Page 4 December 24, 2018

(1) Ghani Nominates... they know us better and would trust tional security advisor Mohammad ed that another committee would reduction in , where our strategies and ideas,” he said. Hanif Atmar, ex-ambassador to In- also be established and led by the 14,000 troops are deployed in what Assadullah Khalid was appointed Referring to the change in govern- dia Shaida Abdali and lawmaker Ministry of Public Works to prepare is America’s longest war at 17 years. as head of the NDS by the former ment structure offered by the Jami- Abdul Latif Pedram have already a plan for the merger of the forma- The United States went to war in Af- president in September 2012. at-i-Islami Afghanistan (JIA), he said announced to their intention to tion and budget of the mentioned ghanistan in 2001 in the wake of the He was minister of tribal and border he supported the creation of a prime stand in the 2019 presidential elec- institutions. Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the World affairs before he was appointed as minister post. “I believe the JIA has tion. According to ARG Palace, the com- Trade Center and the Pentagon, head of the NDS. strong reasons for the change in the A number of prominent political mittee would work in close coordi- seeking to oust the Taliban militants Khalid was wounded in an assas- government structure and it should figures have resigned their govern- nation with the Independent Direc- harboring Saudi-raised militant sination attempt in Kabul in 2012. be brought under consideration.” ment positions to form their election torate of Administrative Reforms Osama bin Laden, who led plans to (Tolo news) Meanwhile, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, tickets or support another ticket. and Civil Services and the Civil Ser- carry out the attacks. (Tolo news) (2) Election Results... head of the Hizb-i-Islami Afghani- Mohammad Hanif Atmar, National vices Administration of the Ministry (10) Iran Deputy... consider the complaints of provin- stan (HIA), they would introduce a Security Advisor, Eklil Hakimi, fi- of Finance and present recommen- increasing the number of asylum cial IECC offices. joint president candidate with other nance minister, Hekmat Kar- dations in this regard to the Presi- seekers worldwide, leaving Af- To a question, she said: “All votes of political parties and movements. , deputy foreign minister, Sayed dential Palace in coming six months. ghanistan, Somalia, Iraq, Syria and Maidan province are likely He said the HIA had already con- Sadat Mansor Naderi, urban de- (KP) Sudan with nearly 50 percent of the to be invalidated because above 75 tacted all presidential hopefuls and velopment minister, Abdul Hakim (8) Wolesi Jirga... world’s total refugee population. percent fraud in this province.” their joint teams known as MAISAM Norzai, deputy National Security Arian Youn (4,444 votes) (Tolo news) She did not provide information would decide about a joint candi- Advisor, Mohammad Omar Zakhli- Lailuma Wali Hakimi (3,253 votes) about the election results of other date. wal, Afghan envoy to Pakistan and (11) US Pullout from... Saima (2,671 votes) electoral districts, but said that the MAISAM is a acronym used Mohammad Shaida Abdali, Afghan Dewa (1,688 votes) achieve objective. IEC could not announce the final re- for a grand gathering of National envoy to India have so far resigned Faridoon Khan Momand, Amir He met the Afghan president, the sults, pending an ongoing review of Unity. from their positions. Mohammad Yar, Mirwais Yaseeni, chief executive and the foreign min- complaints by the IECC. Incepted two months back to work Establishment of the national unity Hazrat Ali, Arian Youn, Lailuma ister during last week’s recent visit Ali Reza Rouhani, IECC spokes- for introducing a joint candidate, government Wali Hakimi and Saima Khogyani to the neighbouring country. He man, also said initial election results MAISAM is comprised of HIA and After the first round of 2014 -presi have retained their Wolesi Jirga said a final decision about the peace would change and final results an- other political parties and figures. dential election produced no clear seats while are new faces. initiatives would be taken by the Af- nouncement depended to IECC’s The HIA is against the Chief Ex- winner, the ballot went to a run-off Haji Zahir Qadeer, Asmat , ghans themselves. (Pajhwok) decision. ecutive Post in future and insists between then leading candidates Syed Akram, Amir Jan Dawlatzai, (12) Public Order... The results of some provinces the any change to the system should Ashraf Ghani and Dr. Abdullah Abdul Qhafar, Fareshta Anwari and IEC had announced may be accept- be brought through constitutional Abdullah. killed and five personnel of the force Pir Bakhsh Girdiwal, who had won ed but the results of some electoral amendment. But the second round turned seri- were wounded. the previous polls, could not make districts may totally change, he add- The HIA has also sent a message to ously divisive and led to the inter- Nek Mohammad, an eyewitness, it to the new Wolesi Jirga this time ed. the Taliban to be part of MAISAM vention of former US secretary of said: “I was heading to Takhar from around. The IECC has earlier invalidated all for upcoming presidential election state John Kerry. Kunduz. The pick-up vehicle was The panel said the results announced votes of Kabul but the government and their response for a meeting in Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah lat- attacked in Chahartot area where were preliminary and they could be and the IEC rejected the decision a third country is awaited. er signed an agreement based on the militants opened fire at it and referred to the Independent Elector- and asked for its reconsideration. Election oversight institutes which the CEO post was created then hit it with a rocket.” al Complaints Commission (IECC) About the invalidation of all Kabul However, election oversight com- and the position was expected to be He added several individuals travel- in case of objections. votes, Rouhani said, “We have not missions, political experts and the changed to a Prime Minister posi- ling in vehicle suffered burn injuries. The panel has already announced yet received we had requested from IEC have termed the CEO position tion through a Loya Jirga meeting Toryal , a member of the pro- initial results from 30 provinces, the IEC, our stance is still the same.” in the presidential election in con- within two years of the government. vincial council, acknowledged the saying the outcomes from the re- The IEC has so far announced initial flict with the country’s Constitution. However, the responsibilities of the Kunduz-Takhar highway had been maining provinces and the Kochi results of 30 provinces, triggering According to the Constitution, a CEO are still unclear as the govern- unstable for the past several years. constituency will be unveiled soon. protests by failing candidates and presidential election ticket is com- ment five-year term is going to end (Pajhwok) (Pajhwok) their supports in many provinces. prised of one candidate and two in five months. (13) Kabul Residents... deputies and only a ticket of three Some people believe the president (9) Miller ‘Has No... (Pajhwok) statistics reveal that around two mil- individuals has the right to run for avoided to hold a Loya Jirga be- (3) Protesting... said about Afghan forces casualties lion people in the country – mainly presidential poll. cause it could lower his authority if but “Taliban casualties have been in northern and western provinces Deputy Governor Abdul Qadem Yousuf Rashid, executive chief of the CEO position was changed to a very dire as well”. – suffered from severe drought this Niyazi said the Ghori Cement Fac- the Free and Fair Election Founda- Prime Minister. (Pajhwok) “What I think is important is -- I year. tory was yet to be handed over to tion of Afghanistan (FEFA), said if (5) Iran to Build... have talked often about -- a politi- The ANDMA deputy chief Mo- the government. a group included the CEO position Earlier in November, Iranian For- cal solution, not a military solution hammad Almas Sayas said a large “The factory is still run by the pri- in its presidential election ticket, it eign Minister Mohammad Javad to this conflict. It is time for the hos- amount of Afghanistan’s waters vate sector, if there is any plan to get would be against the law. Zarif underlined that his country tilities to end and it will only hap- flow to neighboring countries which the factory back by the state, it will Pointing to the national unity gov- will make its utmost efforts to help pen through Afghans talking to Af- is one of the mainreasons behind take four months time,” he said. ernment and creation of the CEO the Afghan government to success- ghans,” Miller said. “It is the time to lack of water in parts of the country. “If we ignore this issue, then the post, he said, “The IEC in 2014 was fully hold peace talks in the country. end those hostilities to start talking “Afghanistan’s waters are not man- workers have legal right to raise unable to announce clear result of “The Islamic Republic of Iran has to one another.” aged and they flow to neighboring their voice, it is premature to pro- the presidential elections, and the always supported peace talks in Af- This comes as Miller visited Farah countries. This is a big reason be- test,” he said. country was moving towards a cri- ghanistan under the guidance and province on Thursday, where he hind lack of water,” Sayas said. The Ghori Cement Factory was sis and that was the reason the inter- partnership of the Afghan govern- said they are here in Afghanistan to Recently, the United Nations said handed over to the Afghan Cement national community intervened and ment and it will use all its capaci- support peace and stability and en- that $115 million is needed to ad- Company for 49 years, but the con- created the national unity govern- ties to help the Afghan government sure a continued support to the Af- dress the suffering and challenges tract was revoked in August under a ment.” along this path,” Zarif was quoted as ghan people. raised from drought in Afghanistan. presidential order. (Pajhwok) “The unity government was also not saying in Fars News Agency as say- Miller said the foreign forces are in (Tolo news) (4) Uncertainty on CE... able to hold Wolesi Jirga and district ing during a meeting with former Afghanistan to help maintain peace council elections and pave the way (14) Afghanistan-Pakistan... New National Front and a potential Afghan President Hamid Karzai in and safeguard the country’s nation- for a Loya Jirga to amend the Con- said that Afghanistan’s economic presidential hopeful, said he had al- Tehran. (KP) al interests. stitution.” “We are here in Afghanistan to first dependency on Pakistan has de- ready explained his position on the (6) Experts Ask US to... issue. He said election tickets promised the and foremost to see peace, at some creasedfollowing the establishment Haq’s party has separated ways CEO post in order to attract more Another lower house member Nas- point, unity across Afghanistan and of new alternative trade and transit with the Grand National Alliance supporters and division of seats, but rullah Sadiqizada Neili also said the protect the national interests,” miller routes with a number of countries. over differences on the Chief Execu- it was not a solution. “It is a clear vi- Americans had come to Afghanistan said. Tawfiq Dawari, deputy head of tive Post and changes in the Consti- olation of the Constitution”, he said. to serve their own interest and were His remarks come amid reports on the ACCI, said trade and transit tution. “Unfortunately the IEC is split and now leaving for the same cause. a possible withdrawal of a “signifi- volume between Afghanistan and In a statement, Haq’s party said it has never made a good decision, He said it seemed the US had been cant number” of foreign forces from Pakistan has been decreasing dur- due to differences on the continu- if the commission is really a respon- fully assured in Abu Dhabi talks Afghanistan. ing the last nine months. ation of Chief Executive Post, cre- sible organ, it should release a state- that there would no threat to its in- On Friday, Republican Senator “While we use Karachi port and ation of a prime minister post with ment and make it clear any move terests from Afghanistan. But the US Lindsey Graham called for immedi- have bilateral trade ties with Paki- three deputies, devolving powers in conflict of the law would not be should ensure Afghanistan would ate US Senate hearings on President stan, our trade relations have been from the centre and changes in the acceptable, but unfortunately it the not return to its past, he said. Donald Trump’s decision to with- maintained with other countries as government structure had widened election commission only watches Wolesi Jirga speaker Abdul Rauf draw all American troops from Syr- well andthe reason is that we use the ideological gap between the and wait for orders from others,” Ibrahimi said the Afghans had nev- ia, which prompted the resignation other countries and international New National Front’s members and Rashid said. er wished the presence of foreign of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. markets as well,” said Dawari. members of the Grand Alliance. Political experts troops in their country because they Graham, a member of the Senate Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Embassy in Shaida Abdali, another presiden- Shahla Farid, a political science lec- wanted to live in peace. Armed Services Committee, told Kabul said in a statement that there tial hopeful, said the Constitution turer at Kabul University, said, “The He said if peace returned, the Af- reporters he wanted to hear directly has been an increase in trade and allowed only two deputies to the government had promised to hold a ghans would not want foreign from Mattis at any hearing. transit volume between Afghani- president and if there was a plan Loya Jirga and make the CEO posi- troops to stay in their country for a Mattis announced plans on Thurs- stan and Pakistan over the past for amendment in the Constitution, tion legal, but unfortunately it did single day. (Pajhwok) day to depart in a candid resigna- year. the people of Afghanistan should be not happen.” (7) Ghani Orders Merger... tion letter to Trump that laid bare “Pakistan and Afghanistan contin- asked in this regard. About election tickets that include the growing divide between them. ue to maintain up-ward trajectory institutions would be merged based He said the Constitution authorized the CEO position, she said if a Loya A Senate hearing could also cover of trade during last two years and on the decree issued by President the President to choose two depu- Jirga was held and the CEO position Trump administration officials say- has crossed $2 billion mark in year Mohammad Ashraf Ghani and the ties but if some parties and alliances was made legal, then election tickets ing on Thursday that there were 2017-2018,” the embassy said in a Ministry of Public Works would be wanted more deputies and a prime could include the position but now plans to drawdown about 5,000 US statement on December 21. minister post, something they could it was against the law. responsible to deal with the respon- troops from Afghanistan. The embassy said that “Afghani- do only by amending the Constitu- IEC sibilities of the first degree employ- Graham, who over the past year or stan export to Pakistan increased by tion. The IEC says based on the election ees of the mentioned institutions so has been a staunch supporter of 29.53 percent during Pakistan’s FY When asked about the continua- law, an election ticket for presiden- until the merger process and modifi- Trump, has broken with him on the 2017-2018 that is from $342 million tion of the Chief Executive Post, he tial polls should have one candidate cations of the legislative documents Syria decision. in year 2016-2017 to $443 million in said their electoral team would be and two deputies and a candidate are completed. Heading to a meeting of Repub- 2017 and 2018”. formed based on the existing Con- with three deputies also has the Another committee would also be lican senators, Graham said, “In “Afghanistan continues to increase stitution and no plan in violation to right to run for president. established and would be led by the lunch I’m going to ask for hearings its import from Pakistan, as Afghan the supreme law would be made. The commission says it would act Second vice President for the execu- like right now about Syria.” Trump imports increased from Pakistan Another presidential hopeful Mo- according to the law. tion of the process of merging the said Islamic State had been defeated by 18.33 percent from the period hammad Hanif Atmar said: “Every According to the IEC, the next presi- institutions and to particularly mon- there so it was time to withdraw US that was $1.271 million in years step we take would be central to the dential elections would be held on itor the merger of budgetary forma- forces. 2016-2017 to $1.576 billion in years national unity. The people noticed April 14 in 2019. tions of the mentioned institutions. Graham made clear that he also was 2017-2018,” the embassy said. (Tolo our performance in the past and President Ashraf Ghani, former na- The Office of the President also add- worried about a possible US troop news)