and shot them to death. video to operators on the ground, tains. best.” It’s not just the high level of again in Afghanistan, lives have The impoverished farmer’s reopen the trauma center in Kun- (The Wold Post) giving commanders a bird’s-eye- view of the battlefield. Much like the unarmed American drones that flew over Afghanistan before them, Corruption still top issue after decades of war as Taliban spreads these ScanEagles are primarily use- ful tools for fighting insurgents. Corruption has fueled poverty and them from places of power, I think go to the judiciary, and you don’t uncertainty in Afghanistan. Above, we’ll have [run out of] time to re- get any help. You are in a situation an Afghan girl sells tea on a hilltop cover,” Sayed Ikram Afzali, exec- where you become a helpless, vul- 70 tonnes of in Kabul, April 28, 2013. After four utive director of Integrity Watch nerable citizen of the country,” said of Fazel Mohammad’s family Afghanistan, based in Kabul, told Rukshana Nanayakkara, regional members were killed in a clash over IBT. “This one year is a defining outreach manager for the Asia Pa- expired a land dispute, the Afghan villager year... People cannot wait for so cific Department at Transparency from the eastern Kunar province long.” kabul International in Berlin, who also medicine, food brought his case to government Members of Afghan security worked on the report. “This kind authorities. It was a drawn-out, forces stand at the site of an attack of anarchic situation is a thriving set alight in monthslong process that he said near the Afghan parliament in Kab- ground for insurgents to come included repeated demands from ul, Afghanistan June 22, 2015. The back.” Jalalabad judges for bribes. Fed up, he sought country has experienced expand- Afghanistan has been ravaged out an alternative authority: the ing violence in recent months. by decades of war. Following the JALALABAD : Seventy tonnes Taliban. Within days, the militant Afghanistan leads among the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, the of expired medicine and food items group brought forward the ac- world’s most corrupt nations — U.S. entered Afghanistan and up- were set alight in eastern Nangar- cused, invoked the Quran and of- ranking third out of 168 countries, rooted the Taliban — which it har province on Saturday, officials fered a ruling. Mohammad got his according to a corruption index re- charged with harboring al Qaeda said. land back. leased last month by Transparen- terrorists — and installed a new Public Healthinfo-icon Direc- Although Mohammad’s case cy International. Ninety percent government. After thousands of tor Najibullah Kamawal told re- occurred several years ago, Bilal of Afghans reported that corrup- American deaths — and many Sarwary, an Afghan journalist, re- tion was a problem in their daily more casualties among Afghans — porters the drugs and food had been layed the story to International lives, a survey last year found, the Taliban has reemerged as a seized in different parts of the Business Times to highlight how marking the highest percentage in powerful fighting force. province during the current solar corruption, matched by surging a decade. Only North Korea and The extremist group today yearinfo-icon. violence, has pushed Afghans to- Somalia ranked worse. holds more territory than it has He said a joint commission ward extremist groups, which of- The report Wednesday since being ousted from Afghani- comprised of officials from differ- fer swift justice and critiques of charged the government with fail- stan’s power centers and has car- ent government departments were government inefficacy. ing to deliver basic services, ac- ried out a fresh series of attacks present on the occasion. “Twenty “There’s a crisis of govern- cused officials of lacking integrity nationwide. The Islamic State tonnes of spurious drugs and 50 ment, for the last 14 years, but I and engaging directly in shady pri- group, based in Iraq and Syria, has tonnes of expired eatables were haven’t seen anything like I’m see- vate business deals and said the also gained a foothold in the east- ing in the last six or seven months,” judiciary and police force have al- ern province of Nangarhar. Last torched.” said Sarwary, who previously lowed crooked individuals to op- year was the bloodiest year for lize the country. doing, but progress has been slow Sarwary, the Afghan journal- Seventy percent of medicine worked for the BBC. “If you’re erate with impunity. They called Afghanistan since 2009 as more poverty as the country’s government has ist, said the stakes couldn’t be high- supplies reach Nangarhar from an Afghan, no matter where you for the establishment of an inde- than 11,000 civilians were report- An internally displaced Af- been set back by political infight- er. On social media, he hints at Kabulinfo-icon, the director said. are, in a big city or a village, the pendent body to combat corrup- ed killed or injured, the United ghan girl stands at a refugee camp ing. The country has had an office optimism, regularly posting imag- “We don’t check the drugs coming obstacle to everyday life is cor- tion, the formation of a judicial Nations said. on the outskirts of Kabul Dec. 12, for combating corruption since es of Afghanistan’s beautiful land- from Kabul. Police seize them at ruption – it’s bribes.” service commission to select and Experts on the country say 2012. Afghanistan has one of the 2008. But it’s now part of a na- scapes and its ambitious people the Daronta checkpoint. Fifteen years after the U.S. train new judges and the appoint- part of the problem was an early world’s highest poverty rates. tional debate: while many once with the hashtag “#Afghanist- Kamal warned of cancelling the propped up a government in Kab- ment of officials who have a prov- emphasis on military strategy that The country has seen some viewed it as a secondary issue to anYouNeverSee.” He pointed out licences of some Jalalabad-based ul with billions of dollars, bureau- en record of fighting corruption. lent inadequate focus to state-build- measures to push for accountabil- the war against the Taliban, many that Afghanistan has a large popu- private hospitals that failed to of- cratic corruption in the country While the report documents ing. While international aid poured ity in recent years, according to now see fighting corruption as part lation of young people and is rich fer satisfactory services. Howev- remains endemic, according to an high-level cases, it also raises in- into Afghanistan, bolstering every- Jena Karim, deputy representative and parcel with that battle. in natural resources, possibly lend- in-depth report released Wednes- stances where malfeasance affects thing from the new government to in Afghanistan for the Asia Foun- “The argument here is that ing it great potential for the future. er, he neither named the health fa- day by monitoring groups Trans- Afghans in their everyday life. health projects, much of it was dation. But she said there was still corruption is destabilizing,” Karim The country has also produced a cilities nor gave their number. parency International and Integri- When people have to go to the poorly managed and monitored, a long way to go. said. “There’s a strong relation number of prominent athletes, es- Attaullah Khogyani, the gov- ty Watch Afghanistan. Those who hospital, they pay a bribe; when working only to empower ques- “There are a lot of anti-cor- between governance and security, pecially in cricket, and thousands ernor’s spokesman, told Pajhwok worked on the study, purportedly they want to enroll their children tionable institutions. Although ruption institutions, both at the and it’s much harder [for extrem- of international students. “I think Afghan News the departments the first ever extensive look into in school, they pay a bribe; when roads are better paved today and government level and within civil ists] to influence a population the Afghan people deserve to have concerned had been directed to Afghanistan’s capacity to fight they go to the police, they pay a girls afforded greater access to ed- society,” she said. “There are some that’s getting what they need in a something better. The potential is crack down on the sale of substan- corruption, called on officials to bribe, analysts said. Services are ucation, just 31 percent of the pop- strides toward transparency and fair and just way.” there,” Sarwary said. “If we fail dard items. take immediate action, warning that slow, inadequate or non-existent in ulation over age 15 is able to read accountability.” Afghanistan’s President this time, if Afghanistan goes back He said: “The governor has the clock was ticking at a time spi- some areas — a situation that re- or write and 36 percent of the pop- “You have a complex environ- Ashraf Ghani speaks to delegates to the civil war days, I think Af- ordered checking of medicine at raling violence has drawn into ques- searchers blamed on conflict, cor- ulation lives below the poverty ment and it’s a tough thing to do,” and ministers during the Confer- ghanistan will be a huge magnet for tion the competency of the Afghan ruption and nepotism, which helps line, second only to Bangladesh. she added. ence on Afghanistan in London terrorism, militants, Jihadi groups,” customs stations before their sup- government. “By the end of 2016, unqualified individuals fill influen- The continued strife has made it Afghan President Ashraf Dec. 4, 2014. He has vowed to take he added. “That’s the fear and ply to the market.” At least 200 if major steps are not taken to pun- tial roles. “You go to the police, difficult for the government to gath- Ghani has acknowledged and on corruption, but results on the we’re already seeing the signs.” tonnes of such items were burnt ish corrupt individuals and remove and you don’t get any help. You er the support necessary to stabi- vowed to clamp down on wrong- ground have been limited. (International Business Times) last year. (Pajhwok) 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. SUNDAY . FEBRUARY 21, 2016 AFGHANISTAN TIMES

EMERGENCY CALLS The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SI- Police GAR) has issued a report stating that the new building of the Min- 100 - 119 istry of National Defense - or "Lit- tle Pentagon" as it is known - still has several construction issues. Hospitals The report states that engineering criteria has not been considered FMIC Hospital and the building does not have the Behind Kabul Medical necessary resistance to withstand earthquakes. The report indicates University: that in the construction of the new 0202500200-+93793275595 building, a huge amount of money nal estimated cost. Similarly, al- the help of foreign countries, may was invested by the America de- though the headquarters building is be very harmful to the future of fense ministry but due to techni- now essentially complete, it took Afghanistan. The analysts said Rabia-i-Balkhi Hospital cal issues there is the possibility it almost five years longer to complete that not only should U.S defense Pule Bagh-e- Umomi A female Afghan teacher who was Pakistan along with millions of geography and history. could collapse due to earthquakes than originally anticipated, read the construction sector be responsible nominated for the Global Teacher other Afghans. During her time at Over time she turned her or long-lasting rain. The SIGAR report. Meanwhile a number of mil- but so too should contractors. 070263672 Prize by Varkey Foundation is the camp, Aqeela completely school into a formal secondary findings show that the new build- itary analysts in the country did not "Compare this building and its con- now among the top 10 finalists. changed the face of education for school for girls which produced ing was built at a cost of about deny the possibility of corruption struction with the new building of Khairkhana Hospital The winner will walk away $1 young girls. When she arrived, she 1,000 graduates. They were main- $155 million USD in aid from the having played a part in the con- the parliament and everything will million USD in prize money. was shocked to find that there were ly Afghan refugee girls, but Aqeela U.S Department of Defense but struction and of technical issues. be clear. On the other hand, we see 0799-321007 The organization said in a no operational schools in this very made sure that local Pakistani chil- that some construction standards They said however, that most of that most of the big construction 2401352 statement that the top 10 finalists conservative area. dren were included as well. Sever- have not been taken into the U.S army's construction projects are being subcontracted so announced on Wednesday, repre- Educating girls was even con- al of her students have gone on to account.SIGAR found the build- projects in Afghanistan are facing many times the last subcontractor sent five continents and nine coun- sidered wrong and female teachers become doctors, engineers, govern- ing was "well-built" but there were the same issues. "These problems does not even receive 20 percent Indira Gandhi Children tries. The winner is expected to be were unheard of. Aqeela set up a ment officials and even teachers in still "several construction issues," exist. In most of the projects fund- of the total amount of the money announced on March 13 in Dubai school for girls in a borrowed tent Afghanistan. Today there are nine including issues that could affect ed by the Americans, only 10 per- allocated for the project. We Hospital, Wazir Akbar and each of the top 10 finalists will and worked hard to overcome par- schools in the camp with many the building's ability to withstand cent of the total money of the should not expect these construc- be featured by the organization. ents' reluctance towards education. female teachers and over 1,500 stu- an earthquake or a significant projects has been spent and the re- tion projects to be of good quali- Khan, Kabul 2301372 There were over 5,000 nomi- Initially twenty families agreed, dents, 900 of which are girls. Due amount of rain. Originally, the cost maining amount is embezzled. This ty," said Azarakhsh Hafizi, an eco- nations and applications from 127 once she had put the focus of her to the higher level of education, the of the headquarters building was means that there was corruption in nomic analyst. SIGAR in its re- Ibn-e- Seena countries for the inaugural Global teaching on the non-controversial occurrence of early and forced mar- $48.7 million USD, and it was to construction of the new building for port indicates that during the con- Teacher Prize which generated a subjects of personal hygiene, home riages has declined in the commu- be completed in about 18 months. the Ministry of Defense," said Zal- struction of the building efforts Pul-e-Artan, Kabul huge amount of media interest management skills and religious nity. For her efforts to give girl ref- However, there were problems mai Wardak, a military analyst. were made to have the contractor's around the world. Aqeela, the Af- education for girls. Having gained ugees access to education, Aqeela with the contract from the outset. Meanwhile, a number of economic working procedure monitored by 2100359 ghan teacher, was forced to leave the trust of the community, she was recently honoured by the As a result, the cost to complete analysts said that comparing the the U.S army engineers but due to Afghanistan in 1992 due to the civil then introduced subjects like lit- UNHCR with the Nansen Refu- the building rose to $154.7 million, building to a number of other new unknown reasons the engineers did Wazir Akbar Khan war and lived in a refugee camp in eracy, Dari language, mathematics, gee Award.(ToloNews) or more than three times the origi- buildings, built at a high cost, with not monitor the project. Hospital BARMAL STUDENTS 2301741, 2301743 Bitter 2009 blast memories Ali Abad GOING TO Shahrara, Kabul PAKISTANI SCHOOLS, still haunt Kandahar families 2100439 KANDAHAR CITY : Family Recalling the incident, he said: “It faces gone, others had their half ically challenged the five others, Malalai Maternity SAY RESIDENTS members of those killed and was fourth day of Ramadan. It was bodies mutilated and there were but also completely destroyed his wounded in a powerful truck bomb a hot day and after a long wait the more who had their hands and legs shop worth one million afghanis. Hospital SHARAN : Some children from the ready to let their children study blast six years ago in southern time to break the fast was nearing severed and there were many more Like others, Karim received 2201377/ 2301743 Barmal district of southeastern Afghanistaninfo-icon’s syllabus,” Kandahar province say they still and crowds of people were busy- trapped under the rubble.” Karim 100,000 afghanis in compensation Paktika province are forced to go he observed, stressing improved lead a painful and miserable life. ing food items as suddenly a huge found his five sons in injured con- from the government for the dead to Pakistani schools across the educational facilities at the local The bereaved families say they blast occurred, destroying every- dition. “They were not recogniz- son and 50,000 afghanis for each Banks border, residents said on Saturday. level. have been ignored by the govern- thing.” The elderly man said he able. We took them to hospital with wounded son. But after that mon- The issue was raised at a pub- Widespread insecurity and ment and aid-giving organizations would like breaking the fast at the help of people.” But his sixth ey, Karim has never been assisted Da Afghanistan Bank lic meeting, which was attended by other factors have led to the clo- after the 2009 blast snatched away home and his sons would remain son, the eldest one, could not be again. At the time, Karim said the Barmal residents, area elders and sure of schools in the backward their breadwinners and destroyed at the shop. On that day, Abdul immediately found. He was found government and the provincial re- 2100302, 2100303 Deputy Minister of Border and border town, according to Rahman, their businesses. Karim, after buying some food dead two days later when his body constructioninfo-icon team Tribal Affairs Abdul Ghafoor Le- who hoped the situation would be The blast in August 2009 dur- items, was on his way home a few like many others was retrieved (PRTinfo-icon) had promised to Bakhtar Bank wal. Speaking on the occasion, trib- addressed on a priority basis. ing the holy month of Ramadanin- minutes ahead of iftari and he had from beneath the rubble of a col- compensate his financial loss, but al elder Sohbat Khan claimed thou- Lewal promised the issue fo-icon was the deadliest in the not yet reached the gate of his lapsed wall. His eldest son left the promise was not honoured. 0776777000 sands of students from the district would be shared with the higher- country, with residents of Kanda- home when the powerful blast oc- behind two children and his wife. Along with dozens more affected Azizi Bank were enrolled in Pakistani schools ups in Kabulinfo-icon and a solu- har describing the blast as shaking curred. He suddenly took out his One of his children has blood can- persons, Karim said he had many due to lack of educationinfo-icon tion found sooner rather than lat- the city as if a powerful earthquake phone from his pocket and started cer. The blast destroyed Abdul times visited the governor’s house 0799 700900 facilities in the area. er. He said education facilities for had struck. calling to his sons but they did not Karim’s hard-won life to the ex- and the provincial council office, Pashtany Bank “The government repeatedly a thousand students from Barmal The truck bombing took place attend his calls, exacerbating his tent that he would not be able to but in vain. He said the govern- says that schools are functional would be ensured in the national in the limits of the six police dis- fears. He did not enter his home re-establish. Six years on, the im- ment had also promised him that 2102908, 2103868 across Barmal, but this is not the capital. Governor Aminullah Shariq trict on the Ahad Shahi playground and instead ran towards his shop. pact of the tragedy remains because he would be facilitated to perform case,” he said, asking the authori- also pledged all-out efforts to re- road in front of Spogmai restau- Abdul Karim said when he reached one of his sons lives with plastic hajjinfo-icon, but this was yet to Air Services ties to open all educational insti- open schools in the district. “Pro- rant, killing 40 people and injuring the scene, he could not believe the intestines, another had one of his happen. Abdul Karim urged the tutes in the district at the earliest viding education facilities for the 65 others besides destroying a large hustle bustle that he left behind a kidneys removed and others had government to provide him per- possible. locals is our responsibility,” he re- number of residences and shops. few moments ago had turned into undergone similar surgical opera- manent assistance and said he was Safi Airways Abdur Rahman, another resi- marked. A grey-bearded man, Abdul a catastrophe. “It was like a mas- tions after they were injured in the innocent and his life was plunged 020 22 22 222 dent, confirmed the closure of Education Director Kochai Karim, said he owned a food shop sive earthquake had struck and blast. Karim said he spent a lot of into darkness and then ignored. schools had left parents with no Zazai told Pajhwok Afghan News in the locality where he along with destroyed everything.” The eld- money on his sons’ treatment but Another victim of the attack, Fazl option but to send their children Barmal schools had been shut his six sons would work. erly man paused and tears shone they did not recover. “For me, my Mohammad, said he lost three Ariana to Pakistaninfo-icon. down because of violence. Efforts He told Pajhwok Afghan News in his eyes. “Everyone was look- sons are like broken arms because members of his family to the blast 020-2100270 “If schools in Barmal are re- were underway to reactivate the the powerful blast killed his eldest ing for his relatives among the dead they cannot work.” The blast not that injured another three members opened, Pakistani refugees are also schools, he concluded. (Pajhwok) son and injured the remaining five. and wounded. Some had their half only killed his eldest son and phys- of his family. He told Pajhwok Afghan News the blast killed his Kam Air cousin and his two sons and in- 0799974422 jured another three relatives includ- ing his brother. He said it was a painful incident that snatched Hotels away joys from dozens of fami- Safi Landmark KABUL: In the age of Facebook old Wida, who, like many Afghans, lies and gave them an unending grief. and online dating, some Afghan goes by one name. “They usually He said one of his injured relatives men are still looking for love in an bother us like this.” Lailuma had paralyzed and could not re- 020-2203131 old-fashioned way—by calling Farouqi, who has worked at the cover despite a prolonged treat- ERENA the emergency-services hotline. center for eight years, said men ment. Fazl Mohammad also com- S “We receive many calls telling us keep calling despite their lack of plained that his affected relatives ‘I love you,’ “ said Fatana Yalda, success, probably because they could not receive long-term assis- 0799654000 27 years old, who was taking calls enjoy the novelty of speaking to a tance and could not be compen- in her booth recently and, like her woman who isn’t a relative. “ ‘I sated for the financial loss. He said New Rumi Restaurant colleagues, wore a head scarf over like your voice, let’s be friends and he had been promised compensa- dark hair. Across much of Afghan- give me your personal number,’ “ tion for his destroyed shop but he 0776351347 istan, women rarely leave home said Ms. Farouqi. “My ears are was yet to receive the aid despite except in a head-to-toe burqa. full of these words.” The hotline’s the passage of six years. He said Internet Services Men don’t have much opportu- policy calls for answering polite- the brutal attack left him alone to nity to make an approach, espe- ly, reminding crank callers the line UA Telecom feed the entire family. Kandahar 0796701701 / 0796702702 cially when many women aren’t is for emergencies and not engag- provincial council member and allowed out without male chap- ing in long conversations. Persis- presidential advisor on public af- erones. Few outside big cities have tent callers have their numbers dom, not even using the hotline. he never gives out his number. It about 500 calls per 24 hours, he fairs, Haji Agha Lalai Tastagiri, also Exchange Rate access to social media. Thus, the blocked, a list of which The Wall On his only attempt, “she insult- would get him into trouble. “Lots said. The fees haven’t stopped said the victims had not been com- one surefire way of speaking to a Street Journal viewed. When con- ed me with bad words.” Women of prank calls tell us that I like your men identifying themselves as Tal- pensated as they should have Purchase: member of the opposite sex is to tacted, no one on the list admitted crank-call, too. Beyond the coun- voice and let’s be friends,” said iban from phoning female opera- been. He told Pajhwok Afghan call Kabul’s police-and-emergen- to seeking love over the hotline. “I try’s urban areas, most women re- Wida, the hotline worker. “So far tors, the center’s operators said. News the affected families had been cy services. Operators say they have never called 119,” declared a main out of public life. Girls lucky that trick hasn’t worked here.” The Taliban, who believe unrelat- paid compensation for the dead and One US$ = receive as many as 70 crank calls shopkeeper named Hussain from enough to attend school are typi- Young Afghans have been known ed men and women should be seg- wounded but not for the financial 68.78Afs a day. “Especially illiterate men eastern Ghazni province. “Crank- cally pulled out at puberty and are to call the police hotline seeking regated in education and the work- losses they incurred in the blast. One Pound Sterling= from the villages,” said Ms. Yal- calling is totally against Islam!” under intense pressure to stay romantic advice. Some call for help place, harass operators for work- At the time, a commission had da. “We tell them that this is the Some rural callers whose numbers home. One recent day at the call escaping arranged marriages. “For ing for the police, according to been tasked with investigating the 98.47Afs 119 police call center. ‘Don’t were on the center’s blocked-num- center, a male operator named Zik- example: A girl loves a boy, but her operators who have received financial losses, but the affected One Euro = make traffic on our line.’ “ Amo- bers list denied calling 119 but ad- rullah took a call from a woman family wants her to marry some- threats from them. Their numbers people were not compensated for 76.83Afs rous Afghan men, not so easily mitted to speaking to female who tried to keep him on the line one else,” said Gen. Mohammad are blocked. The Web offers an unknown reasons, he said. He said discouraged, often provide long, strangers on the phone when the saying she was looking for friend- Humayoon Ayni, who is in charge alternative to young urbanites able the government should launch a 1000 Pak Rs = finely detailed reports about fires, women called first. An Interior ship. Zikrullah: “What you’re do- of the call center. “She does not to get online. “We have to thank campaign to hear the voices of war 638Afs in order to keep the conversation Ministry spokesman said those ing now is a making a nuisance call.” agree, so she calls 119 for help.” Mark Zuckerberg and also Yahoo victims and help them revive their going. Firefighters dispatched to seeking love shouldn’t call the hot- Woman: “I’m not.” Zikrullah: “You The center usually refers such call- Messenger because they helped us lives. Dastagiri said the Talibanin- Sale: the scene often discover nothing line. “It should only be used for keep making our lines busy. You ers to the Ministry of Women’s a lot,” said one man, smiling at his fo-icon had been planning to ex- One US$ = burning but a man’s heart. An- emergencies,” he said, “and tips bother us. We are here to listen to Affairs. The call center, which fiancée over tea at a Kabul cafe. plode the truck bomb at the Kan- 68.98 Afs other ploy is to report impossi- that could prevent attacks.” One emergency calls and to help our was set up in 2007 and funded by The couple met on Facebook and dahar airfield, but it went off pre- One Pound Sterling= ble-to-solve mysteries regarding Kabul university student said af- countrymen.” Woman: “Can you the United Nations Development communicated for a year before maturely, killing and wounding ci- missing livestock. “Some callers ter moving to the capital from his connect me to Anil Kapoor?” the Program, has tried to tackle the meeting. “He said, ‘may I love vilians. “As far as my informa- 99.27Afs tell me, ‘my sheep and cows are east-Afghanistan village he strug- mustachioed Bollywood actor. He problem. Calls used to be free. you?’ “ she said, describing the tion is concerned, the perpetrators One Euro= lost.’ I ask who robbed them. gled to start conversations with scolded her and she hung up. Zik- Now they cost 1.5 afghani a minute moment they agreed to be togeth- of the attack have not been arrest- 77.43 Afs They say, ‘you are police, so you girls. So he decided to try crank- rullah, who has a mop of jet-black (about 2 cents), which Mr. Ayni er. “I said, no problem.” ed by the security organs,” the 1000 Pak Rs= 646Afs have to find out,’ “ said 23-year- calling women to practice, at ran- hair and honey-colored eyes, said said has helped. The center gets (The Wall Street Journal) public representative 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. SUNDAY . FEBRUARY 21, 2016 AFGHANISTAN TIMES

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Militants along its border with Afghanistan. blew up part of a newly construct- Bacha Khan University attack- ed government school in South ers vow to target schools in new Waziristan late Friday night, a video spokesperson for a wing of the Officials in South Waziristan Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) said the girls’ wing of the school in said on Saturday, the latest in a the Tehsil Tiarza area was dam- string of attacks on educational aged in Friday’s blast, as well as institutions. some heavy machinery being used No one was hurt in the blast in for ongoing construction at the site. Pakistan’s restive tribal belt, but In a separate incident in Mo- 18 labourers working on the site hmand tribal area to the north, se- were abducted, said Azam Tariq, a curity officials killed five militants spokesperson for an arm of the during a clash near Mohmand TTP known as the “Sajna” group, Agency’s administrative headquar- which claimed responsibility for ters on Saturday. the attack. The militants were planning an He said the workers were re- attack in the area, a security offi- leased a short time later. cial said, speaking on condition of Five suspected militants killed anonymity. in Mohmand Agency Remembering martyrs: Walks, “We have blown up the school candlelight vigils across Punjab to because it was a government in- honour the martyrs of APS stallation,” said Tariq, warning the A generation of Pakistani mil- group would continue to attack itants have used the tribal region government targets. to launch attacks on the Pakistani Twenty people were killed and state and US-led forces in Afghan- dozens wounded last month when istan. militants launched an attack on The Pakistani Taliban are Bacha Khan University in K-P, a fighting to topple the government little more than a year after Tali- and install a strict interpretation ban gunmen massacred 134 stu- of Islamic law. dents at the Army Public School They are loosely allied with in Peshawar. the Afghan Taliban who ruled most The Peshawar school attack of Afghanistan until they were was seen as having hardened Paki- overthrown by US-backed military stan’s resolve to fight militants action in 2001.

NEW DELHI : India on Saturday struction of 50,000 houses in the pledged $250 million for post- 14 districts most severely affect- earthquake reconstruction in Ne- ed by the quake. Under the accord, pal as the two countries try to heal $50 million each would be utilized LONDON: A multi-million pound purported to link it with Britain Britain for the scrap value of and grounded. The latest set of land crisis, which led to then UK strained ties following protests in in the health, education and cul- contract for India to purchase 27 taking tougher action on pro- 900,000 pounds after the machines documents highlight the consider- defence secretary Michael He- Nepal over the country’s new con- tural heritage sectors in 31 earth- 'Westland 30' helicopters in 1980s Khalistani groups based in the UK. were found to be technically faulty able chaos caused around the West- seltine's resignation. stitution. quake-hit districts of Nepal. was overshadowed by "anti-Brit- "Mr Gandhi visited the UK on The assistance, covering hous- Oli said the main purpose of ish feelings" in the wake of former 15/16 October (1985). During this ing, health, education and cultural his visit “is to clear the misunder- prime minister Indira Gandhi's as- visit, Ministers had encouraging heritage in Nepal’s earthquake-hit standing that surfaced in the last sassination, according to newly discussions about the prospects of areas, is part of an accord signed few months.” declassified documents. an Indian order for W 30," a later by the countries’ foreign ministers Political protests in Nepal dis- Documents declassified by the Cabinet briefing note says. during Nepalese Prime Minister rupted the supply of petroleum National Archives in London yes- However, C D Powell, Thatch- Khadga Prasad Oli’s visit to India. and other products from India, cre- terday disclose considerable fear er's private secretary, writes in Nearly 9,000 people were ating a rift in bilateral relations. within the Margaret Thatcher Cab- another internal dispatch later that killed in a 2015 earthquake and af- Nepal blamed India and its sup- inet that India may reverse its pur- year: "Mr Gandhi said that the tershocks in Nepal. Nearly a mil- port of ethnic Madhesi protesters chase plan, which would hit the 'technical chaps' were giving prob- lion houses and buildings were for the disruption in supplies, a already struggling UK aircraft firm lems. They preferred a French he- damaged. charge denied by India. hard. licopter. The Westland one was too Oli and Indian Prime Minister The Madhesis called off their "Westland started to manufac- big and consumed more fuel Narendra Modi also inaugurated on blockade early this month, easing ture the aircraft. However, there though it was cheaper to operate Saturday a transmission line for the severe shortages of fuel, medicine were substantial delays which ap- per seat." supply of Indian electricity to and other supplies that persisted peared at least in part to be associ- The dubious Westland deal Nepal under an Indian credit line in Nepal since the blockade and a ated with anti-British feeling in eventually did go ahead but was to of $13.5 million. general strike in the south started India following Mrs Gandhi's as- be later described by officials in- Nepa05166598 The bench late last year. The Madhesis in sassination (in 1984)," notes a volved as a "catastrophic waste of chair (L) of late Supreme Court southern Nepal say the new con- document dated January 10, 1986, money". Justice Antonin Scalia is seen stitution carved Nepal’s seven from the defence ministry to the India bought 21 Westland 30s draped in black wool crepe, a tra- states unfairly with borders that Cabinet Office. and the money came out of Brit- dition dating back to 1873, at the cut through their ancestral home- The deal, worth 65 million ain's aid budget and was given to Supreme Court in Washington, land. They want a larger state, more pounds, has been previously de- India on condition it bought the DC, USA, 17 February government representation and scribed as the 'Achilles heel' in re- helicopters. The 14-seater West- 2016.Obama takes fire for decision more local autonomy. lations between India and the UK land 30s proved to be highly unre- not to attend Scalia funeral More than 50 people were following Gandhi's assassination liable and a commercial disaster and Nepal will use $100 million of killed in protest-related violence in as her successor, Rajiv Gandhi, had India sold its entire fleet back to the Indian assistance for the con- the past six months. ‘Tamil areas in Sri Lanka are the pockets of poverty’

Indian authorities have imposed A map showing Haryana state Regions with the highest rate of ty line of $2.5 per day, the figures Provinces. Lack of access to the curfews and shoot-to-kill orders in in northern India poverty in Sri Lanka are areas in- in these three districts are 74.4 per labour market and high unemploy- a northern state after two days of The unrest continued on Sat- habited by Tamils, according to a cent, 60.9 per cent and 57.2 per ment rates, particularly among the violent protests over caste rights. urday, with protesters torching the study of the World Bank. The re- cent respectively. With respect to youth and among educated wom- Three people have died and station master's office at a railway gions come under the districts of the estates, the poverty headcount en, are the factors that have con- about 80 injured in the clashes in- station. Talks with the local gov- Mannar, Mullaitivu and Kilinoch- rate is 10.9 per cent, as per the Sri tributed to the prevalence of such volving the Jat community in ernment have failed to quell their chi in the Northern Province; Bat- Lanka’s national poverty line and high rates of poverty. On the peo- Haryana state. anger. ticaloa in the East and plantations this goes up to 50.6 per cent under ple in the estate sector, the World The Jats are currently listed "The protest will only end in Badulla district (Uva Province) the international poverty line. Bank’s report has said a large share as upper caste but the demonstra- when government accepts our de- and Nuwara Eliya (Central Prov- Though the World Bank has not of the population is “vulnerable tors want job quotas similar to mands," Yashapal Malik, the pres- ince). One Sinhala-dominated re- specifically given the figure of Bat- to adverse shocks”. Describing as those granted to lower castes. ident of a Jat organisation that is gion the study has identified as ticaloa, a 2014 publication of the worrisome the non-monetary in- The army has been deployed leading the protest, told the AFP having a high rate of poverty is the Department of Census and Statis- dicators of health and nutrition in to restore order. news agency. Monaragala district. Going by Sri tics of the Sri Lankan government the estates, the document has Violence flared on Friday, with India grants a proportion of its Lanka’s national poverty line of mentioned that the figure (as in pointed out that the estates have protesters in the town of Rohtak jobs and positions to people from about $1.50 per day (Purchasing 2012-2013) was 19.4 per cent. As the highest maternal mortality hurling rocks at security forces, the lower castes in a bid to end Power Parity in 2005), the pover- for the age profile of the poor in rates in the country. “About 30 blocking traffic, attacking vehicles discrimination. ty headcount rates of Mullaitivu, the North and East, the study percent of children below 5 are and attempting to set the finance But Jat leaders say these quo- Mannar and Kilinochchi are 28.8 points out that about 47 per cent underweight, nearly one in three minister's home on fire. tas put them at a disadvantage in per cent, 20.1 per cent and 12.7 of people living in poverty come babies born have low birth weight, One demonstrator was shot government jobs and state-run ed- per cent respectively. If one were under the group of below 25 years, and one-third of women of repro- dead in clashes with police. ucational institutes. to apply the international pover- compared to 40 per cent in other ductive age are malnourished.” Austria, Sri Lanka agree to enhance economic cooperation President of Austria Mr. Heinz omy of Sri Lanka due to terrorist Fischer and President Maithripala activities. Sirisena agreed to increase the co- The aim of the new govern- operation in the economic devel- ment is to uplift the living stan- opment between the two countries dards of the people while devel- as friendly nations. oping the economy of this coun- The two leaders came into this try, the President said, adding that agreement when they held an offi- the government has already initi- cial disvussions today (Feb. 19) at ated programs to develop the in- the President's Office of Austria. frastructure facilities in the coun- President Sirisena who arrived try to promote the manufacturing in the President's Office of Aus- sector of the country to find solu- tria was welcomed by President tions for the problem of unem- Fischer. A Guard of Honour was ployment among the youth. also held to welcome President The Austrian President Sirisena, who is on a 2-day state pledged to provide every possible visit to Austria. After the Guard assistance to Sri Lanka to get the of Honour, two national anthems EU ban on fish exports lifted as were played. well as to get the GSP plus facili- Subsequently, the two leaders ty. started bilateral discussions. The President Sirisena requested discussion was focused on expand- the Austrian President to provide ing of the friendly relations of the their assistance in promoting the two countries. tourism industry of Sri Lanka and "The new government of Sri the Austrian President expressed Lanka is now carrying out the pro- his consent regarding this. gram to build the coexistence and The Austrian President com- reconciliation in the country by mended the Government's commit- fulfilling the responsibilities of a ment in protecting Theravada Bud- post-war period, after ending the dhism and said that Sri Lanka can 26 years long terrorism in Sri Lan- be named as a country, which ka", said President Sirisena. He strongly practices the Theravada added that Sri Lanka is expecting Buddhism. the assistance of every friendly Following the bilateral discus- press conference. Addressing the joint press conference, leaders of the both countries stated that their hope is to further enhance the existing bilateral ties between the two countries. country to re-build the fallen econ- sions, both leaders held a joint President Maithripala Sirisena thanked for the warm hospitality accorded to him by the government of Austria. 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. SUNDAY . FEBRUARY 21, 2016 AFGHANISTAN TIMES News-in-Brief

Morocco refuses to host 2016 Arab League summit

Morocco has decided not host the 2016 Arab League meeting, saying on Friday it wanted to France immediately rejected Rus- “a dead end that could be extreme- avoid giving a false impression sia’s proposed U.N. resolution ly dangerous.” of unity in the Arab world. Friday demanding an immediate “In these conditions,” Delat- The annual meeting, which halt to cross-border shelling and tre told reporters, “it is more ur- would have been the group’s foreign ground intervention in Syr- gent than ever to create the condi- 27th, was initially set for on ia, warning that “a dangerous mil- tions leading to the resumption of March 29 in the Moroccan tour- itary escalation” could spiral out negotiations.” ist city of Marrakesh but had of control. U.S. Ambassador Samantha already been postponed to Russia called an emergency Power called the Russian draft “a April 7 at Saudi Arabia’s re- Security Council meeting earlier in distraction,” and urged Moscow quest. the day to submit a draft resolu- instead to implement a resolution “Amid the lack of impor- tion calling on Turkey to “cease adopted unanimously by the Se- tant decisions and concrete ini- any actions that undermine Syr- curity Council in December en- tiatives to submit to the heads ia’s sovereignty and territorial in- dorsing a peace plan for Syria that of states, this summit will be tegrity,” according to a statement includes a cessation of hostilities just another occasion to approve on the Foreign Ministry’s website. and negotiations between the As- ordinary resolutions and to pro- The Russian draft resolution sad government and opposition. nounce speeches that give a didn’t name Turkey but it was “It’s incredibly important that false impression of unity,” a clearly aimed at the Turkish gov- we have de-escalation,” Power statement from the Moroccan ernment, which has threatened told reporters after the closed coun- foreign ministry said. “Arab leaders cannot con- fine themselves, once more, to simply analyzing the bitter sit- uation of divergences and divi- sions without giving decisive responses,” it added. Saudi Arabia said on Friday it suspended a $3 billion aid package for the Lebanese army in what an official called a re- sponse to Beirut’s failure to condemn attacks on Saudi dip- lomatic missions in Iran. The region is riven by the rivalry between Sunni Muslim power Saudi Arabia and the leading Shi’ite power Iran. The President Barack Obama in a tele- 20 minutes, Ankara said Obama provided any weapons of any Obama expressed his condo- two are backing different sides phone call with Turkey's President had told his counterpart President kind" to the group. lences to Erdogan over the bomb- in Syria’s civil war and differ- Recep Tayyip Erdogan Friday Tayyip Erdogan that Turkey had The issue risks driving a ing in the Turkish capital, the ent factions in neighboring Leb- urged the Ankara government and a right to self-defense, and ex- wedge between the NATO allies White House said. anon. Kurdish YPG forces to "show re- pressed worries over advances by at a critical point in Syria's civil Before the call with Obama, Saudi Arabia was enraged ciprocal restraint" in northern Syr- Syrian Kurdish militias near Tur- war, as the United States pursues Erdogan said he was saddened by when Iranians, protesting ia. key's border. intensive talks with Syria's ally the West's refusal to call the Syri- against the kingdom’s execution "President Obama stressed Earlier on Friday, Erdogan had Russia to bring about a "cessation an Kurdish militia terrorists, and ground action and was keeping up cil meeting. “We have a resolution of a Shi’ite Muslim cleric, raid- that YPG forces should not seek said U.S.-supplied weapons had of hostilities." would explain to the U.S. its cross-border artillery shelling on the books. It’s the right resolu- ed its missions last month - and to exploit circumstances in this area been used against civilians by a Turkey has blamed the YPG president how weapons pro- campaign Friday against U.S.- tion. We’ve committed ourselves many countries in the region to seize additional territory, and Syrian Kurdish militia group that for the suicide car bomb attack on vided by the United States had aid- backed Syrian Kurdish militia po- to it and we need Russia to do the came out in support of Riyadh. urged Turkey to show reciprocal Ankara blames for the deadly sui- Wednesday that killed 28 people, ed them. sitions in Syria. same.” restraint by ceasing artillery strikes cide bombing this week. most of them soldiers. "I will tell him, The draft also made no men- The Russian draft demands North Korea fires in the area," a White House state- The State Department, which But a Turkey-based Kurdish 'Look at how and where those tion of the current Syrian offen- that all countries “commit to and ment said. sees the Syrian Kurdish YPG fight- splinter group has claimed respon- weapons you provided were sive in the north, backed by Rus- unconditionally” implement pro- artillery near sea In response, in a phone con- ers as useful allies against ISIS, sibility for the bombing and threat- fired'," Erdogan told reporters in sian aerial attacks, that has almost visions of the December resolution. border with South versation that lasted one hour and said the United States had "not ened more attacks. Istanbul. cut off Syria’s largest city, Alep- It also demands that all coun- po. Turkey’s U.N. Ambassador tries refrain from “provocative North Korea has fired several told reporters his country was ex- rhetoric and inflammatory state- artillery rounds into the sea US aircraft hit ercising its right to self-defense and ments inciting further violence and near a disputed maritime bor- responding to fire from Syrian soil. interference into internal affairs” der with South Korea amid militants in He reiterated that “Turkey will not of Syria, and it reaffirms that all tensions between the two be going into Syria with the boots states must prevent the illegal states over a nuclear test con- on the ground if it is not a collec- movement of “foreign terrorist ducted by Pyongyang in Janu- Libya, 40 tive action, either by the Security fighters” and weapons into Syria. ary. Council or by the international Russia’s deputy U.N. ambas- The South Korean mili- reported dead coalition that we are a part of.” sador Vladimir Safronkov said he tary on Saturday said the France’s U.N. Ambassador told the council that Russia is open rounds had not crossed the Francois Delattre, asked whether to negotiate the text and would border but caused alarm among Paris supported the Russian draft, welcome proposals. residents on a nearby island in replied: “The short answer is no.” “It’s a moment of truth,” he the South. He said the current military said, because the draft reaffirms Last month North Korea escalation is “the direct result of and repeats what all 15 council carried out a nuclear test and the brutal offensive in the north of members have said during the Syr- in February it tested a long- Syria led by the Syrian regime and ia crisis, “so I don’t consider from range rocket, which were con- its allies.” And he said Russia must even political reasons how they can demned by South Korea and understand that its support for refuse all these principles in the the United States as grave vio- Syria’s President Bashar Assad is Russian draft.” lations of UN Security Coun- cil resolutions. The allies are expected to begin large-scale annual military drills in early March, which the North calls preparations for war and routinely vows retali- ation over. No unusual move- ments Saturday's firing, heard U.S. warplanes carried out air from the island of Baengnyeo- strikes early on Friday morning in ng, was probably aimed in a the western Libyan city of Sa- northwestern direction from bratha, where ISIS militants oper- the North's shore as part of an ate, killing as many as 40 people. David Cameron hailed a landmark dent Jean-Claude Juncker - the man exercise, a South Korean de- A U.S. military spokesman deal on Friday he said gave Britain Cameron tried furiously to block fence ministry official said by said the attacks targeted a senior “special status” in the European for the top EU executive job, but telephone, asking not to be Tunisian militant linked to attacks Union and pledged to campaign who played a key role in crafting named. in Tunisia last year. heart and soul to stay in the EU at the deal. The South's office of the Sabratha’s mayor, Hussein al- a deeply uncertain referendum ex- German Chancellor Angela Joint Chiefs of Staff later said Thwadi, told Reuters the planes pected in June. At a summit that Merkel, one of Britain’s strongest there were several rounds of struck at 3.30 a.m. (0130 GMT), ran into overtime, EU leaders allies in Europe, said: “We believe artillery fire, revising a com- hitting a building in the Qasr Talil Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al- en Africa’s place in the world econ- the jet with a bomb on board. agreed unanimously on a package that with this we have given Dav- ment by the ministry official district in which foreign workers Sisi opened on Saturday an eco- omy,” Sisi said in a speech. Egypt says it still has no evi- of measures aimed at keeping Brit- id Cameron a package with which that there had been a single were living. He said 41 people had nomic summit attended by Afri- “It not only aims to present dence that a bomb downed the ain in the 28-nation bloc to avoid a he can campaign in Britain for Brit- shot, and there were no other been killed and six wounded. The can leaders and businessmen that investment opportunities that Af- plane, although Moscow has ac- potentially disastrous divorce. ain to stay in the European unusual movements by the death toll could not immediately aims to boost trade and investment rica offers to the international busi- knowledged that a “terrorist at- Their legally binding decision grant- Union.” The agreement delivered North's military. A South Ko- be confirmed with other officials. across the continent. ness community... but aims to pave tack” caused the disaster. “Africa ed Britain an explicit exemption victory to Cameron on several of rean man watches footage of a Tunisian security sources have More than 1,200 delegates in- the way for active decisions, com- 2016 forum is expected to posi- from the founding goal of “ever the key demands on which he rocket launch by the North said they believe Tunisian ISIS cluding some heads of state will munication and cooperation.” tion Egypt as a gateway for for- closer union”, offered concessions chose to fight for what he called “a earlier this month [AP/Ahn fighters have been trained in camps negotiate business agreements for Organizers are also seeking to eign investments into African mar- on the welfare rights of migrant new settlement” with Europe. He Young-joon] near Sabratha, which is close to the the next two days at the Red Sea turn the spotlight on Egypt as its kets,” Omar Ben Yedder, member workers and safeguards for the won a commitment to change the South Korea suspended Tunisian border. resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, to at- economy remains sluggish after of the organizing committee, told City of London financial center. bloc’s governing treaties in future the operation of a jointly run Two major attacks in Tunisia tract private sector investments in years of political turmoil follow- AFP. “It also aims to discuss ways The British prime minister said to recognize that Britain was not factory park in the North, clos- last year claimed by ISIS - one on Africa. ing the ouster of longtime autocrat of promoting trade and investment he had achieved all his main nego- bound to any political union and ing what had been the last win- a Sousse resort hotel and another The conference “Africa 2016” Hosni Mubarak in early 2011. in Africa, with a focus on private tiating aims and would recommend would have safeguards against fi- dow of regular interaction born on a Tunis museum - were carried plans to build further on a 26-na- Heavily dependent on tourism, sector participation.” Those at- the agreement to his cabinet on nancial regulation being imposed out of a summit meeting in out by gunmen who officials said tion free trade pact signed last year Egypt’s economy was dealt a body tending the summit include the Saturday, firing the starting gun on on the City of London by the euro 2000, when leaders pledged to had trained in Libya. to create a common market on half blow when a Russian airliner broke presidents of Sudan, Nigeria, Togo, a fierce referendum campaign on zone. Facing an uphill political bat- work for peace and reconcilia- The New York Times earlier the continent, organizers said. up mid-air on October 31, minutes and Gabon, and dozens of minis- Britain’s future membership of the tle at home, Cameron was con- tion. reported that Friday’s air strikes Analysts say that despite their after taking off from Sharm el- ters and senior officials from Afri- bloc. “I believe we are stronger, cerned to show Britons that he had targeted a senior Tunisian opera- growth, African economies still Sheikh. ca involved in trade and investment. safer and better off inside a re- won concessions that he believes Tropical Cyclone tive, Noureddine Chouchane, con- account for about only two per- All 224 people on board, most- The conference has been organized formed European Union,” he told can reduce an influx of EU migrant nected to both of last year’s at- cent of global trade. ly Russian tourists, were killed by Egypt and the African Union, a news conference. “And that is workers and keep Britain out of Winston barrels tacks. The forum was aimed at when the plane blew up over the in partnership with the Common why I will be campaigning with all any future political integration. In The mayor said officials visit- “pushing forward trade and invest- Sinai Peninsula. The jihadist Islam- Market for Eastern and Southern my heart and soul to persuade the hours of wrangling with central and down on Fiji ed the site of the strike and found ment in our continent to strength- ic State group said it brought down Africa, or COMESA. British people to remain in the re- east European countries that pro- Fiji has declared a nationwide weapons in the building, but he did formed European Union that we vide many of Britain’s low-paid curfew, as airlines suspended not give any further details. Some have secured today.” The Euros- immigrant workers, he secured the flights and the prime minister Tunisians, a Jordanian and two ISIS recruiting children at ‘unprecedented’ rate ceptic “Vote Leave” campaign was right to curb in-work benefits for warned people to seek refuge women were among the dead, he quick to dismiss what it called up to four years and scale back from a cyclone likely to be the said. ISIS has been stepping up its re- cent died in skirmishes before kill- “Cameron’s hollow deal” as bad child benefit for workers whose Pacific island nation's most Several Tunisians who had re- cruitment of children at a “increas- ing themselves by detonating sui- for Britain. Cameron acknowl- children remain abroad. High powerful on record. After twice cently arrived in Sabratha were ing and unprecedented” over the cide belts, according to the study. edged that one of his closest polit- stakes East European countries hammering outlying islands in among survivors. last year, according to a US study “It seems plausible that, as ical allies, Justice Secretary Michael were only partially successful in nearby Tonga last week, Cy- As ISIS has expanded in Lib- released this week, as foreign pow- military pressure against the Islam- Gove, would campaign to leave the restricting Cameron’s welfare cuts clone Winston reintensified on ya, taking over the city of Sirte ers continue to pound the group’s ic State has increased in recent EU, saying he was disappointed to new arrivals rather than the more Saturday and was packing and attacking oil ports, so too have territory from the sky. months, such operations… are but not surprised. He suggested than 1 million European migrant winds of 230 kilometres per calls increased for a swift Western The study, undertaken over a becoming more tactically attrac- other Conservatives may also join workers already in the UK. In the hour, with gusts of up to 325 response to stop the group estab- 13 month-period by researchers tive,” the study noted. Not des- the “out” camp. He would not of- end, both sides emerged with km/h as it tracked west towards lishing a base outside its Iraq and from Georgia State University, ex- perate “We can expect that, as ficially confirm the expected poll- something to show for their nego- Suva, the Fijian capital. Al Syria territory. amined the death notices of 89 chil- their implementation increases, so ing date of June 23 but said he tiations. The Visegrad Group, Jazeera's Senior Meteorologist Western officials and diplo- dren and youths on Twitter and too will the reported rate of child would make an announcement comprising Poland, Hungary, Slo- Richard Angwin said Winston mats have said air strikes and spe- the encrypted communications and youth deaths.” However, the soon. After two days of intense vakia and the Czech Republic, said would be the "most powerful cial forces operations are possible app Telegram. militant group’s use of children wrangling in Brussels, EU leaders the deal reflected their key de- storm to hit the island state in as well as an Italian-led “security Findings show that the death may not be out of desperation or a determined to try to keep Britain mands. A compromise largely fa- recorded history". "Every one stabilization” plan of training and rate of ISIS youth in January this struggle to fill out the ranks. Rath- in the union resolved outstanding vorable to Britain was found for of Fiji’s islands will feel WIn- advising. year doubled compared to the same er, “children are fighting alongside, disputes over migrant workers’ French concerns about differential ston’s effects," Angwin said. U.S. and European officials time last year. 39 percent of un- rather than in lieu of, adult males,” welfare rights and relations be- treatment for London banks out- READ MORE: Tropical Cy- insist Libyans must invite help der-18-year olds were used to according to the study. Data tween London and the euro zone. side the euro zone as well as to clone Winston's strength 'part- through a united government, but drive explosive-laden vehicles at showed that most of the children “So now the deal is done and it’s Belgian grumbles about Britain set- ly due to El Nino' say they may still carry out uni- the enemy, while 33 percent died who died on an ISIS mission were up to the British people to decide,” ting a precedent for states to snub lateral action if needed. as foot soldiers. A further 18 per- either Iraqi or Syrian. said European Commission Presi- EU integration. 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.

SUNDAY . FEBRUARY 21, 2016 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] www.afghanistantimes.af Photojournalist: M. Sadiq Yusufi By Ryskeldi Satke In December 2015, Al response from local authorities of September 2015 has been Jazeera reported that the Kyr- about health and environmen- contributed.” Advisory editorial board Tian Shan mountain gyz state security service tal problems related to the Kyrgyzaltyn, a state-owned range, Kyrgyzstan - Hidden in Saduddin Shpoon, Dr. Sharif Fayez, Dr. Sultana Parvanta, Dr. Sharifa Sharif, was pressuring relatives of im- mine, “communities have de- company that jointly manages a valley in Kyrgyzstan’s Tian prisoned activists to silence cided to deal directly with min- the Kumtor mine, did not re- Dr. Omar Zakhilwal, Setara Delawari, Ahmad Takal Shan mountains lies the mag- remaining opposition in the vil- isters, the prime minister - and spond to Al Jazeera’s request nificent Issyk-Kul Lake, one of lages. if they can’t fix these issues, for comment. Graphic-Designers: the highest and deepest lakes The Kumtor mine has long then with the president [of Kyr- Meanwhile, the Kyrgyz Edriss Akbari and Bilal Yusufi in the world and a top tourist been a target of criticism. In gyzstan]”. government has been wary of destination in the region. Marketing & Advertising: 1998, after a mining truck car- Over the course of the past human rights organisations In stark contrast to Issyk- rying cyanide crashed, nearly decade, anti-mine activists that have tried to research the Mohammad Parwiz Arian, 0708954626, 0778894038 Kul’s natural beauty is the mas- two tonnes of the deadly chem- have said that those living near situation at Kumtor. sive Kumtor gold mine to the ical spilled into a nearby river Kumtor became wary of the In October 2015, a delega- Mailing address: P.O. Box: 371, Kabul, Afghanistan lake’s south, at an elevation of Our Bank Accounts: that was a main source of drink- mine’s negative effect on the tion of European observers Azizi Bank: 000101100258091 / 000101200895656 more than 4,000 metres. Kum- ing water for villages down- environment, and that dust from Bankwatch and Front Line Printed at Afghanistan Times Printing Press tor, which has been operating stream. In the from the mine is causing health Defenders made a fact-finding for nearly two decades, is the immediate aftermath of the cy- problems in the district. trip to villages near the gold largest open-pit mining opera- anide spill, 2,600 villagers were For his part, John Pearson, mine, and met hostility and ob- tion in Central Asia, and treated and more than 1,000 ad- the vice president of investor struction from the Kyrgyz state The constitution says the only one operating on an Article 136 mitted to hospital. relations at Centerra Gold, told security service, according to active glacier. Centerra Gold has also Al Jazeera by email that the a Bankwatch briefing (PDF) published The administration of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, based on the units of the The mine, owned by Toron- central government and local offices, shall be regulated according to the law. The central been accused of bribing cor- company was in communica- after the trip. to-based Centerra Gold, claims rupt officials in Kyrgyzstan tion with local villagers, and Front Line Defenders, a administration shall be divided into several administrative units, each headed by a to provide 2,800 jobs and pro- Minister. The local administrative unit shall be a province. The number, area, divisions during the first restructuring of that it has a “specific stake- Dublin-based human rights and related provincial organizations as well as number of offices shall be regulated on the duces almost 8 percent of Kyr- the Kumtor project in 2002-03, holder engagement and com- organisation, said that “the lo- basis of population, social and economic conditions, as well as geographical location. gyzstan’s gross domestic prod- charges the mining company munication plan in this regard”, cal state security forces were uct. In a good year, Kumtor pro- repeatedly denied. These alle- as well as a way for them to file keen to prevent this delegation duces up to 18 tonnes of gold. gations exacerbated existing grievances. from meeting community lead- But it has also been a flash- tensions in the district of Jety “Centerra is aware of the ers and organisers who were point for unrest. Villagers liv- Oguz, where the mine is locat- complaints that have been trying to compel greater envi- ing near the mine ed. made around the response of ronmental oversight and con- complain about what they de- One member of the anti- the Kyrgyz authorities to the trol over the Kumtor mine”. scribe as an unfair deal with mining protest movement, a protests in 2013,” said Pearson. Aziza Abdurasulova, the Centerra Gold, an uneven dis- native of Jety Oguz who re- “Our only knowledge of this head of Kylym Shamy, a human tribution of wealth, high unem- quested that his name was not situation is based on informa- rights NGO based in Bishkek, Peace talks and ployment in surrounding com- used in fear of government re- tion we have seen and read in claimed that the Kyrgyz gov- munities, lack of healthcare, the prisals, told Al Jazeera: “If not the local and international ernment had ignored commu- loss of traditional pasture and for these negative effects [en- press.” nity grievances against the challenges the destruction of the glaciers vironmental impact in the set- He added that the Kumtor mine for more than a decade - at Kumtor. This negative senti- tlements], we wouldn’t have project “has been contributing and that, given the unresolved Earlier this month the government has said that it expected to ment exploded in 2013, when known about how Kumtor mine 1 percent of its gross revenue public concerns, the protests hold face-to-face talks with the Taliban representatives by the mass protests led to violence is changing livelihoods in the to the Issyk-Kul Region Devel- against Kumtor were likely to and a temporary shutdown of district.” opment Fund. Since these pay- continue. end of February. The statement was issued by the spokesman of the mine after protesters brief- The activist added that, af- ments commenced in 2009, a Follow Ryskeldi Satke on foreign ministry following the third round of the four-nation talks ly occupied a power station ter receiving an unsatisfactory total of $46 million as of the end Twitter: @RyskeldiSatke that supplies it with electricity. called (Quadrilateral Coordination Group) meetings in Paki- The Kyrgyz government re- stan’s capital city, Islamabad. The group consisting of diplo- sponded by arresting and im- mats from Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States, prisoning local activists,who claimed to have been beaten trying to find a so-called ‘roadmap’ since January to encourage and tortured at the hands of the Taliban militants to join Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace state security services, accord- and reconciliation process. ing to Bakyt Amanbayev, a former ombudsman of the Kyr- The government is continuing peace efforts amid several chal- gyz Republic. lenges. Taliban who has intensified fighting has said they would Five community organisers not come to talks unless its preconditions are met. The condi- who participated in the 2013 protests remain in prison, con- tions include delisting the group from UN blacklist and the re- victed variously of disturbing lease of its leaders from Guantanamoprison. the peace, extortion, and the Meanwhile, there seems to be some insider challenges in taking of hostages - charges Kabul as well. A number of government authorities including they deny. Five more were taken to senior officials say that the insurgent group is not interested in court in October 2015. Al- the peace process and sees their benefits in continuing the war. though their cases have been Ahmad Zia Massoud who holds the title of the president’s spe- in court for four months now, their defence lawyer, Chinara cial representative for reform and good governance believes Dzhakupbekova, recently told that the talks would be just a ‘waste of time’. In a recent inter- Al Jazeera that prosecutors view with the Los Angeles Times, Massoud said that the gov- have yet to formulate charges against them, and that she ernment’s confidence does not “reflect political and military could not comment further on realities”. the case. The most recent hear- This is not only Massoud who opposes the talks.Earlier, the ing took place in January. Activists say these legal spy chief resigned in protests to the negotiations. Interior minis- proceedings are part of the ter offered his resignation to the president. Although the reason crackdown by Kyrgyz did not come out, but some analysts say that the decision was authorities on public dissent also related to the talks. However, the minister’s resignation against the mining project. was not approved by the president. How the government will launchdirect negotiations with the Taliban while considering the above matters? Who is supposed to lead the talks on behalf of the government? The High Peace an ib al Council, the only body to lead the talks still lacks of the head. T Also the roadmap has not been yet made and a fourth round of the quadrilateral talks is scheduled to be held in a few days in Kabul. The government is asked to lift the insider challenges and convince officials who oppose the talks by explaining them the t details of the talks. Through this, people will also be informed jec about what their leaders have in head and how they deal for the pro PI peace. TA Finally, the government has just a handful of days ahead for its expectation about the direct talks. People are asking ‘is it possible to hold face-to-face talks in eight days’? 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.

SUNDAY. FEBRUARY 21, 2016 AFGHANISTANTIMES Syria’s seventh circle of hell By Hisham Melhem port, at the hands of the Kurdish cently in the Cairo Review, for loss of life and of U.S. influence People’s Protection Units YPG, in Obama ‘eloquent words are more over what Syria will become.’ It has been five years, since Syria military operations that are clear- effective than sharp swords. Some- The failure of containing the began its slow, agonizing descent ly coordinated with the intensified times he treats words as if they conflict in its early stages pushed into an inferno that makes Dante’s Russian air campaign and benefit- have the value and impact of ac- Syria inexorably to the seventh cir- seventh circle of hell with its river ing from the ground attacks by the tions.’ cle of hell. The not-so-secret secret of Trump's and Sanders' success. of boiling blood and barren burn- pro-regime militias is ironic in the Even before the battle of Alep- Hisham Melhem is a colum- ing sands ignited by flakes of fire, extreme. The YPG is Washington’s po is fully joined, tens of thou- nist and analyst for Al Arabiya By Geoffrey Aronson look like a tolerable trail. Aleppo, main ground de facto ally in the sands of uprooted Syrians have News Channel in Washington, DC. Syria’s largest and one of the old- fight against the so-called ‘Islamic been on the move seeking north- Melhem has interviewed many The unlikely presidential cam- est continuously inhabited cities State’ ISIS, America’s most dan- ern havens in Turkey and beyond. American and international public in the world, is about to fall into gerous enemy in Syria. This is a If Aleppo falls, an immense hu- figures, including Presidents paigns of Donald Trump and the hands of invaders from the collaboration made in purgatory, man calamity will occur, and the Barack Obama and George W. Bernie Sanders have been the East; Russians who are raining fires since the YPG is essentially the world is likely to wring its hands Bush, Secretaries of State Hillary most entertaining in many from the skies, and on the ground Syrian incarnation of Turkey’s in sorrow and maybe in shame. Clinton and John Kerry, Secretary years. Large crowds more rem- cutting swaths of desolation are Kurdistan Workers’ Party PKK, a And President Obama will head to of Defense Robert Gates, and Iranian-led Lebanese and Iraqi Shi- iniscent of sporting than polit- group designated by the U.S. as a a podium to deliver a memorable Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of ite militias and the disheveled forc- terrorist organization. This is one speech where he will explain elo- Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, among ical events routinely attend es of their local lisping and pathet- of Washington’s worst kept se- quently the enormity of the deed, others. He is also the correspon- their campaign appearances. ically delusional satrap holed up crets, an arrangement that damag- and making sure to erect a solid dent for Annahar, the leading Leb- Television audiences eagerly in Damascus. es further, The Obama administra- wall of words around him hoping anese daily. For four years he host- tune in to televised debates, at- Abandoned by the world, an- tion’s already tarnished image in to give him immunity from the in- ed "Across the Ocean," a weekly other once great city is being me- the eyes of the main non-Jihadi evitable Syrian infamy. current affairs program on U.S.- tracted less by the prospect of thodically sacked for the first time Syrian opposition groups. Obama’s straw man Arab relations for Al Arabiya. Fol- learning something new about edge to an engaged and edu- candidates for George Bush's in six hundred years, and emptied In the face of Russia’s stepped From the beginning of the Syr- low him on Twitter : Obamacare or Syria than by the cated public and to inform pub- conduct of the war in Iraq and of its people, the very descendants up brutal air attacks in the envi- ian uprising, and even before the @hisham_melhem spectacle of Trump dissing the of the great ancient empires that rons of Aleppo in conjunction with uprising turned into a local civil lic debate on critical issues of their rejection of his responsi- built, destroyed and rebuilt Alep- hapless Jeb Bush or "feeling national importance, instead bility for 9/11, and Hillary Clin- the regime’s continued savagery in war, President Obama was deter- po; Akkadians and Hittites, Greeks the form of barrel bombs against mined not to get involved in what BLOOD AS the burn" of Sanders' righ- metastasised into a vital tool in ton's association with Wall and Romans, Arabs and Ottomans. civilian targets, and in reaction to he termed ‘somebody else’s civil teous indignation. the creation and dissemination Street are the expressions of Rich cultures and religions, that left Moscow’s manipulation of Secre- war’. He rejected numerous pro- There is something differ- of official falsehoods, popular clueless politicians ill-prepared behind their distinct marks; tary of State John Kerry’s diplo- posals from senior and midlevel THE NEW schools, temples, libraries, palac- ent, even unprecedented, about ignorance, and grievous misap- to address a public mood they matic gullibility, the advances of members of his administration for es, forts, souks, public baths, mag- the YPG, and Turkey’s recent ar- establishing safe zones for refugees ‘CASH the candidacies of Trump and prehension that paved the road do not understand. nificent Mosques and graceful tillery attacks against targets and friendly opposition groups to Sanders. Their historic cam- to the invasion and occupation Virulent antipathy Churches and Synagogues. Alep- across the Syrian borders, the be protected by no-fly zones, as paigns for the US presidency of Iraq. The voting booth is the po’s killers are a motley crew of Obama administration has been well as options for limited mili- CROP’ FOR are nothing less than a reflec- mostly regime henchmen and their reduced to issuing statements rang- tary actions to cripple the regimes US system gone haywire place where today's virulent battalions of supporters who are tion and a symptom of the cen- These events are most of- antipathy with the way things ing from condemnation and indig- ability to use air power to terror- FARMERS doing the systematic destruction, nation, to pleading and beseech- ize the civilian population. One tral fact of US life today - the ten seen and understood as are is being registered. Not sur- and extreme local and imported ing. Recently, when Russian bomb- refrain the President and his apol- By Ehtesham Shahid calamitous deficiencies of US discreet and separate, interest- prisingly, the pundits and pro- self-described jihadists. ers attacked hospitals and schools ogists always use when critics rail If intermittent reports of farmer ruling economic, political, and ing and important only in them- fessionals - those who profess A war of all against all in Azaz city, the State Department against Obama’s passivity in Syr- suicides have desensitized us to On Spanish soil in the 1930s a issued a statement condemning the ia is that the critics don’t present the issue completely here is a national institutions and the selves. to know how Americans think civil war was morphed into a con- loss of legitimacy they are suf- The truth is that these sem- or seek to instruct them - have attacks, but without naming the ‘alternatives.’ This is clearly the piece of news that should jolt our tinental epic war. Europe tore it- Russian aggressor. But America’s administration’s favorite straw collective conscience. It was re- fering from a US public fed up inal events in US life, and oth- been flummoxed by the ener- self apart in three bloody years. sharp words are no match to Rus- man argument. Obama kept dis- ported last week that some farm- with the shortcomings of the ers associated with them, are gised campaigns of renegades Soldiers and military advisors came sia’s sharp swords. Dr. Pangloss missing as ‘half-baked,’ ideas like ers in India are selling blood to status quo. from Germany, Italy and the Sovi- and Prince Hamlet establishing no-fly zones and safe survive economic hardships cre- not occurring in isolation, nor from the left (Sanders) and right et Union, along with tens of thou- US elections: Clinton and did they happen overnight. (Trump). Secretary of State John Kerry, zones, or calling “mumbo-jumbo” ated by persistent drought con- sands of volunteers from many a man of boundless energy and in- proposals such as arming Sunni Sanders face off in debate They are all the products of a Democratic presidential countries to engage in the ‘good ditions. Over the years, a large finite optimism is America’s ver- tribes in Iraq. number of agriculture workers in The new millennium has US system gone haywire. They candidates Bernie Sanders and fight’. The Syrian war was turned sion of Dr. Pangloss, Voltaire’s in- President Obama repeatedly initially and diabolically by the the country have been driven to witnessed three seminal events are signs of a much deeper mal- Hillary Clinton [AP] curable optimist in Candide, obfuscated and engaged in dissim- despair because of repeated crop regime into a sectarian war which whose slogan ‘all is for the best, in ulation to muddy the issue of tak- in its young life - the attack on aise, requiring far more atten- Their energy stands in con- evolved into a regional war and failure, lack of institutional sup- the best of all possible worlds’ ing serious action to hasten the port and non-availability of al- the World Trade Center in Sep- tion than the flaccid remedies trast to the somnambulance of eventually into an international animate his diplomacy even in the demise of the Assad regime, by tember 2001, the US invasion conflict and war by proxies. The ternative means to earn a living. that the US financial and polit- the mis-anointed front-runners face of catastrophe. When Russia claiming that the options are be- Some of these challenges remain of Iraq in 2003, and the Great ical leaders have implemented. Bush and Clinton - heirs of sto- failure of containing the conflict deployed its attack jets and bomb- tween going all the way in, that is quickly, made its internationaliza- even though India has made rap- Recession. Republican presidential ried families whose lustre has ers in Syria last summer, he initial- an invasion of Syria, or doing noth- id economic progress in recent tion inevitable. It is stunning to ly refused to see the move as of- ing at all. He was and still good at Receding middle-class life candidate Donald Trump [AP] been perhaps fatally dimmed by think that in the skies of Syria in years. Farmer suicides are also fensive in nature. Then he, along presenting false choices. And not a new phenomenon in the The US economy has not These half-measures are the public's apparent belief that the last year the air forces of four with President Obama began to Obama knew that no serious schol- delivered for most Americans of the five permanent members of country. According to the Nation- not surprising. What else can the traditional representatives lecture Russian President Vladimir ar or public figure ever called for al Crime Records Bureau data, as in decades. Incomes are stag- be expected when you ask the of the US political system con- the Security Council of the United Putin that what he is doing will an invasion of Syria. Most were Nations have been, along with oth- many as 12,360 were reported in nating and the dream of a com- fox how to repair the hen- testing the presidency are no not serve Russia’s long term inter- calling for a strong exercise of the year 2014. In one of the most er allies conducting military ests, or that it is a sign of weak- American leadership. After my fortable middle-class life is re- house? longer deserving of their con- strikes. On the ground a war of all industrialized states in the coun- ness and advising him to avoid such Cairo Review article, well-mean- try, Maharashtra, the total num- ceding. fidence. against all is raging on and each of a ‘quagmire’, reminiscent of the ing friends said: where are your the major players has a list of pri- ber of suicides was 1,000 last These are not the conse- The unlikely if compelling Trump's promise to make Soviet quagmire in Afghanistan. realistic alternatives? It just hap- year and over 3,000 in the last quences of a failure of the mary and secondary enemies. For Russia’s military intervention pened that in the last few days, candidacies of Trump on the the US great again and Sand- the U.S. ISIS is the primary ene- three years. This number could famed American work ethic, but Republican side and Sanders ers' calls for a new American in Syria has elevated Moscow’s powerful moral and political voic- be even higher considering a lot my, followed by al-Nusra Front profile in the Middle East in ways es, including columnists, former of the distorted power and in- on the Democrat are incompre- revolution are two sides of the with the Assad regime at the bot- of cases are not reported to the not known since the collapse of policy makers and diplomats have authorities and several others not terests of US financial powers hensible without reference to same coin. Each in its own way tom. For Russia, the enemies be- the Soviet Empire. In fact the written blistering criticism of gin with the opposition to Assad, registered as suicides. and the corruption of the titans these crises, which are them- represents an authentic re- Obama administration is using Obama’s moral and political abdi- Figures compiled by govern- then ISIS and al-Nusra. For Iran, Russia’s dominant position in Syr- cation on Syria, and making the of the US economy. selves related to each other. sponse of two political outsid- ments have often been contested the opposition to Assad is first on ia nowadays to justify its feeble case for establishing safe zones and/ The successful attack on Trump and Sanders don’t ers to the broad and all but un- the list, then ISIS and al-Nusra. diplomacy and its reliance on or no fly zones to prevent another by NGOs and there are those who the US by al-Qaeda and the agree on the solutions to Amer- precedented failures of a US For Turkey, the enemy list begins Moscow to ‘deliver’ Assad to the catastrophe in Aleppo. believe suicides are not always subsequent bloody and de- ica’s problems but they are system in recent times and the with the Kurdish YPG, then the negotiating table, and its refusal to A view from the field related to financial conditions. A member of parliament recently structive war in Iraq revealed Assad regime. For ISIS, the imme- embark on any serious military If president Obama accepted united in their view that mak- estrangement many Americans diate enemy on the ground is the went to the extent of calling it the rot at the core of US intelli- ing America great again re- feel from their ruling economic action, beyond deploying a small in the summer of 2012, long be- anti-Assad opposition groups, and number of special forces against fore the rise of ISIS and the mas- “fashion trend” before regretting gence and political decision- quires no less than a revolu- and political institutions. in the skies the bombers of the In- ISIS, that could enhance the capa- sive use by Assad of Chemical his “choice of words”. Whichev- making systems. tion. Each demands that leaders ternational coalition. bilities of the opposition and weak- Weapons, the proposal a senior er way one looks at it, reports of Trump's promise to make Americans are angry and and institutions themselves be Sharp words vs. Sharp swords en the regime. Russia’s violent official presented him after visit- farmers selling blood have added The fall of Aleppo, a clear mil- another layer to the challenge of the US great again and Sand- frightened, not only because held accountable for the un- ownership of Syrian skies, forced ing Northern Syria to establish a itary objective of the axis of Rus- the Obama administration to in- no fly zone in that part of the coun- farmer suicides that have gone on ers' calls for a new American the failures of the system comfortable truths that each sia, Iran and the Assad regime, that form the Russian military vaguely try; Syria may not have descend- for years in the country. More revolution are two sides of the across a wide spectrum threat- believes he is the only one bold is not going to be altered by the supposedly, about the areas of ed to the seventh circle of hell. A than the magnitude of the prob- same coin. en the secure futures of their enough to acknowledge - that surreal talk of cease fires and peace operations of the American Spe- three page memo written by Tom lem, it is the apathy within the The entire process at the talks in European capitals, will deal cial Forces in Syria. Lt. Gen. Malinowski of the State Depart- system that should cause con- families but also because no Bush failed to protect the US, the Syrian opposition groups that cern. This goes beyond the gov- heart of the decision to wage one in the financial or political that the war in Iraq was based Charles Brown, commander of the ment titled; ‘view from the field are tepidly supported by the Unit- U.S. Air Forces Central Command, on emerging arguments for a Syria ernment of the day and even the war was manufactured on a lie. community is seen to be pay- on a lie, and that traditional ed States a severe blow. Such a set- told reporters during a briefing on no-fly zone’ convincingly makes policies being pursued. In gener- Who can forget the cascade of ing for their misdeeds or mis- politicians - Republican and back will constitute a radical shift Thursday, ‘I don't have any assur- the case for such zone. The memo al, it boils down to implementa- spurious claims at the heart of judgments, or indeed even rec- Democrat alike - are the source in the balance of power in favor of ances, really, from the Russians. is based on the findings of an Amer- tion, or lack of it, at the grass- the axis seeking a partial restora- the debate? ognises their severity. of the US' economic problems But we told them these are the ... ican team’s contacts and observa- root level. Benefits of welfare tion of a truncated state they call general areas, where we have coa- tions in Northern Syria. Malinows- programs often don’t reach the The US political class - Al-Qaeda's attack is dis- and the obstacle to their solu- ‘essential Syria,’ an area that in- lition forces and we don’t want ki notes, ‘in short, they went in needy due to corruption. Democrat and Republican alike missed as a one-off oversight. tion. cludes the country’s main cities, them to strike there because all it's extremely skeptical about the mer- The day the reports of farm- - led the chorus of US support The wars in Iraq are blamed on Geoffrey Aronson writes from Damascus in the South to the going to do is escalate things. And its of any sort of military inter- ers selling blood surfaced – most- for this misadventure, whose the Iraqis, and lessons are said about Middle Eastern affairs. central cities of Homs and Hama, I don't think the Russians want to vention, but have come to believe ly in international media – there along with the coastal region and was hardly any mention of the destructive legacy still domi- to have been learned from the He consults with a variety of escalate against the coalition’. Try that the situation is evolving in all the way to Aleppo in the North. to explain that one to the incredu- ways that argue strongly in favor same in the local press. Majority nates the news. Intelligence Great Recession. public and private institutions Russia’s military intervention lous Syrians. of establishing a no-fly zone.’ of television channels were in- and military systems abetted Popular anger is trans- dealing with regional political, in Syria has elevated Moscow’s Against a mountain of doubts This following passage shows stead busy giving airtime to is- the charade, applauded by a formed into voter antipathy security, and development is- profile in the Middle East in ways about Russia’s intentions in Syria, the price of inaction and the result sues that most farmers would not known since the collapse of cheerleading press. when its causes are not ad- sues. The views expressed in Secretary Kerry spoke about the of dithering, ‘it is our team's as- consider inconsequential to their the Soviet Empire ‘success’ achieved recently in sessment that the rebel forces are plight. This is disheartening also The digital age, which is dressed or recognised. The this article are the author's own The tactical but serious defeats Munich regarding the imminent now strong enough, due to their because we routinely read reports supposed to open unimagined support declared during the and do not necessarily reflect of the opposition forces in the ‘cessation of hostilities’. One could numbers, growing experience, and of high-flying industrialists and horizons of truth and knowl- last debate of major Republican Al Jazeera's editorial policy. North that the U.S. claims to sup- see the snicker on the face of his sheer determination (despite dis- influential corporate houses mis- Russian counterpart Sergey organization and lack of heavy appropriating funds worth mil- Lavrov who has heard Kerry on weapons) that they could hold sig- lions and getting away with credit multiple occasions in recent nificant amounts of territory in default. Even a miniscule propor- LETTER TO THE EDITOR months and years talking about northern Syria if regime air power tion of the money laundered out Syria being on the cusp of a ‘big — and air power alone -- were tak- of the country can go a long way transition’ as he did last Novem- en off the table.’ And this passage in ending the financial miseries ber. about the insignificant jihadist in- of hundreds if not thousands of Few days ago, in a press con- fluence then, is painfully prescient, farmers. More than the magni- ference President Obama returned ‘BTW, our team reports that the tude of the problem, it is the ap- to Russia’s ‘quagmire’ in Syria, but jihadist influence is minimal for athy within the system that Education is key to success also expressing hope for possible now —the FSA is using them "be- should cause concern. This goes future collaboration with Moscow cause they are crazy fighters," but beyond the government of the day against ISIS, telling reporters that they agree with the general assess- and even the policies being pur- When it comes to development of Afghanistan, we still have a long way ahead and reaching this goal of a development is not ‘if we can get a political transition ment that the longer this goes on, sued Ehtesham Shahid A holistic possible without educated youth. Education is our key to success. In most cases, uneducated and illiterate youth are being in Syria, that allows us to coordi- the stronger radical forces will be- approach is needed to properly deceived by the Taliban militants to use them for destruction of their country. It is said that youth as a force can steer a country nate more effectively with not just come.’ utilize any country’s human and towards either right or wrong directions. However, the government should take all necessary measures to provide youth with Russia, but other countries in the The conclusion of the memo natural resources. During an in- opportunities of better education. region to focus on the folks who can still be applied today, and the terview conducted last week, The government should devise a special plan to improve the education system in the country. It should seek support of tribal pose the greatest direct threat to warning against inaction is now Hassan Al-Damluji, Head of the United States’. more frightening than in 2012. ‘A elders and local people in volatile areas to not let the Taliban to torch schools and deprive children from Middle East Relations at the Bill The war in Syria has been the safe zone, protected by grounding & Melinda Gates Foundation, education. subject of many speeches by Syrian air power, would bring im- told me there is a case for raising Samim Hoshang, Shahr-e-Naw, Kabul Obama declaring support for em- mediate and tangible benefits for productivity as “the single big- powering the people against the hundreds of thousands of threat- gest source of employment for Letter to editor will be edited for policy, content and clarity. All letters must have the writer’s name and despot, declarations of policy in- ened people and secure U.S. influ- the poorest people is agricul- address. You may send your letters to: [email protected] tentions, threats of military retri- ence with the rebels and in a post- ture”. “However, when we raise bution and promises of political Assad Syria. And every scenario the productivity of poor farm- and material support. The words we can imagine for finishing the ers, it is worth noting that this were delivered somberly but later job — whether an agreement bro- not only increases their income, ignored totally or never fully im- kered by the U.N. or the Russians, it also increases the supply of plemented. When Polonius asked or accelerating defections leading food to nearby urban centers, Disclaimer: Prince Hamlet ‘What do you read, to a regime collapse, would at least where poor urban people live,” my lord?’ he said ‘words, words, be more likely if there were a dra- he said. This is even more rele- The views and opinions expressed in the articles are those of the author(s) words.’ President Obama cherish- matic shift in the balance of forces vant in a country like India where es words and he lives by them. His on the ground. The alternative is the rural poor’s plight are not and do not reflect the views or opinions of the Afghanistan Times. political career has been defined by to hope for the same outcome, but very different from those in ur- speeches, and some of them are with less chance of success in the ban centers. truly memorable. As I wrote re- foreseeable future, and far greater 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. SUNDAY . FEBRUARY 21, 2016 AFGHANISTANTIMES CANADA’S WILD RICE WARS Ennismore, Ontario - Owners of of his rice to his fellow First Na- cottages near Canada's Pigeon Lake tions people," says Larry. "But he have a bone to pick with James isn't doing it for any other reason Whetung. than to have a business. He sells it For years, Whetung has been to wineries and on the market to seeding the lake with wild rice. He Peterborough." harvests the crop and then sells "No one should have the right Many members of the Yazidi religious minority in Iraq, fearing persecution, are choosing to migrate to Germany. packaged products through his to plant a crop in the waterways company, Black Duck Wild Rice. for his own personal gain." school to offer a sign of their grat- But some cottage owners aren't The Woods and other cottage itude. They told him that he would happy. Pigeon Lake is one of the owners took action, forming the go to hell for being Yazidi, but that 250 lakes and waterways in the Save Pigeon Lake group. After sev- they would help him convert to Kawartha Lakes region of Ontar- eral years of lobbying various gov- save his soul. io, Canada. Located two hours ernment bodies to stop the rice "We don't have a problem with east of Toronto, it is a popular farming, Wood and his neighbours people. But people have a prob- destination for summer getaways, were issued a permit in July 2015 lem with us," Mahmood told Al fishing, hiking, recreational boat- by Parks Canada, which oversees Jazeera. ing, and building cottages. the Trent-Severn Waterway. Pi- The persecution of Yazidis Since 2007, a group of resi- geon Lake is part of this 386km predates the rise of ISIL, but has dents of Pigeon Lake have been inland canal system. increased in recent years. In 2007, fighting Whetung's seeding of wild The permit allowed limited two Yazidi communities were re- rice, claiming their shorelines are removal of "aquatic vegetation" duced to rubble by bombings that filled with the marshy plant that from Pigeon Lake. According to killed 500 people and displaced makes boating difficult. They've Parks Canada, it was intended to more than 1,000 families. protested, held community meet- give cottage owners "the ability to "When families feel their chil- ings, contacted politicians, peti- safely navigate from the shoreline dren will have no future, that's tioned, and formed a group called to the main channel in Pigeon when they choose to leave. The Save Pigeon Lake. Lake". Subsequently, a private aggregate situation for all children Whetung, however, insists that company was hired to remove the in Iraq is extremely troubling - in- his interests are not entrepreneur- rice beds from shoreline areas. cluding Yazidis," said Karim Elko- ial and that his aboriginal treaty But during this process, a crit- rany, a spokesperson for rights allow him to harvest the rice. ical step was skipped: No one con- UNICEF's Iraq branch. As a member of Curve Lake First sulted the local First Nations com- Qasim Hussein, a local Kurdi- Nation, he says it is part of a wid- munities. Marilyn and Larry sh translator, has applied to go to er effort to revive the local indige- Wood. Larry has lived on the lake Germany legally. Asked whether nous culture, which was under- since his father first bought water- he would consider himself a refu- mined by colonisation. front land in 1947 [Ryan Edward- gee, he vehemently shook his head, "Our people have been using son/Al Jazeera] Wild rice warrior saying Iraq is still home. "But if the rice for thousands of years," "We've been using [wild rice] you get slaughtered and killed, says Whetung. "The rice was dec- for thousands of years," says what's the point? We have to let imated by the government, by oth- James Whetung. "It helped us with go," he said. Lalish - Deep in the mountains of According to the Yazidi Hu- saint. Shangar says he has found a bility of a better life in Germany er groups. Whenever they are build- our food security and sovereignty. According to Msall, "Many ing cottages or homes along the For the last 150 years, it's been Iraq's Kurdish region lies a sanctu- man Rights Organisation, Iraq was German woman on Facebook who and their concerns about returning individual Yazidis believe that ev- ary for the Yazidis, a religious mi- originally home to 800,000 Yazi- is willing to marry him, and he is to Sinjar. shore, they would dredge out the under attack." eryone wants the Yazidis gone shoreline, [destroying the] rice." Standing in his workshop, nority that has been viciously per- dis, but just 450,000 remain to- confident it will all work out. It is I will either be eaten by the from the Middle East, so the op- secuted by the Islamic State of Iraq day. For Iraq's Yazidis, horrors of estimated that 50,000 Yazidis are fish or make it to Germany. But underlying tensions ex- Whetung explains his passion for tion for Europe seems like best- ploded into a heated dispute last wild rice. It's a chilly morning, and and the Levant (ISIL). past refuse to go away living in Germany. "The Yazidis Ziad Shangar, Iraqi Yazidi case scenario in their opinion." Lalish, which means both si- Much of this is due to emigra- aren't fleeing just Iraq; they are flee- Luqman Mahmood, a native of August, when Parks Canada, a his breath hangs in the wintery air After tea, the Yazidi men Canadian government agency that as he shares a childhood story. lence and listen, is the oldest Yazi- tion. Abdi's oldest son lives in ing their homeland, where their Mosul, now works as a teacher at walked through Lalish towards a di temple in the world. Usually Germany, and he plans to take the holy city, Lalish, is located -which a high school in Sheikhan, Iraq. He manages national parks, lands, and "One of my first memories of baptismal pool. Only Yazidis may waters, gave Pigeon Lake residents wild rice is my uncle bringing it quiet and peaceful, the temple has rest of his family there soon. "No to them is the equivalent of Saudis said most of his students refuse to enter the room surrounding the more recently become a refuge for family is complete here. Everyone having to flee Mecca," said Kyle shake his hand because they liken permits to cut down some of the [home]," Whetung says. "I remem- baptismal pool, and an old woman wild rice beds. Now, the local First ber us running and playing on top internally displaced Yazidis who has brothers and sisters in Germa- Msall, a University of Chicago his religion to devil worship. guards the entrance to enforce this fled ISIL's advance on the city of ny," Abdi told Al Jazeera. The PhD candidate with expertise on This misconception stems Nations claim their inherent trea- of the wild rice when it was on the rule. She said that 10 families had ty rights have been violated. Trou- wooden floor, and everyone being Sinjar in 2014. dream is shared by many Yazidis. the crisis facing Yazidis. from the link between the devil and visited the holy site on a recent Although Kurdish forces have "I will either be eaten by the Yazidi culture is so intertwined Tausi Melek, the Peacock Angel bled waters The Wood family at very excited about it." Whetung is day before making the dangerous the lake [Ryan Edwardson/Al a member of Curve Lake First Na- expelled ISIL from Sinjar, many fish or make it to Germany," said with their religion that it seems believed to have been created by journey to Europe. Yazidis displaced from the city Ziad Shangar, who is originally "unfathomable" for them to leave God to reign over the universe. The Jazeera] At first, cottage owners tion, an Ojibway community that In colder weather, the price say they were baffled by the is part of the Anishinaabe Nation. have no plans to return. from Sinjar. Shangar said he this area, where their religion has Peacock Angel is identified as a charged by smugglers to bring fam- "In five years there won't be planned to cross the Mediterra- been for centuries, Msall said. fallen angel, but is not the devil in changes on Pigeon Lake. The Anishinaabe Nation's word for ilies to Europe drops by thousands "We had noticed that there was wild rice is manomin, meaning 'gift any Yazidis left here," said Najim nean Sea next month, and travel Over scalding tea in Lalish's Yazidism. of dollars, and families who previ- Aleas Abdi, a Yazidi general fight- onwards to Germany. For the time mountainside temple, which is Mahmood said that on one a growth of wild rice," says Larry from the creator'. It is a wild grass ously could not afford the risky Wood, a Pigeon Lake resident. that grows annually from seed and ing with the Peshmerga, a Kurdish being, he works as a volunteer at used for worshipping the sun, four occasion, students appreciative of journey have been jockeying to armed group battling ISIL. the tomb of Sheikh Adi, a Yazidi Yazidi men discussed the possi- his help pulled him aside after "But we couldn't understand what produces a valuable grain that is secure spots. was causing it." low in fat but high in protein, fi- Wood has lived on the lake bre, B vitamins and minerals. For since his father first bought the thousands of years, it has been a waterfront land in 1947. Multiple staple food for indigenous commu- generations of his family have set- nities across North America, in- tled here since, building homes cluding the Anishinaabe peoples along the shoreline. living in this territory. 'Our people "The idea was that their fami- have been using the rice for thou- lies were each going to have a place sands of years,' says Whetung here," says Wood's wife, Marilyn. [Ryan Edwardson/Al Jazeera] "Larry's sister lives two doors "Wild rice has always been a real- down, and his nephew lives where ly important being for Anishina- his dad used to be." Their living bee people - as a food source and room is adorned with family pho- as a part of the economy," explains tographs, showcasing fishing trips, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, an grandchildren swimming, and oth- indigenous studies scholar at Trent er fond memories. The Woods and McGill universities and a speak about the surrounding land member of Alderville First Nation. and water as if it were kin, includ- "In late August and early Septem- ing the little rice bed sprouting in ber, people would gather together the lake. "That rice bed has al- at the rice beds and harvest it in ways come up in the spring," says canoes. We have traditional stories Marilyn. "We can almost tell you about ricing. We have ricing songs the day." "It's been there ever since and dances as part of our system I was personally here," adds her of governance. It's a cornerstone husband. "But its footprint didn't of our way of life." "It used to be start to expand until this commer- very abundant here. This was like cial harvesting." the rice bowl of North America," Starting in 2007, as the lake says Whetung. "Our rice totalled grew thicker with long, grassy beds, more than Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Pigeon Lake cottage owners be- Saskatchewan, and Minnesota's came increasingly alarmed. Resi- and Wisconsin's rice. Rice Lake dents claim the plant is a nuisance, was 17 miles [23km] long, a mile getting tangled in boat engines and wide - that's how much rice was in affecting waterway navigation. that one lake." The nearby lake's "It got to the point where peo- name originates from the extensive ple could not get out in their boats wild rice beds that once flourished to enjoy the water," says Larry. in its waters in the early 1900s. "They couldn't use their beaches But with colonisation and devel- because of the rice growing so close- opment, the crop became scarce. ly to the shoreline." Growing up, Whetung recalls eat- One morning, Wood awoke to ing manomin "once in a while, if the roar of an engine. Outside, he we were lucky". He also recalls spotted a boating vessel with a how, as a teenager, he would pad- large propeller on the back. dle with his uncle on the lakes to "I thought it was an airplane learn about the crop. "I knew that taking off," he says. "But that was our rice was in trouble," says Whe- [Whetung] harvesting with an air- tung. "I have spoken to the elders boat with a scoop on the front." about the places they went to gath- They soon learned about Whe- er wild rice, where they planted tung's mission to seed the lake with wild rice, and how their lives had wild rice, and that he was selling been impacted by the decline of his product commercially. The res- the rice beds." "The plants speak. idents claim that their shorelines Somehow, I heard their call for are now filled with the plant. "It's help." Motivated, Whetung says a major concern to anyone who he is on a mission to bring back uses the lake," Larry says. what was lost. 'I have that fleet of He insists that he respects canoes, and I take people out when West Bank, Palestine - Hundreds The episode lasted about an operates a media centre in the vil- The barrier was moved in Painful loss First Nations people's right to har- they want to learn about wild rice,' of protesters gathered in Bilin on hour and a half, before the demon- lage. 2011, meaning that around 1,300 Bassem's mother, Subhia Abu vest existing rice beds, but says he says Whetung [Ryan Edwardson/ Friday to mark 11 years of week- strators returned to the village. "We wanted to send the mes- dunams of Bilin land remains be- Rahman, attended Friday's protest and other residents object to the Al Jazeera] "I wanted to start ly demonstrations against the Is- Concrete wall sage to the people that this isn't a hind the barrier today, on the side and told Al Jazeera that it was im- noise from Whetung's airboat and planting seeds all around Curve raeli occupation and the separation Israeli bulldozers first arrived security war. It's an attempt to of the Israeli settlement. portant for Palestinians to contin- his active planting of the crop, Lake community," says Whetung. wall there. in the village in February 2005, confiscate our land, demolish our Despite that, the decision was ue demanding their rights and the which now reportedly covers an "So that people who don't have Villagers congregated in the ready to construct a concrete wall homes and demolish our lives. perceived as a victory of sorts return of their land. estimated 10 to 15 percent of the access can just put their canoe in centre of Bilin after Friday prayers between the Israeli West Bank set- "We are working very hard among the villagers. "It was so painful to lose two lake's 57 square kilometres. the lake right at the village and pad- at the mosque, where they were tlement Modiin Illit and Bilin. against Israeli propaganda, to ex- "We have succeeded in our children," she said. "But they died "The Williams Treaty gave the dle into the rice." Ten years ago, joined by Palestinians from near- The planned route of the wall plain the life of Palestinians." struggle because we are right," said fighting for their country, and the First Nations the right to hunt, fish, Whetung began seeding and har- by towns, Israeli and international would have cut the village off from Despite the weekly actions, Abu Rahman, who has organised whole village is proud of them." and gather food for social and cer- vesting wild rice in the surround- activists. around 1,950 dunams where non-violence was preached the weekly protest since it began. Bilin has become an interna- emonial purposes," says Larry. ing lakes. He sells packages of pro- Chanting anti-occupation slo- (1,950,000sq metres) of its agri- and largely practised, the separa- "It's good for us to get back tional symbol of the wider non- "We have absolutely no problem cessed wild rice through his com- gans, the protesters marched cultural land. tion barrier was completed along half of our land, but we will con- violent resistance movement in the with that. "Our issue is the delib- pany, but insists that it isn't a con- through the village into its agricul- The plan would have amount- its originally planned route in tinue to struggle because this ille- occupied West Bank. One of its erate seeding of the lake where rice ventional business. "My purpose tural land and up to the separation ed to around half of the village's 2008.] Petition in court gal settlement is being built on our residents made a documentary never existed." "The total lack of is not to make money," he says. wall. total land, which provided the main Two years later, after a peti- land." about the struggle which was nom- respect for all the people around "It's to re-educate our people [on] As the crowd approached the source of income for Bilin. tion was filed by an Israeli non- There have been painful set- inated for an Oscar, while groups here is the most upsetting [thing]," how to gather, process and use the wall, Israeli soldiers fired volleys Villagers immediately protest- governmental organisation in con- backs along the way. Two of the of international activists and curi- adds Marilyn, with tears in her food in the plants." "I think I of tear gas canisters into the crowd. ed against the Israeli military's in- junction with the villagers, Israel's village’s residents have been killed ous travellers are brought in for the eyes. "It's like we don't count. This reached the poverty line last year," The soliders later fired sponge tentions to effectively annex the high court ruled that the route of in the weekly demonstrations. marches on a weekly basis. has become his farm. Our kids grew he adds. Whetung harvests the rice tipped bullets at protesters, result- land, organising demonstrations the barrier was illegal and should In April 2009, Bassem Abu "Over the last 11 years, we up playing here and swimming. All both through his treaty rights and ing in injuries to two Palestinians. and inviting international activists, be moved. Rahmah was killed after he was have reached people around the of us are affected by what he's do- as a provincially licensed harvest- Some of the crowd dispersed including Israelis, to join them. The decision effectively won shot in the chest directly with a world and people are beginning to ing." Moreover, the Woods and er. However, he says, some cot- and some youths responded by "In 11 years we succeeded in the village back around 650 tear-gas canister. Jawaher Abu Rah- understand the Palestinian people. other cottage owners oppose Whe- tage owners harass him and call the flinging the tear-gas canisters back reaching people from across the dunams of land from the initial loss mah, Bassem’s sister, died as a re- Bilin's struggle has played a big tung's commercial interests in the police whenever he tries to har- towards the soldiers. world," said Iyad Burnat, who of 1,950 dunams. sult of tear gas inhalation in 2010. part in that," Burnat said. wild rice. "He may give or sell some vest the rice. 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. SUNDAY . FEBRUARY 21, 2016 AFGHANISTANTIMES

Gao Hucheng said in an interview with state television on Friday that he was confident that the coun- try's trade conditions would sta- bilize and improve in 2016. UNCERTAINTY AHEAD Investors and analysts said the new chief Liu, 54, a trained econo- mist, would bring in new policies and strategies, but it remained to be seen what direction he would take. "Liu has a lot of experience in the financial sector, but there will be some policy uncertainty in the short term as it will take at least six months for the former banker to get used to his new role," fund manager Zhang said. Andrew Sullivan, managing di- rector, sales trading at Haitong In- ternational Securities Group in Hong Kong, said that removing Xiao had been largely expected. "But by bringing in the Ag- Bank chairman, they are really not WASHINGTON : The U.S. De- The two senior Apple execu- bringing anybody with a fresh partment of Justice filed a motion tives said the company had worked market perspective but a political on Friday seeking to compel Ap- hard to help investigators and tried insider," he said. Liu spent most ple Inc (AAPL.O) to comply with multiple avenues including send- of his career at the People's Bank a judge's order to unlock the en- ing engineers with FBI agents to a SHANGHAI : China has removed al Bank of China Ltd (AgBank) In a further blow, a stock in- omy and Beijing's ability to steer of China (PBOC), rising to depu- the head of its securities regulator (1288.HK) and a former deputy dex "circuit breaker" introduced in the country through both a pro- crypted iPhone belonging to one WiFi network that would recog- ty governor and holding that post of the San Bernardino shooters, nize the phone and begin an auto- following a turbulent period in the governor of the central bank. January to limit stock market loss- tracted slowdown in growth and a from 2006 until he left in late 2014 country's stock markets, appoint- "Xiao's departure is not a sur- es was deactivated after four days shift away from manufacturing portraying the tech giant's refusal matic backup if that had been en- to head up AgBank. Xiao became as a "marketing strategy." abled. ing a top state banking executive prise following the recent stock di- of use because it was blamed for toward services. the CSRC head in March 2013 and as his replacement, as leaders move saster. This is a role vulnerable to exacerbating a sharp selloff. On- Economic growth slipped last In response, a senior Apple They criticized government was charged with attracting invest- executive, speaking with reporters officials who reset the Apple iden- to restore confidence in the econo- public criticism because most Chi- line media nicknamed Xiao "Mr year to 6.9 percent, stellar by West- ment into equities and away from my. The announcement on the of- nese retail investors are destined Circuit Breaker". ern standards, but the weakest on condition of anonymity, char- tification associated with the speculative bubbles in sectors such acterized the Justice Department's phone, which closed off the pos- ficial Xinhua news agency on Sat- to lose money in such a market," Reuters reported in January pace for China in more than two as real estate, while defending urday follows a string of assuranc- said Zhang Kaihua, a fund manag- that Xiao, 57, had offered to re- decades. Ahead of two high-pro- filing as an effort to argue its case sibility of recovering information against endemic insider trading. in the media before the company from it through that automatic es from senior leaders following the er of Nanjing-based hedge fund sign following the "circuit-break- file events for China - a meeting in The Communist Party had de- Lunar New Year holiday that Chi- Huyang Investment. er" failure. The CSRC said at the Shanghai next week of G20 finan- has a chance to respond. cloud backup. scribed Xiao as "young, energetic, The back and forth escalated a San Bernardino County reset na will underpin its slowing econ- Reuters could not immediate- time the information did not con- cial leaders and the annual gather- resolute". He was also self-effac- omy and steady its wobbly cur- ly reach the CSRC or Agricultural form to the facts. ing of China's legislature in March showdown between the Obama the password on the iCloud ac- ing, once saying the only thing he'd administration and Silicon Valley count at the request of the FBI, rency. Bank of China for comment. The gyrations in China's stock - officials have announced various done right in life was to marry his Xinhua said Xiao Gang, chair- Xiao and the CSRC came un- markets, an unexpected devalua- measures to support the economy, over security and privacy that ig- said county spokesman David wife. Xiao was previously chair- nited earlier this week. Wert. man of the China Securities Regu- der fire as China's Shanghai and tion of the yuan in August and including funds for infrastructure man of Bank of China Ltd (BoC) latory Commission (CSRC) since Shenzhen stock markets slumped sharp falls in currency reserves projects and increased financial The Federal Bureau of Inves- The government first dis- (3988.HK), China's fourth-biggest tigation is seeking the tech compa- closed the identification change in 2013, had been succeeded by Liu as much as 40 percent in just a few rattled global markets, raising con- support to struggling industry. lender, and had worked at China's Shiyu, chairman of the Agricultur- months last summer. cerns about the health of the econ- China's Commerce Minister ny's help to access shooter Syed a footnote to its filing Friday. The central bank for over two decades. Rizwan Farook's phone by dis- Apple executives said that the re- abling some of its passcode pro- set occurred before Apple was tections. The company so far has consulted. The Justice Department Virgin Galactic pushed back and on Thursday won declined to comment on that con- Pakistan lifts sanctions on Iran three extra days to respond to the tention. back in space ISLAMABAD: Pakistan formal- order. The two sides have been on a ly lifted sanctions on Iran on Fri- Another senior Apple execu- collision course since Apple said race with new day, a move which is expected to tive said Congress is the right place it would offer strong encryption open a new era of cooperation be- for a debate over encryption, not a by default on its devices in 2014, a passenger ship tween the two countries in the ar- courtroom. move prompted in part by the sur- eas of banking, trade and energy. The executive said Apple was veillance revelations from former Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic “Pursuant to UN Security stunned that such a legal request National Security Agency contrac- venture unveiled a new passenger Council (UNSC) Resolution of had come from the U.S. govern- tor Edward Snowden. spacecraft on Friday, nearly 16 2231, Pakistan has decided to lift ment rather than a country with But the Justice Department months after a fatal accident de- sanctions against Iran,” read a fi- weaker traditions of protecting struggled to find a compelling case stroyed its sister ship during a test nance ministry announcement. The privacy and civil liberties. where encryption proved to be an flight over California's Mojave modalities for the restrictions sanc- The motion to compel Apple insurmountable hurdle for its in- Desert. tions were finalised in an inter-min- to comply did not carry specific vestigators until the Dec. 2 shoot- The rollout of the gleaming isterial meeting, it said. penalties for the company, and the ing rampage by Farook and his craft, dubbed Virgin Space Ship Special report: The future of Justice Department declined to wife in San Bernardino, California, Unity, marks Branson’s return to Pakistan-Iran relations comment on what recourse it was which killed 14. Authorities be- a race among rival billionaire en- The foreign ministry issued willing to seek. lieve the couple was inspired by trepreneurs to develop a vehicle the formal notification for lifting In the order, prosecutors ac- the Islamic State. that can take thrill-seekers, re- the sanctions, the finance minis- knowledged that the latest filing Some technology experts and searchers and commercial custom- try said. It added the decision was "not legally necessary" since privacy advocates backing Apple ers on short hops into space. would revive economic and com- Apple had not yet responded to suggest Farook's work phone like- "It's almost too good to be mercial ties between Pakistan and the initial order. ly contains little data of value. true," Branson said during a cere- Iran, particularly in areas of trade, The clash between Apple and They have accused the Justice mony at the Mojave Air and Space investment, technology, banking, the Justice Department has driven Department of choreographing the Port, about 100 miles (160 km) finance and energy. straight to the heart of a long-run- case to achieve a broader goal of north of Los Angeles. "When I saw The finance ministry said all ning debate over how much law gaining support for legislation or a it for the first time, it brought an previous notifications giving effect enforcement and intelligence offi- legal precedent that would force immediate lump to my throat and to UNSC sanctions on Iran stood cials should be able to monitor dig- companies to crack their encryp- tears to my eyes. It was a com- repealed with the issuance of the ital communications. tion for investigators. pletely overwhelming moment." new foreign ministry notification. A federal court hearing in Cal- The case has quickly become Christened with a bottle of milk Pakistan took one month to lift ifornia has been scheduled for a topic in the U.S. presidential race. by Branson's year-old granddaugh- the sanctions after the world pow- March 22 in the case, according to Republican frontrunner Donald ter, the ship was painted bright ers, particularly the United States, Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for Trump on Friday called for a "boy- white on its front section, fading removed a wide range of curbs the U.S. Attorney's Office for the cott" against Apple until the com- to gray and black toward the tail. against Iran on January 16. Wash- Central District of California. pany complied with the court or- Richard Branson (R) stands ington lifted sanctions after the The Justice Department said der. The two Apple executives said with his son Sam (L) and daugh- International Atomic Energy Agen- its Friday motion was a response they felt in good company, noting ter-in-law Isabella (2nd R) as he cy (IAEA) confirmed that Tehran to Apple CEO Tim Cook's public that Trump has faulted many oth- watches his one-year-old grand- had met its commitments to roll statement Wednesday, which in- er groups and individuals. daughter Eva-Deia (2nd L) break a back its nuclear programme under cluded a refusal to "hack our own The debate will also play out milk bottle to celebrate the new the July 14, 2015 agreement. users and undermine decades of on Capitol Hill. Bipartisan leaders Space Ship Two. (Reuters) The removal of sanctions will security advancements that pro- of the U.S. House Energy and The tail itself was emblazoned tremendously help both India and tect our customers." Commerce Committee late Friday with a blue image of a peering eye Pakistan, as both the countries are "Rather than assist the effort invited Apple's Cook and FBI Di- belonging to famed British physi- aspiring to build the Iran-Pakistan- to fully investigate a deadly ter- rector James Comey to testify at cist Stephen Hawking. India (IPI) gas pipeline. Pakistan’s rorist attack ... Apple has respond- an upcoming hearing on encryp- Branson has already offered a oil imports from Iran had also been ed by publicly repudiating that tion, though a date was not set. flight into space to Hawking, who restricted by the sanctions. order," prosecutors wrote in the The House Judiciary Commit- is confined to a wheelchair and Treading with caution in trade Friday filing. tee is also planning an encryption suffers from amyotrophic lateral with Iran Pakistan had welcomed the tion of the JCPOA, according to able the two countries to fully re- "Apple’s current refusal to hearing for March and has invited However, last week a top US sclerosis, or ALS. It was Hawking Joint Comprehensive Programme the official handout. invigorate various bilateral and comply with the court’s order, Apple to attend, according to a official advised Pakistan to exer- who suggested naming the ship of Action (JCPOA) agreed between “With the lifting of restric- multilateral arrangements for pro- despite the technical feasibility of congressional source. cise caution on the multibillion- Iran and the European Union, Chi- tions, economic and trade relations moting investments and coopera- doing so, instead appears to be (This version of the story was Unity. "I have always dreamed of dollar gas pipeline, saying that spaceflight, but for so many years na, US, Germany, France, UK and between the two neighbourly coun- tion in across all sectors including based on its concern for its busi- corrected to remove reference to some American sanctions against Russia. It appreciated the steps tries will receive a new boost,” said banking, finance, industry and en- ness model and public brand mar- Google encryption in 18th para- I thought it was just that – a Iran were still in place. dream," Hawking said in a record- taken by Iran for the implementa- the finance ministry. “It will en- ergy.” keting strategy,” prosecutors said. graph) ed message played at the space port. "If I am able to go, and if Richard will still take me, I will be proud to fly on this spaceship." Focus sharpens on Fed after hot inflation data From outward appearances, the spacecraft is nearly identical NEW YORK : With next week's tion, rose in January by the most stronger than expected CPI." track for its third positive week of managers indexes (PMIs) for the week. "I don't think the Fed can to the one lost on Oct. 31, 2014. calendar full of economic data re- in nearly 4-1/2 years to a 2.2 per- The dollar rose alongside Trea- the year. manufacturing and services sectors help stocks, they can only hurt The accident was blamed on pilot leases and speeches by economic cent annualized rate. It drew par- sury yields shortly after the data, The inflation numbers add to and two gauges of consumer con- them," said Wayne Kaufman, chief error and oversights by Northrop policymakers, investors have been ticular attention as the number was as markets saw the higher infla- recent economic data, including a fidence. market analyst at Phoenix Finan- Gumman Corp's Scaled Compos- poised to watch the Federal Re- above the Fed's 2.0 percent target, tion as nudging the Fed towards stronger job market and consumer Investors and the Fed could cial Services in New York. ites division, which designed, built serve for clues about the U.S. cen- though it is not the central bank's tightening policy. The euro hit its spending, that will force the Fed address a decline in earnings, now "If they came out too hawkish and tested the vehicle, known as tral bank's next move, but an unex- benchmark inflation measure. lowest since Feb. 3. to seriously reconsider more rate seen as down 3.7 percent for the that can hurt stocks; too dovish SpaceShipTwo. pectedly hot reading on inflation The uptick in price pressures Equity markets have also hikes, said Jim Paulsen, chief in- S&P 500 in the fourth quarter of can help a little but not create sus- Virgin Galactic’s own manufac- on Friday will further sharpen that has already shifted the market's closely followed expectations on vestment officer at Wells Capital last year, and lower outlooks for tainable investor demand." turing arm, The Spaceship Com- focus. expectations on the Fed's next Fed policy. Lower rates tend to Management in Minneapolis. 2016 as other reasons to keep rates In Fed-watcher parlance, pany, already was well into con- After coming into 2016 with move. support stocks in general, with "I think what’s happening is lower for longer. hawks are seen quicker to push for struction of the successor ship an expectation of three or four in- "The inflation numbers defi- high-paying dividend names like that people are starting to put tight- The incoming data gives more rate hikes than doves. when the accident occurred. terest rate hikes through the year, nitely caught the markets off utilities gaining investors' favor. In ening back on the table," Paulsen weight to next week's scheduled In a U-turn late on Wednes- The biggest difference be- market participants recently were guard," said Joseph Lavorgna, se- an environment of rising rates, said. speeches from many Fed officials, day, Fed voting member and hawk- tween the two is the addition of a viewing the Fed as likely raising nior economist at Deutsche Bank banks tend to take the lead. Personal consumption expen- including Vice Chair Stanley Fis- ish St. Louis Fed President James pin to prevent a pilot from unlock- interest rates once, if at all, in light in New York. The expectation of higher in- ditures, the Fed's favorite measure cher on Tuesday and Atlanta Fed Bullard said it would be "unwise" ing the ship’s rotating tail section of weak inflation and global vola- "Last week at this time the terest rates has been cited as one of price inflation, is out next Fri- President Dennis Lockhart on to raise rates further given U.S. in- too soon before descent, which is tility. market was pricing a 25 percent of the reasons for stocks having day and could confirm or outweigh Thursday as markets look for a flation data and global volatility. what triggered the breakup of the But Friday's data showed the chance of a rate hike by year-end fallen as much as 11 percent this the trend in the CPI reading. change in tone. Two Fed surveys He speaks Wednesday in New first spaceship, said Galactic Chief core consumer price index (CPI), a and now it’s over 40 percent and year. The S&P 500 (.SPX) is down Among other market-moving num- of business conditions, Richmond York, followed by questions from Executive George Whitesides. measure of underlying U.S. infla- that’s largely because of today’s 6 percent so far in 2016, and on bers next week are purchasing and Kansas City, are also out next the media. 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. SUNDAY . FEBRUARY 21, 2016 AFGHANISTANTIMES Exposed: All you need to know about Preity's wedding and her beau

Sonam Kapoor says that "Bandi- ni" and "Guide" are among her favourite female-oriented films and she now hopes that her own "Neerja" also joins this list. Present at the FLO Film Fes- tival, Sonam was asked in a media interaction about her three favou- rite female-oriented films to which she replied: "Bandini', 'Guide' and hopefully 'Neerja'." "Bandini" (1963) directed by legendary Bimal Roy starred Nu- tan playing a prisoner, while "Guide" which released two years later saw Waheeda Rehman com- ing up with an excellent perfor- mance. Asked about the International Women's Day to be celebrated on 8 March, Sonam said: "I think Preity Zinta and her American time in March or April this year Women's Day should be celebrat- beau Gene Goodenough will fol- with her close friends and family ed everyday. But I'm happy that low up their white wedding in Los flying down to LA. A select few we're giving one day for Women's Angeles in March or April with a will be part of the ceremony, which Day. Women are multi-taskers and Rajput-style ceremony in Mum- will be done up keeping Preity's we can do anything, so let's cele- bai Amid speculation surrounding personal tastes in mind. So, it brate the fact that we are capable Preity Zinta's wedding to her promises to be a classy affair." of doing anything and more than a American beau, Gene Goode- While the date is yet to be fin- lot of men." Sonam, who has act- nough, sources close to the actress alised, the white nuptials in LA will ed in numerous female-centric reveal that the couple will tie the be followed by a big, fat Rajput films such as "Aisha", "Khoobsu- knot in an intimate ceremony in style wedding in Mumbai with the rat" and "Dolly Ki Doli", says that Los Angeles, although not by this creme de la creme of the film in- the trend of actresses not given month-end as widely reported. dustry in attendance. Actress Kate Winslet was once Supporting Actress award for drama teacher that I might do don't listen to any of it, because enough importance in films is now Preity Zinta and (inset) Gene "Preity has worked with sev- told that she could get roles her role in `Steve Jobs` at the okay if I was happy to settle that's what I did - I kept on go- changing. "I have been trying to Goodenough, who is said to be a eral industry biggies and contin- which are meant for "fat girls`. British Academy of Film and for the fat girl. Well look at me ing and I overcame my fears get that importance since the age financial analyst based in Los An- ues to remain close friends with The 40-year-old revealed Television Ar ts (BAFTA) now. "So what I always feel in and got over my insecurities." of 23, and that's why I've come geles. The two reportedly met dur- them. So, she wants to host a grand the insecurities she overcame Awards here, dedicated the these moments is that any The actress has previous- here and promoting a film like ing one of Zinta's trips to the US a celebration in Mumbai where one to forge a successful career, re- award to teenage girls and young woman who has ever ly won BAFTAs for movies 'Neerja'. Since I've joined the in- few years ago Says a source, "Pre- can expect the who's who to be ports femalefirst.co.uk. said: `When I was younger, been put down by a teacher, by `Sense and Sensibility` and dustry 8-9 years back, we've been ity and Gene are extremely private part of her big day," adds the Winslet, who won the Best when I was 14, I was told by a a friend, by even a parent, just `The Reader`. moving gradually towards our goal, people and will get married some- source. so I'm looking forward to it." ‘ISHQ FOREVER’ BANNED IN PAKISTAN The Sameer Sippy-directed roman- tic drama, Ishq Forever has been banned by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in Pa- kistan. “The CBFC panel had re- viewed the film and found the con- tent to be objectionable,” chairper- son of CBFC, Mobasher Hasan, told The Express Tribune. According to Hasan, the mov- ie had been deemed unsuitable for release by the initial CBFC panel comprising five members. After the distributor of the film appealed for the film to be reviewed again by another panel, the movie was for- warded to a CBFC committee comprising ten independent mem- bers. Neerja’s story to remain un- heard in Pakistan “The ten-member-panel unan- imously decided to ban Ishq For- ever, citing the fact that the film is tarnishing the image of Islam and Shah Rukh Muslims,” added the CBFC Chair- man. Although, even Sanjay Leela’s Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani was Khan and Diplo deemed “against Islam” initially, the film was eventually released after a few cuts. When asked why they didn’t undertake a similar to work approach with Ishq Forever, Hasan responded that unlike Ba- jirao Mastani’s case – these cuts would have affected the film’s sto- together? ry. The CBFC is not the only cen- sor board to have banned the re- Neetu Chandra features lease of the movie in Pakistan with in Sukhvinder Singh's both the Punjab Board of Film music video being made Certification (PBFC) and Sindh specially for Interna- Board of Film Certification (SBFC) also taking similar mea- tional Women's Day sures, stated Hasan. (March 8). The CBFC has also informed The 'Jai Ho' singer Pakistan Electronic Media Regu- has composed a special latory Authority (PEMRA) of track to celebrate their decision, and requested ca- ble operators to not screen the womanhood. film. The Hollywood meets Bollywood numbers are spiraling out of con- The actress-turned- ‘Kyaa Kool Hain Hum 3’ trol. First it was Deepika Padukone and Vin Diesel, then Priyanka producer recently shot banned in Pakistan Chopra and Dywane ‘The Rock’ Johnsson, now reports state that for the video. When approached for com- Shah Rukh Khan will be working with American DJ and music produc- ment, an official of PBFC corrob- er, Diplo. Diplo set to headline concert in Pakistan next month Before orated the film’s ban in Punjab his concert, Diplo visited Goa to meet up with Bollywood superstar whereas representatives of SBFC Shah Rukh Khan, who is shooting his upcoming movie with Alia Bhatt were not available to confirm the there. The DJ posted a video on social media to announce that the duo ban. will be working together in the future. Shah Rukh Khan’s car comes Actor Daniel Craig, who has portrayed the legendary James Bond role Sonam Kapoor-starrer Neerja ‘under attack’ in Ahmedabad In the video, Diplo states as they bid for nearly a decade, may leave the character for a character in American suffered a similar fate recently. farewell, “I’m coming back to India soon. We’re going to work togeth- television Series `Purity`. Craig won't have time to reprise his role as Even though the movie was not er.” SRK reassures, “Yes most certainly,” and wishes Diplo luck for his the secret agent as `Purity`, which will be the adaptation of Jonathan banned, it had its import authori- upcoming shows. Bollywood business w the G.O.A.T. @iamsrk A Franzen's novel, is expected to run for several series, reports sation certificate revoked by the photo posted by diplo (@diplo) on Feb 18, 2016 at 8:35pm PST Goa dailymail.co.uk. Earlier, the actor had dropped hints of bidding good- commerce ministry of Pakistan. A photo posted by diplo (@diplo) on Feb 18, 2016 at 8:42am PST bye to James Bond prior to the release of the franchise's 24th instalment Expected to release on Febru- Thomas Wesley Pentz, better known by his stage name Diplo, is `Spectre` last year. "I'd rather break this glass and slash my wrists. No, ary 19, Ishq Forever features an currently in India to play at the Mad Decent Block Party, where he not at the moment. Not at all. That's fine. I'm over it at the moment. ensemble cast of actors Lisa Ray, will showcase the best of his label, Mad Decent. His tour of India We're done. All I want to do is move on,` Craig was quoted by The Sun Ruhi Singh, Javed Jaffrey and includes Mumbai, New Delhi and Bangalore, before he heads on over newspaper as saying. However, Craig had recently claimed that he may Krishna Chaturvedi. to Pakistan to collaborate with Talal Qureshi and Adil Omar. We can’t not be able to leave just yet as he had signed a contract that requires him Published in The Express Tri- wait to find out what it’s the pipeline for this exciting duo. Perhaps to make another film. bune, February 20th, 2016. we’ll ask Diplo during his visit to Pakistan! 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. SUNDAY . FEBRUARY 21, 2016 AFGHANISTANTIMES Manchester City ready to correct South Africa v England: mistakes, says Manuel Pellegrini Chris Morris fires hosts have those defeats you must try to take important things from those defeats. "We analyse why we didn't to thrilling T20I win play well, which were the mistakes we made. It was a difficult week but a useful week and I hope in the next game we'll correct a lot of mis- takes." City have still not beaten any of the other current top five in the Premier League this season but Pellegrini denied that his side had played poorly against the bigger teams in the division. "I don't think there's a problem," he add- ed. "Of the last two games we have played, in the second half against Tottenham we played better. They had just one chance - their second goal. "But I don't want to continue talking about that. I think it was not normal for our team. We nor- mally have a lot of possession, cre- ate chances and score goals. "That's more worrying than one single score. This week we have worked to return to the team we normally are." City play three cup Manuel Pellegrini says Manches- City are fourth in the Premier the Premier League, but also games in the space of seven days ter City are ready to "correct a lot League table, six points behind the warned his side to learn from their starting with Sunday's fifth-round of mistakes" when they face league leaders Leicester and four mistakes. "We didn't expect to lose trip to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea in the FA Cup on Sunday. points behind second and third those two games in a row against Pellegrini's side then travel to Pellegrini's side are reeling from placed Tottenham and Arsenal. Tottenham and Leicester, (al- Dynamo Kyiv in the Champions back-to-back defeats to Premier Despite their recent title set- though) they are fighting for the League on Wednesday before fac- League challengers Leicester and backs, Pellegrini remained confi- title," he said. ing Liverpool in the Capital One Chris Morris proved England’s 41 for the third wicket, each lashed probably should have won, but we Tottenham in the past fortnight. dent in City's chances of winning "It was not easy but when you Cup final on February 28. nemesis once again as South Afri- to long-on, South Africa's innings didn't deserve to with our poor ca won a thrilling first T20I at Cape began to unravel. batting display. We didn't do the Town by three wickets. Morris' We hear from Eoin Morgan, basics of adapting to the wicket GERAINT 62 from 38 balls in the preceding Faf du Plessis and Imran Tahir af- well enough.The hardest thing is Rafael Nadal into Rio Open ODI encounters helped the Pro- ter South Africa's win over En- to get your nut down and score THOMAS teas level a series they would go gland in the first T20. 150-155, which would have been on to win 3-2, and his 17no from Jordan (3-23) returned to snare par." South Africa skipper Faf du SECOND AT semi-finals after injury to seven deliveries at Newlands Rilee Rossouw (18) and David Plessis: "With the bat, we tried to scraped South Africa past En- Miller (13), complete career-best learn from their mistakes - they VOLTA AO gland's total of 134-8 off the final figures and leave the home side possibly went too hard at the ball. ball. needing 15 from the last over - We almost messed it up towards ALGARVE AS Alexandr Dolgopolov Reece Topley fumbled a which they managed thanks to the end but the 'Million Dollar Rafael Nadal reached the Rio Open chance to run out Kyle Abbott at Morris' six and four and that mad- Man' [Morris] saved us. We'll take TONY MARTIN semi-finals without even having to the non-striker's end as the hosts cap finale. a lot of confidence from this. We walk out on court after his oppo- scampered through for the match- England captain Eoin Morgan: didn't play as well as we can but TAKES LEAD nent Alexandr Dolgopolov with- sealing two, but England will real- "The bowlers up front set the tone, still got across that line, which is drew injured from their last-eight ly be ruing their under-par display we created a lot of chances and we huge credit to us." tie. Former world No 1 Nadal is with the bat, as they lost five wick- playing at the clay court event in a ets for 29 runs in the middle overs bid to find some form ahead of a after being derailed by Imran Tahir tilt at an unprecedented 10th (4-21). French Open crown in June. Alex Hales (27), buoyed by The 29-year-old has dropped five fifties and a ton in his previ- to fifth in the world after an inju- ous six knocks, and Jason Roy ry-hit 2015 and suffered a shock (15) gave England a rip-roaring semi-final defeat to Dominic Thi- start, blasting 38 for the first wick- em in the Argentina Open. et within four overs before Roy The Rio Open's official Twit- skewed a slower ball from recent Britain's Geraint Thomas stayed ter account revealed the news of Kent signing Kagiso Rabada to second at the Volta ao Algarve in Dolgopolov's injury on Friday. midwicket. Portugal after finishing third on "Dolgopolov was forced to with- Watch this cracking catch from stage three's individual time trial, draw due to injury. Dolgopolov JP Duminy despite being rugby as Tony Martin took the overall injury: right shoulder," they tweet- tackled by Kagiso Rabada! race lead. Fabian Cancellara (Trek- ed. Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas sealed JP Duminy then atoned for Segafredo) claimed victory on the a 6-4 7-6 win over Federico Del- dropping Hales at deep midwick- day by stopping the clock on a bonis of Argentina to set up a clash et on 24 by catching the opener at flat, 18km course starting and end- with Nadal in the last-four on Sat- deep fine leg off Imran Tahir, de- ing in Sagres in 20min 57sec, urday. But second seed David Fer- spite being accidentally rugby tack- which was five seconds faster than rer failed to reach the semis as he led by Rabada in the process. runner-up Martin (Etixx - Quick- was beaten 6-3 6-2 by the in-form Joe Root (8) soon picked out Step) and 28 seconds ahead of Thiem. The 22-year-old Austrian, point, with Ben Stokes (11) then Thomas (Team Sky). who took the Argentina Open title stumped by AB de Villiers - stand- The result moved Martin to last weekend, claimed four breaks ing-in as wicketkeeper for the rest- the top of the general classifica- from Ferrer to seal victory in 73 ed Quinton de Kock - having drilled tion, three seconds ahead of Tho- minutes. "It was one of the best Tahir for six and four off his pre- mas and 20 seconds in front of matches I've ever played, for sure," ceding two balls. third-placed Ion Izagirre (Mov- Thiem said. "I'm unbelievably Tahir continued to bamboozle istar). happy to be able to maintain my England, dismissing the out-of- Cancellara said: "I just pow- form from Buenos Aires here in sorts Eoin Morgan (10) and Moeen ered everything out. I was going Rio." Thiem will next face world with a battling three set victory over Spain's Daniel Gimeno-Traver. Ali (0) from successive deliveries 70kmh on certain parts of the No 71 Guido Pella, who contin- The Argentine fought back from losing the opening set 7-5, to take the in the 13th over and coming close course back to the finish. I don't ued his fine run on the Rio clay second 6-1 before closing out the match with a 7-5 win in the third. to bowling Jordan through the gate know if you can say I calculated with the hat-trick ball. the pace; I knew it was going to be Imran Tahir was inches away a 21-minute race and I just gave it from grabbing a hat-trick against all knowing what the effort would England in the first T20 be." Former race leader Luis Leon Jordan helped Jos Buttler Sanchez (Astana) crashed in the (32no from 30) lift England above closing kilometres of the course 100 but Abbott's wickets of the and had to be taken to hospital. Sky Academy Sports Scholar this year," said English, who has Sussex player (15) and Adil Rash- A tweet from his Astana team Mark English continued to show already qualified for the Rio Olym- id (2) ensured Morgan's men set said: "Luis Leon Sanchez is now fabulous form by winning the pics this summer. the lowest total batting first in a at the hospital and he is ok, apart 500m in Stockholm in his second "With some more competition T20I at Newlands, David Willey from the cut on his chin. Waiting race of the season. I think I can break 60 seconds. It (6no) with Buttler at the death. for the examinations." Fresh from a three-break win- was great fun and the crowd were Willey's contribution with the Thomas' closest pre-race rivals ter training trip in South Africa, as supportive as always! I'd also bat was quickly erased as the hosts for overall victory suffered anoth- the 22-year-old from Letterkenny love to give the 600m a shot at amassed eight runs from his first er difficult day. Alberto Contador kicked off his running campaign some point. two balls, four leg byes followed (Tinkoff) finished 1min 3sec down with second spot over 800m at the "The world record stands at by Hashim Amla clipping the left- in 13th and is now 1min 7sec back PSD Meeting in Dusseldorf on 1:15.12. Sowinski, who I've just armer off his pads and to the fence. overall, while Fabio Aru (Astana) February 5. beaten, has run 1:15.61 and so I'd battle in the last 100m with the De Villiers, though, top-edged finished 1min 47sec adrift in 47th And on Wednesday night, he like to think I'm also capable of lively Mussaeb Balla of Qatar. Jordan to Hales in the fifth over and is now 1min 42sec off the lead. went one better by setting a new being in that territory." Next up is the indoor circuit in and Amla was caught sharply at There were two Britons in the Irish record over the rarely-run 500 Two weeks ago, English Scotland where he will be up mid-on by Willey an over later, top 10 on the day, after Alex Dow- metres with a time of 1 minute 0.93 kicked off his 2016 campaign in against many of his British rivals having been shelled on 14 by But- in the 800m. sett (Movistar) finished seventh, seconds at the Globen Galen in Germany in the 800m, his usual tler. Faf du Plessis scored 25 for Anthony Joshua has hit back at it's a great match-up." 40 seconds down on Cancellara. Sweden ahead of Amercian Erik distance, in conservative fashion, English added: "I'm focused on South Africa Faf Du Plessis (25) running a quick time at the Glas- Charles Martin's claims that he Joshua accepted his first The five-day race continues on Sowinski. but he showed his gears by mov- and JP Duminy (23) propelled the saw 'fear' during the face-off at their world title shot after only 15 Saturday with a flat, 194km fourth "I'm very pleased to have run ing through the field and only just gow Indoor International on Sat- Proteas to 76-2 in the 13th over urday." first press conference. IBF cham- fights and revealed the simple re- stage ending in Tavira. 60 seconds in my second outing missed out on top-spot after a fine but when the batsmen, who added pion Martin went head-to-head ply he gave to promoter Eddie with Joshua in front of the watch- Hearn when offered a meeting ing media ahead of their heavy- with Martin. I just messaged back weight world title clash at the O2 and said: 'Let's roll'. Anthony RORY MCILROY FOUR SHOTS OFF THE LEAD Arena on April 9, live on Sky Joshua The unbeaten 26-year-old Sports Box Office. The American said: "Me and Eddie talk a lot had previously tweeted that through text or WhatsApp, be- AFTER ERRATIC SECOND DAY AT RIVIERA Joshua was 'scared' and suggested cause I'm training, he's working, he saw signs of vulnerability in the so we send messages when we Rory McIlroy will head into the blocked his approach to the 13th Johnson recovered from an open- "I think it sets up very good got to hit a lot of different shots, British challenger when they posed can and the opportunity to fight weekend of the Northern Trust way right and could not get up and ing bogey at the 10th with six bird- to me. It looks good to my eye. and it never plays easy. So this is for the cameras. Martin came along. "He said: 'AJ, Open four shots off the lead de- down, and he lost further ground ies in his 66, while Watson (68) It's a beautiful course," said about as easy as it can play right But Joshua told Sky Sports what do you think of Charles spite an erratic back nine in his on the leaders with a three-putt and Merritt (66) both did well to Johnson, who lost out to James now, good weather and the greens News HQ: "He forgot the 'no' in Martin?' "I just messaged back second-round 69 at Riviera. McIl- bogey at the 15th. But he laced a keep bogeys off their cards on the Hahn in a play-off at Riviera last are really soft. Still, the scores are front of it. There's no fear with me, and said: 'Let's roll'. "He said: roy carded three birdies as he 285-yard three-wood to 25 feet at day. season. "It's fun to play. You've not that low." no fear. I'm here, there is no turn- 'Cool, I'll get it sorted', and he has cruised to the turn in 32, but he 17 and two-putted for birdie, and ing back. "I can't be worried. We still got the message now. It's that dropped three shots in six holes a solid par at the last kept him in a had the opportunity to take the simple, that's how we handle on the inward half before picking tie for seventh as Jason Kokrak fight. I took it, so why would I be business." Joshua holds the Brit- up his fifth birdie of the round at claimed the outright lead on 10 worried? "I have to say he's wrong ish and Commonwealth titles af- the long 17th to get back to six under following a superb 64. when he sees fear in my eyes." ter his seventh round stoppage under par. Kokrak birdied two of the first Anthony Joshua and Charles Mar- of Dillian Whyte in December, The world No 3 opened with three holes before dropping his tin went face-to-face (Warning: but admits he needs to raise his an easy birdie at the par-five first, only shot of the day at the fourth, flash photography) Asked for his standards after being wobbled in and he then thrilled the cast galler- and he followed birdies at 10 and first impression of Martin, he said: the second round by his bitter ri- ies with a remarkable 60-foot putt 11 with three in four holes from "A hungry champion. Someone val. "One hundred per cent, be- for an unlikely three at the third. the 14th as he surged to the top of who has tasted the life, understands cause I can't take a British level McIlroy rolled in another ex- the leaderboard. the way to become champion, fight into the world level and ex- cellent putt from just inside 30 feet Chez Reavie is alone in sec- comes from a rough background. pect to get respect," he said. "That to close out an accomplished front ond place after he birdied three of You see him with his diamonds, was British level and I can walk nine, but a poor drive and a the last four holes to cap a 67 and his jewellery. I think he has tasted around and strut my stuff at that chunked pitch at the next cost him move within one of the lead, while the life and he doesn't want to give level, but now we're at world lev- his first blemish of the day. He got American stars Dustin Johnson that up. "I think he's going to come el, I've got to step my game up, the shot back with a sublime pitch and Bubba Watson share third game. April 9 will be explosive, get my head straight and do what to two feet at the next, but he with Troy Merritt on eight under. myself underdog, him the champ, I do best." 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. SUNDAY . FEBRUARY 21 . 2016-Hoot 02, 1394 H.S Vol:X Issue No:203 Price: Afs.15

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY TO survey, Afghanistan has the capac- KABUL ity of 57 billion cubic meters of surface water and 18 billion cubic RESTORED meter groundwater with five river resources and 36 sub-river ones. It AFTER WEEKS responsible to hold waters as soon said that Afghanistan has the low- as possible because without man- est storage capacity in the region OF BLACKOUT agement of waters. Afghanistan will to protect its outflow of water neither become self-sufficient in from wastage, population growth, PUL-I-KHUMRI : The gover- term of economy and nor reach a economic development; urbaniza- nor of northern Baghlan prov- durable stability,” he added. He fur- tion and improving lifestyles as well as climate change as the major ince on Friday said militants ther went on saying that every year had been purged of the Dand-i- the seasonal floods inflict one bil- factors to increase demands and decline water. Climate change is Shahabuddin locality and elec- lion dollars loss in the country as tricity supply was restored to unmanaged rivers damage thou- melting the snow sources on the sands of acres of agricultural lands mountains that will result serious capital Kabulinfo-icon. every year. “We plan to build 21 droughts and accelerate floods. Ministry of Defense announced on have stood up with their arms Abdul Sattar Bariz told new dams to control water flow and Agriculture Minister Assadulah Saturday that all villages of Achin against insurgency would be de- Pajhwok Afghan News securi- through that we could also expand Zamir said that in the past 14 years District have been cleared of the ter- ployed in these posts. Meanwhile, ty forces have launched clear- thousands of agricultural land.” the ministry had no plans to en- rorists belonging to the Islamic State spokesperson for the governor of ing operation in the area early Terming agricultural challenge as one courage farmers and to develop (IS) or Daesh. Achin was considered Nangarhar province said that Op- on Friday and the area was of serious issues, the president or- agricultural sectors. He said that as a stronghold of the group in east- eration Shaheen 18 launched cleared till afternoon. By Akhtar M.Nikzad development of agriculture confer- dered Ministry of Agriculture, Irri- the ministry has drafted a plan ern Nangarhar province where they against Daesh in Achin has been He said engineers and tech- ence in Kabul, Ghani said that it gation and Livestock (MAIL) to aimed at development and promo- nical team of the Brishna Shir- tion of agricultural products. Dep- had established captivities and were extended to the neighboring Nazy- KABUL: Hinting to the droughts was responsibility of the govern- draft a plan how to promote and also carrying out executions. Defense an District. When the network is kat have reached to the area and and decreasing agricultural prod- ment to control the flowing wa- develop domestic productions. uty Head of Chamber of Com- started work on the restoration merce and Industries Khan Jan Ministry says 1,000 families inter- dismantled in Nazyant District, ucts, President Mohammad Ashraf ters to the neighboring countries. Afghanistan imports around nally displaced because militancy new security posts would be es- of electricity supply. Ghani on Saturday pledged to bring He said that it has been for centu- 600,000 tons of wheat from neigh- Alokozai said that domestic prod- He said the Talibaninfo- water management by putting re- ries that Afghanistan’s water flow- boring countries and spends mil- ucts still face different challenges. have returned to their homes in Achin. tablished and civilians who have He termed lack of laboratories and Officials are now discussing options been fighting Daesh along with se- icon had been pushed back to strictions to water flow in order to ing to the neighboring countries and lions of dollars for purchasing food- the area and fired single bullets improve agricultural productions Afghanistan could not utilize wa- stuff while it is an agricultural coun- cold storages to keep fruit and veg- to establish security posts in this curity forces would be stationed etables fresh as biggest challenge district for preventing the possible there, Ataullah Khogyani from their positions. through irrigation system. Ad- ter for utmost advantage to im- try and has tremendous potentials (Pajhwok) dressing the fourth promotion and prove agricultural sectors. “We are for productions. According to a in front of farmers activates. return of Daesh. The civilians who added.(Khama press) SENIOR POLICE Bodies of 12 Afghan migrants arrive in Kabul OFFICER, BROTHER KABULinfo-icon : The bodies of DETAINED OVER a dozen Afghans, who had drowned in Greece waters on their ARMS way to Europe, on Saturday ar- SMUGGLING rived in capital Kabul, relatives said. Ruqia, one of relatives of the PUL-I-ALAM: The deputy po- victims, said the coffins of the dead lice chief for central Logar prov- KABULinfo-icon : An Afghan Na- attacks in the past few months in were shifted to Amir Hamza ince and his brother have been de- tional Army (ANA) soldier ac- Syedabad district. (Pajhwok) mosqueinfo-icon in Wazir Abad tained on charges of weapons cused of killing a child in central area of Kabul.Shedding tears she smuggling, an official said on Sat- Maidan Wardak province has been said her close relatives Khalil, his urday. Crime branch chief, Col. detained, an official said on Satur- Logar police rescue wife and their two children and two Wasiuddin Talash, told Pajhwok day. Local residents alleged the Afghan News Qari Mohammad kidnapped child brother-in-laws had lost their lives ANA forces shot dead the 11 years in Greece waters. Khalil had been Wra and his brother were arrested old child named Yasir in the Shneez Police of central Logar province by police in the capital Kabulin- working in the Ministry of Econ- area of Talibaninfo-icon-infested have rescued a child who was omy and her wife had been teach- fo-icon two days ago. “Wra’s Syedabad district on Thursday. abducted by a group of kidnap- brother was carrying weapons in ing in Chahar Qala School of Saifullah, aninhabitant of the area, pers from capital Kabul. Crimi- Wazirabad, Ruqia said. “For God the police officer’s Ranger pick- told Pajhwok Afghan News the nal Investigation Department up for sale,” he said, adding the sake, people should stop going to soldiers fired from a security post, (CID) officer while returning foreign countries through danger deputy police chief was not in the killing the child. The shooting trig- Haidar Hussain to his family said vehicle.” Talash said Wra had also routes so they do not become food gered a proteston Fridaywhen lo- he was recovered in the provin- been held over the use his vehicle. cals blocked the Kabul-Ghazni of fishes.” The bereaved woman Wra and his brother are currently cial capital Pul-i-Alam late yes- said sailors could not find bodies highway. The governor’s spokes- terday. According to Colonel Wa- under investigation. Another pro- man, Toryali Himmat, said a dele- of other Afghan migrants and most vincial security official, who suddin Talash, Hussain had been of the coffins were empty which gation of security officials had been abducted by a group of kidnap- wished to go unnamed, confirmed sent to Shneez for investigating the had been sent to Kabul for condo- ul City and the second had been fo-icon and they would not have Greece, according to the UN. The the arrests. The source said the incident. He added the ANA sol- pers from 8th sector of Kabul lences with their families. Another struggling for three years to find a lost their lives if the situation was International Organization for brother of Wra was serving in the dier manning the security post has city a few days ago. Investiga- girl, while loudly crying, said: “My job. Oh my God, I lost my broth- fine in the country. Migrationinfo-iconinfo-icon says Afghan forces. Wra has been serv- been detained for interrogations. At tion is still ongoing into the case brothers left for Europe to save ers.” More than a million refugees ar- 3,771 asylum seekers died or went ing as deputy police chief for Logar least 12 civilians, including 10 chil- but no suspect has been arrested their lives. One of them was twice The girl said her brothers were vic- rived in Europe by sea in 2015, missing on their way to Europe in for the past one year. (Pajhwok) dren, have been killed in military so far. (Khama Press) wounded in suicide attacks in Kab- tims of violence in Afghanistanin- with over 80 percent entering via 2015. (Pajhwok) 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.