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SATURDAY . APRIL 11 . 2015 -Hamal 22, 1394 HS www.afghanistantimes.af www.facebook.com/ afghanistantimeswww.twitter.com/ afghanistantimes

Govt mulling Afghan President vows end to to buy Russian Abdullah vows to use refugees in MI-35 Pakistan seek torture of prisoners HELICOPTERS: all possible options for KABUL: President Ashraf Ghani women s rights, and the freedom end to bullying, on Thursday said his government of speech and press. OFFICIAL was strongly committed to doing While stressing reforms in harassment away with alleged torture in Af- Afghanistan s justice and judicial AT Monitoring Desk releasing 31 passengers ghanistan s prisons. organs, Ghani said the Afghan Our correspondent Ghani said this at a meeting government wanted to do away KABUL: The Afghan government clear that the government would PESHAWAR: Despite claims of with visiting United States Assis- with torture of prisoners by car- is mulling to buy Russian Mi-35 make sure to take a decision aimed improvement in relations between tant Secretary of State for Democ- rying out fundamental and solid helicopters, said Shakir Kargar, at not putting lives of other Af- Kabul and Islamabad, harassment racy, Human Rights and Labour, measures. President Ghani s special envoy ghans at danger during the rescue of Afghan refugees, living in Tom Malinowski, at his office, the The president said the gov- on the Commonwealth of Inde- mission. What is highly important southern districts and regions of Presidential Palace said in a state- ernment would reform the judicia- pendent States (CIS) countries. to us is the safe release of the hos- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) prov- ment. The statement quoted the ry to enable it to effectively dis- We intend to buy Mi-35 he- tages, he added. In a bid to make ince, at the hand of Pakistani au- president as saying that his gov- pense justice in order to strength- licopters from Russia. This issue the protestors sure about the gov- thorities is continued unabated. ernment was determined to pro- en people s trust in the justice is on the agenda. I think we will ernment s efforts for release of the Showing serious concern over re- tect human rights, particularly system. (Pajhwok) begin negotiations on that in the strictions on Afghan refugees; passengers, the CEO nudged the ac- moment, representatives of the nearest future, Kargar said in an tivists and families of the abduct- interview with Interfax the other refugees have urged the Pakistani ees to send their representative to authorities to put an end to such Kabul eyes Azerbaijan s day. Kargar reiterated that the Af- the National Security Council practice. Since previous Decem- ghan Armed Forces are equipped (NSC) meeting where top govern- ber, Afghans are not allowed to invitation of Azerbaijani Minis- with Russian weapons and there- ment officials, including interior travel through Kohat tunnel and investment ter of Economy and Industry Sha- fore we are buying guns, cartridg- minister and the NDS chief, will Khushal Garh bridge, connecting hin Mustafayev and will contin- es and other munitions from Rus- discuss the matter in its upcoming Southern regions with rest of AT Monitoring Desk ue until April 10. During the visit, sia. Kargar also spoke about the meeting. Hinting at alleged demand Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other Afghan officials hold meetings enterprises built in Afghanistan by of the kidnappers for prisoners parts of the county, elders of the with Azerbaijani leadership. We under the Soviets, adding that swap, Abdullah who has repeat- Afghan community said during a press conference at Bannu Press held a number of useful meetings most of them are not working now. edly opposed release of terror sus- in Baku, considered the next steps The reason is the lengthy war pect prisoners warned that re- Club the other day. The Afghan elders were included Haji Bacha to strengthen relations between in Afghanistan. However, we are lease of prisoners in exchange for Azerbaijan and Afghanistan, said conducting negotiations with Rus- Khan, Muhammad Nabi, Haji hostages should not become a tra- Malang Jan, Waseem Khan and the minister. The level of eco- sia to restore them. In regards to dition in the country. Chairman of nomic relations does not satisfy the military sphere, I can say that others.They said that a huge num- Zabul provincial council, Ataullah, ber of Afghans have been migrat- the either of sides, and we intend our students are studying in Rus- has recently told local media out- ed to Pakistan 36 years back when to develop cooperation in this sian universities. Some 500 Rus- lets that the abductors have de- Russia attacked their home coun- sphere. He said that the embas- sian helicopters are flying in the manded the release of 12 prisoners, try, adding that a big proportion sy of Afghanistan has been oper- Afghan sky, he said. who are under the custody of the of these Afghan refugees were now ating in Baku for already two Kargar also said Afghanistan Afghan government, in exchange for living in KP s southern districts KABUL: The Afghan government years, and a lot of high-ranking is interested in trade-economic the 31 passengers. However, the including Karak, Bannu, Kohat, is expecting Azerbaijan s invest- officials of the government of Af- cooperation with Russia. Our NSC has reportedly rejected the Dera Ismail Khan, Tank and Lak- ments in the country as it will re- ghanistan visited Baku during this trade with Russia decreased great- demand. The 31 passengers eth- ki Marwat. The elders added that sult in strengthening Kabul-Baku the Afghan living in these districts period. Former President Karzai ly in the past 5-6 years. We need AT Monitoring Desk for releasing the abductees. Ab- nically Hazaras, were kidnapped on relations, said Daud Shah Saba, and our current president practi- to increase it, he said. dullah made the remarks when he February 24 when they were on the have refugee cards, issued by the UNHCR, despite possessing Minister of Mines and Petroleum. cally made their first foreign visit KABUL: As criticizes loom coun- was visiting a protest camp of civil way to Kabul in Kabul-Kandahar He expressed the remarks dur- to Azerbaijan, Mohammad Shak- trywide about government s reluc- society members and families of these cards, Pakistani government highway. Their fate is still un- has banned their travelling through ing his visit in Baku, the capital er Kargar said in his turn. It 4 army troops tance to release the 31 passengers, the 31 passengers in Park-i-Zarni- known. Afghans from all over the city of Azerbaijan. means that our relations with Az- Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kohat tunnel and Khshal Garh gar area of Kabul almost one ki- world have urged the government bridge. The elders said that after Afghanistan and Azerbaijan erbaijan develop successfully. killed in Abdullah Abdullah on Friday lometer in southwestern of the to put all out efforts for release of the ban now the Afghan refugees have agreed to use the full poten- The trade turnover between Az- vowed to use all possible options Presidential Palace. He made it the abductees. living in southern region of the tial to intensify cooperation, he erbaijan and Afghanistan stood at Badakhshan province were confronted with said. I hope that this visit will $275.99 million in 2014 and this Self-proclaimed huge travelling problems. One of contribute to increasing the level amount was fully formed as a re- AT Monitoring Desk Border police under the elders said that they have rel- of cooperation, in particular cre- sult of the export operations from IS leader killed atives in different parts of the ate opportunities for Azerbaijani Azerbaijan, according to the State KABUL: At least five army sol- siege by Taliban in Kunar country, so some time they need investments in Afghanistan. Customs Committee of Azer- diers were killed and several oth- in Samangan to go to attend different ceremo- Saba and Special Representa- baijan. The trade turnover be- ers wounded when a swarm of many challenges due to blockage nies but the recent restriction lim- tive of President of Afghanistan AT Monitoring Desk ited them to their homes. They tween the two countries in Janu- militants stormed several check- of routes and the Taliban s siege. KABUL: Khal Mirza, the self- for CIS states Mohammad Shaker ary-February 2015 amounted to points of Afghan security forces proclaimed regional commander of added that sometime they take KABUL: The Taliban militants We have taken up the issue with patients to different hospitals in Kargar are on visit to Azerbaijan. $15.7 million, according to the in Jurm district of northern Bada- have laid siege to outposts of Af- the concerned authorities, but the dreaded Daesh or Islamic State The visit is being held at the State Statistics Committee. khshan province, said a local offi- ghan border police in Sarkano dis- haven t found any solution yet, in northern Samangan province, Peshawar or other areas, where has been killed in a special police Kohat Tunnel is the appropriate cial. trict of eastern Kunar province he added. Shuja-ul-Mulk Jalala, route. They appreciated the hos- The Chairman of Badakhshan over the past one month. A bor- the acting governor o Kunar prov- operation while one of his associ- ates detained, police said Thurs- pitality of Pakistan and its peo- provincial council, Abdullah Naji, der policeman in the district told ince, admitted that security forc- ple during last three and a half de- Roadside blast kills 12 of Azadi Radio on condition of ano- es are living under extremely bad day. Mohammad Akram Bekzad, said that the militants attacked the police chief, told Pajhwok Afghan cades and said that they always checkpoints the other night and nymity that it has been almost one conditions in Nawa Pass area. respected the constitution, cul- month that the militants have sur- Muhammad Ayub Hassankhel, a News the operations were con- A FAMILY IN GHAZNI the fighting is still going on. He ducted Wednesday afternoon in ture, norms and values of the coun- added that the militants have killed rounded them in Nawa Pass area border police official in the east, Khwaja Momin and Manqotan try. They added that they had AT News Report He said that all the victims of four army troops and injured nine of Sarkano. The Taliban militants said that they have dispatched localities of Aibak City, the pro- submitted written complaints to the incident were members of the are shooting us, when we come supplies to troops in Nawa Pass. vincial capital. The detainee UNHCR, Islamabad, Pakistan, KABUL: At least 12 people from same family. Women and children others. The insurgents have sur- out of our checkpoints, he said. However, border police in the area rounded a number of other troops Adam, he added, had been arrest- Afghan consulate, KP Chief Min- a single family were killed in a road- were also among those killed in The soldier added that they have and officials in Kunar were not ed with an AK-47. Khairullah ister Pervez Khattak, PTI Chair- side bomb explosion in southeast- in the security check posts, he run out of food, water and medi- aware of the supplies sent to the the blast, Ahmad Ali added. went on as saying. Naji said that Anosh, Samangan acting governor, man Imran Khan regarding the is- ern Ghazni province. No group has claimed the re- cines. Our comrades are have troops. It is worth mentioning sue and now they demanded them several army soldiers are missing said Khal Mirza was a so-called Ghazni deputy governor, Ah- sponsibility of the blast so far. sustained severe injuries, but we that routes to border police check- Daesh commander and claimed to to look into their issue. They asked mad Ali, said that the tragic inci- and the militants have seized some are unable to help them, he said. points in Ghash Kandao area of be the head of the Islamic State in authorities to resume the indepen- It is pertinent to mentioning vehicles of the Afghan army. dent took place on Friday morn- that Improvised Explosive Device Kunar provincial council chief, Marawara district and Banshi area Samangan some 20 days back. dent status of the Afghan citizens ing, when a passenger vehicle However, security officials in the Hajji Deen Muhammad, said that of Dangam district are also The slain commander, he said had having legal documents. They also (IED) blasts usually result in kill- province said that only one sol- security forces in Nawa Pass area blocked. Hundreds of soldiers are started anti-state activities. threatened of self-immolation on struck a roadside bomb in Khog- ing of innocent civilians. dier has been killed and several of Sarkano district have faced stationed at the checkpoints. (Pajhwok) the occasion. ayani village of Qarabagh district. others wounded. Faryab militants Kabul police UN imposes set mosque, 13 continue to arrest sanctions on TTP HOUSES ON FIRE SUSPECTS IN chief Fazlullah FARKHUNDAS A fresh reinforce- KILLING KABUL: The United Nations ment of security Security Council has imposed forces had been The Kabul Police reports of arrest- sanctions on the proscribed Te- dispatched to the district ing another man on the charges of hreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the area had been killing Farkhunda, while the cases chief Mullah Fazlullah, the mas- cleared of insurgents. of arrested suspects are going to termind of the Peshawar school be sent to the court next week. massacre, for perpetrating and fi- MAIMANA: Officials on Thurs- Despite arresting nearly 50 nancing terror acts. A statement day said insurgents have torched people including several police of- from the UN stated that earlier a mosque and 13 houses in the ficials, the police have still been Fazlullah was added to the Secu- rity Council s Al Qaeda Sanctions SherinTagab district of northern unable to arrest 11 main perpetra- list on Tuesday and he would now Faryab province. tors involved in killing of Farkhun- be subject to assets freeze, travel Brig. Gen. Abdul NabiElham, da the 27-year-old girl who was ban and arms embargo. The TTP provincial police chief, said Tali- killed and burnt by a mob last chief was reported to have been ban entered some villages two month on the accusation of burn- seriously injured in air strikes in days back and burned down the ing the Holy Quran. Sources told Khyber tribal area late last month. mosque and the residents houses TOLOnews that Saiful-Rahman, The US had in January designat- for cooperating with government. one of the key perpetrators, was ed Fazlullah as a global terrorist Elham told Pajhwok Afghan News arrested on Wednesday. However, and had slap•ped sanctions a fresh reinforcement of security five other main perpetrators includ- against him. The Security Coun- forces had been dispatched to the ing Padshah, Habib-e-Deh Afgha- cil San•ctions Committee ap- district and the area had been nan and the custodian of shrine are proved Fazlullah s entry to its cleared of insurgents. Meanwhile, yet to be arrested. Meanwhile, the sanctions list of individuals and Mohammad Ghulam, a police of- fact finding committee reveals entities for participating in the ficial in SherinTagab, claimed about immoral activities being taken financing, planning, facilitating, rebels had burned down over 25 place in the Shah-e-Do Shamshera preparing, or perpetrating TTP s houses earlier and the rebels ran- Shrine of Kabul, where Farkhunda acts or activities. Fazlullah was the leader of the Taliban in Swat sacked another five houses before was brutally killed. According to Valley and became the Taliban the security forces were arrived the committee, sex tablets and con- chief after the killing of his prede- in to control the situation. He add- doms have been found from one of cessor Hakimullah in a US drone ed these houses belonged to indi- the rooms in the shrine which was attack in November 2013. Under viduals who supported the closed after the tragic incident oc- his leadership, TTP claimed re- government.SayedLuqmanGuhariak, curred. sponsibility for the December the district chief, said they did not The committee members, 2014 attack on an army run school have exact figure of how many however, demand open trail of the in Peshawar that resulted in the houses were set on fire. Qari Yusuf suspects following fears about deaths of at least 132 children, 10 Ahmadi, Taliban spokesperson, MAZAR-E-SHARIF: A member of the Afghan security force holds a woman while rescuing her from the site of an attack in possible interference into the court teachers and three soldiers. (Pa- said the group was not behind Mazar-i-Sharif. Militants armed with rocket-propelled grenades and other weapons stormed a court in the city, killing verdicts if the sessions held behind jhwok) burning of the mosque. (Pajhwok) the district police chief and two other officers, authorities said the other day. the closed doors. (TOLONews) 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. SATURDAY . APRIL 11, 2015 AFGHANISTAN TIMES Takhar ALP personnel Thousand families without salaries, resources displaced in Qaisar fighting

TALUQAN: Afghan Local Police told Pajhwok Afghn News they We use our own resources defence of motherland. (ALP) officials in Khwaja Ghar were stationed near volatile Dasht- to continue the fighting. The gov- But in return of our sacri- and Ghwaja Bahauddin districts i-Archi district of neighbouring ernment should pay attention to fices, the government is neither giving us our salaries in-time nor other things we need. Gul Nabi urged the govern- ment to provide them their sala- ries and resources so that they could continue protecting their areas and residents in an effective way. We can t maintain security empty-handed. The gap between us and the enemy is 300 metres, we are daily attacked. Takhar acting police chief Col. Haji Mohammad Agha Daud, who was inspecting security posts in Pul-i-Momin and Gortepa areas, told Pajhwok Afghan News he acknowledged ALP personnel performed their duty under tough conditions and lacked resources. However, he said salaries to the ALP personnel had been released. MAIMANA: Three localities in insurgents, he informed. He said a ity had fallen to insurgents. He The acting police chief said Qaisar district of northern Fary- back-up force was needed in the said more than 1,000 families have they planned to conduct a major ab province have fallen to insur- area otherwise there was a possi- also been displaced due to clash- operation against militants in the gents amid intense fighting for the bility of the entire district falling es. two districts. last two days, officials said Thurs- to rebels. Nizamuddin said in the Mohammad Sediq, resident of Daud said they were trying day. Col. Nizamuddin, police chief last two days at least 70 Taliban Gawdar locality, said: I have left jointly with the Ministry of Inte- for Qaisar district, told Pajhwok insurgents, including their com- my house with my family mem- rior to provide resources not only Afghan News a group of insur- manders, have died in the battle. bers and we are going to the cen- of northern Takhar province com- Kunduz province. He said they our problems and if it did so we to the ALP forces but all security gents attacked the district and He acknowledged four local po- tre for refuge. plain they have not received sala- had to keep security for their own will be able to counter any threat. organs. managed to take hold of Bazar-i- lice were also killed and eight oth- Taliban spokesperson Qari ries for the last few months and area as well as Dasht-i-Archi. A member of the force, Gul He said national police and Charshanbe, Chechketo, and ers wounded in the gun battle. Yusuf Ahmadi said his fighters have been lacking sufficient re- Ahmadi said they had been Nabi, said it was his third year ALP personnel would be Kata-o-Lang locality. Abdul Jamil Sediqi, the seized four security check posts sources. Maroof Ahmadi, the without salary over the past four fighting against militants in the equipped and their salaries given Intense fighting was still on- town s administrative chief, how- in Kata-o-Lang and the fighting commander of a 31-member ALP months and lacked ammunitions area and vowed to fight on until in-time before the planned opera- going between security forces and ever, said only Kata-o-Lang local- was ongoing. (Pajhwok) group in Khwaja Ghar district, and other equipment. the last drop of his blood for the tion. (Pajhwok) Girl power: Unschooled Afghan refugee A new photography exhibit is now one of Canada s brightest lights spotlights inspiring young Somaya Amiri is currently wan- very tough circumstance you other ELL/ESL students and they success, which Amiri followed up dering the rising green hills and don t realize how strong you are, began eating lunch together, shar- by facilitating anti-discrimination preserved concrete trenches of how much you can stretch and ing experiences, and making each sessions, leading a humanitarian skater girls in Afghanistan Vimy Ridge. The teen is one of 20 how diverse experiences make other feel more comfortable in their Youth for Change club, and join- Canadian students sent to France ing extracurricular science pro- By Cameron Wolf to learn more about the First grams. She also started taking World War battle that saw the Spanish in Grade 10 and soon A new art exhibit from photogra- Canadian army push back the added French to her linguistic rep- pher Jessica Fulford-Dobson en- Germans over four blood-soaked ertoire. titled Skate Girls of Kabul puts days from April 9 to 12, 1917. While she was accomplishing the spotlight on some inspiring But 17-year-old Amiri s expe- all this extra work for herself and Afghan girls and their decks. Ful- rience will be unlike that of her her classmates, she was doing the ford worked with the organization peers. same for her family who weren t Skateistan, an after-school pro- Growing up in war-torn Af- having such an easy time adjust- gram with a focus on teaching ghanistan, Amiri came to Canada ing to their new environs. young girls to skate, and its loca- in October 2011 unable to speak Because we were new immi- tion in Afghanistan s capital, Kab- English and having never attend- grants there were so many things ul. Fulford shot the little girls on- ed school, a decision her family that my family was going through. site at the skate parks in Kabul. made to protect her from being And when you re the child that The young skate girls [were] so attacked by the Taliban. Under- knows English better, you have fun to be around and so standably, she didn t know much to do everything for the family: totally unspoilt, Fulford said in about the First World War, much translations for the hospital, talk- a statement. I feel lucky to have less Canada s role in it before a ing to your siblings teachers, talk- met them. I hope that this collec- Grade 11 social studies class. ing to a lawyer. tion captures something of their I knew about other wars, like If you re impressed at this spirit: their joy in life, their indi- the Soviets, mujaheddin and Tali- point, you re not alone. As well viduality and their community. ban, those kind of wars mostly in as winning over the Vimy Foun- The young girls involved in my area. But not much about dation, Amiri was one of 30 stu- Skateistan do more than just learn World War One or Two, she tells dents to land a Loran scholarship, how to skate. The program hopes The Huffington Post Canada be- a $100,000 award for students to help build a sense of communi- above has advanced in her studies dramatically since joining, even fore departing for France. There s who match academic success with ty and get girls from impoverished enrolling in the national school system, and is one of the program s a huge impact when you are af- service and leadership. The prize or displaced families back into great success stories. The exhibit will run at London s Saatchi fected by war more than when can be applied to any university school. The girl in the portrait Gallery from April 15 to April 28. you just learn about it from text- you appreciate what you have new country. Amiri also discov- she chooses. books. Just living in a country I now, she says. Living in Af- ered she could pick up languages Somaya Amiri is considering had to leave because of the conse- ghanistan, I was like a whole dif- quickly. She would ask her teach- studying sciences in university. quences of war, there s a huge dif- ferent person. Coming to Canada, ers for extra textbooks and was When I went to the Loran Glimpses of Kabul in Kolkata ference. The teen, who lives in you find different parts of your always the first in and last out interview I was amazed at how who was awaiting Mr. Khan s ar- es, dry fruits and gems brought New Westminster, B.C., says she identity and you learn how to be- at the after-school homework club passionate the other kids were and By Aditi Malhotra rival after a few phone calls sug- from Afghanistan and lending the applied for the Vimy Pilgrimage come a stronger person and over- where she worked on her pronun- all the things they want to do. I What started in 2012 as a quixot- gested why. Nobody had possi- money earned to small businesses. Award because of her background. come challenges and hardships. ciation. Amiri got over feeling self- was just thinking about how much bly taken so much interest in their The present day Kabuliwalas do I m from a war-torn country and It was particularly hard for Amiri conscious and was picking up being exposed to opportunities ic hunt for the last-remaining Af- ghans in Kolkata, led two photo- lives, he said. A third generation pretty much the same- tailoring, it s really important for me to ed- as she arrived in B.C. s Lower about 40 words a day, but she re- can change you, can help you, can journalists to compile a photo- Kabuliwala who has never been jewelry making, selling spices but ucate myself and learn what is my Mainland without any schooling alized some of her classmates felt affect your community or your graphic chronicle of the lives of to Afghanistan, in his mind, Mr. from shops, mostly concentrated responsibility as a leader in this because of the Taliban s violent too intimidated to practice En- country. In Afghanistan, imagine 5,000 Afghani families in an exhi- Khan was a complete Afghan, in Kolkata s oldest market, Burra- generation. The things that hap- opposition to educating girls. glish with native speakers, even if we had all this opportunity? bition that goes on display to- pened in the past feel ongoing, Though her parents had brought their teachers. A few months after It s not fair for me to find night. Moska Najib and Nazes she adds. A lot of these things her to a mosque to learn how to arriving in Canada, Amiri worked that I m able to take leadership Afroz, one-time colleagues at the are still happening, a lot of hatred read and write, she understood no with a school counsellor to apply roles, and able to learn a language British Broadcasting Corporation, is still continuing. Though the English at all. She enrolled at Sir for a grant to start an adult-free, fast, and able to do well in school spent three years roving Kolkata Taliban were in power when Amiri Charles Tupper Secondary in Van- after-school English Welcome [here], an ocean away, she said, and its suburbs looking for the was born, she mostly remembers couver, an hour away from home Club. For me, it was so strange. her words choked with emotion. Kabuliwalas a name given to growing up in the Behsood Dis- but with great English Language How is this even possible? In my I had a very supportive family Afghan migrants to the city after trict during the aftermath of the Learner and English as a Second country you could never do some- but there are girls who get married Nobel laureate Rabindranath U.S. invasion. There, the war Language (ELL/ESL) programs. thing like that at such a young age. at such a young age, nine years Tagore s Kabuliwala, a much played out as occasional insurgent I was super excited to go to When she suggested it to me, I old and 10 years old.... And kids, loved story about a dry-fruit attacks and suicide bombings, as school for the first time but also I was just fascinated. Somaya they get sold because their par- hawker from Kabul. Formerly well as a longstanding conflict be- was super nervous. I was worried Amiri, third from right, poses with ents are going through so much, known as Calcutta and the capi- tween local ethnic groups which about how I would make friends, the English Welcome Club that and girls that get acid-attacked, tal of British India, Kolkata is no stranger to Afghans. The late continues to this day. Just this how I would communicate, she she started. abused. 19th century, when Britain was at month, 31 members of Amiri s recalls. On the first day it Creating this safe environment Education is not even a part war with the Afghanistan, saw said Ms. Najib. This photograph bazar. And a lot of them continue Hazara community were kid- seemed so big, like a city, and I for students to practice and im- of their worries. Even with that them escaping conflict and arriv- of Mr. Khan is shot in the room to be moneylenders. Kolkata s napped. Until you are put in a can t talk. But she quickly met prove their English was a huge they re so strong. The things that ing in hoards in the city, the focus where he was born. Then came the iconic Maidan, a huge park host- they go through. I can t even say of trade at the time. The move- first trip to Titagarh in north Kolk- ing sports, remains the chosen enough about, without having any ment continued for decades. Ms. ata to meet others from the com- ground for the community. Seen opportunities, how strong they Najib, who was born in Afghani- munity. Ms. Najib remembers en- below is a gathering of Afghan men are. stan and has lived in India since tering a carpeted room with blue dressed in traditional salwar Imagine if you could give the age of eight, said she was curi- walls, and five elderly Khans kameez gathered at the Maidan to them an opportunity, how much ous if the Kabuliwalas still occu- reclining against pillows. Imme- live out a little bit of their tradi- they could move forward and it pied the streets of Kolkata. She diately, it was like being transport- tional passions- flying a kite, doesn t just affect their family, it collaborated with Mr. Afroz, who ed back to Afghanistan, she said, Anda Kushti, or hard-boiled egg affects their community, it affects was born and brought up in West suggesting to her that they were fights and performing the custom- Bengal s capital city and knew the as Pashtun as Indian. Mr. Afroz ary Pashtun Attan dance, said the entire country. Not just in Af- joked that it felt like a Jirga, a the photographers. On Thursday, ghanistan but everywhere. city s ethnic layout that included Chinese, the Anglo-Indians and gathering typical to Pashtuns, as the photographers prepared for Amiri again pauses, over- where leaders assemble together to the exhibition at Delhi s Max whelmed, but presses on because Jewish people. And what about the Kabuliwalas? he said he won- make decisions according to the Mueller Bhavan, women featured that is what she always does. I dered. Would they have possi- teachings of Islam. It was like in not more than two portraits. experienced two separate lives: bly faded away? Their work they wanted to measure us and Where were they? Behind closed one with opportunities and one comes together in From Kabul take a decision, he said. They doors, Ms. Najib said. Reaching without opportunities. to Kolkata: of Belonging, Memo- approved of us, in a way. Seen in the community s women was pos- If I was still in Afghanistan, I ries and Identity, an exhibition the photograph below a group of sibly the most monumental chal- don t know where I would be right of 50 images, opening in Delhi men said their prayers before be- lenge for the photographers. While now. I would ve been married. Friday evening. Take a peek into ginning to dine on the Dastarkh- most Kabuliwalas have Indian Maybe I would have had kids? the lives of the Afghans scattered wan, a Persian term for a large cer- wives, the Islamic convention of This is where her motivation across the city of Kolkata, most emonial dining spread. The pho- keeping women indoors finds its of who hail not from Kabul but tograph below called In Limbo, way into their lives. The younger to help others comes from, an tells of the vacuum in which the generation, however, said Ms. Na- appreciation of what she s been from southern Afghanistan s Pa- ktia and Paktika districts. The Afghan community in Kolkata jib, has managed to break away given and what she narrowly es- journey begins with this photo- live. Despite the distinctive Afghan from the silos and mingle more caped, and the desire to help graph of Amir Khan, the leader of elements that they hold onto- Af- widely. In that too, Mr. Afroz said, spread those opportunities as far a clan of 5,000 Afghan families ghan calendars, letters and post- they have kept their tongue, as she can. who reside in Kolkata and its sub- cards there remains an unfamil- speaking unbelievably authentic Amiri said she plans to go into urbs and the first Afghan the duo iarity about where they come and fluent Pashto. The photo- the sciences in university, but has met in Kolkata. Ms. Najib recol- from, said Ms. Najib. Most of graph below of a glass cup with also considered working at the lected the day back in Oct. 2012 them don t have an Afghan pass- the Afghan flag printed on it, is yet when Mr. Afroz and she waited port to endorse their ancestry and further proof that the Kabuliwa- United Nations. only a few members of the com- la dreams of his motherland by That is something I m think- at a local eatery in Kolkata s New Market area for a few hours for munity hold on to these Indian clinging onto little mementos ing about, she says, But it s a Mr. Khan to arrive. We had identity cards. The early Kabuli- passed on by earlier generations, long pathway and we ll see where sensed there was a bit of reluc- walas, as portrayed in Tagore s the photographers said. Somaya Amiri, third from right, poses with the English Welcome Club that she started. I end up. (Huffington Post) tance, Ms. Najib said. Mr. Afroz story, were hawkers peddling spic- (The Wall Street Journal) 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. SATURDAY . APRIL 11, 2015 AFGHANISTAN TIMES Dahla Dam s height TRADERS SLAM GOVT FOR increase project hits snag overlooking economic issues By Abdul Zuhoor Qayomi he project to raise Dahla sides construction of the dam s until next week. Residents said Dam, the largest in south gates. It would help increase the they were unhappy with the Tern Kandahar province, has dam s power-producing capacity, project s halt and asked the gov- been stalled for some reasons, but he said. These activities would ernment to resume work on it on the project s first phase is 80 per- cost $308 million, to which the a priority basis. A resident of Shah cent complete and the remaining Ministry of Finance would con- Walikot district, Haji Azizullah, is to be finished over the next two tribute $37 million and the rest told Pajhwok Afghan News resi- months, an official said on Thurs- by USAID. dents were ready to vacate their day. Kandahar Irrigation Director, He said it had been decided homes to pave the ground for rais- Eng. Sher Mohammad Attaee, told that the initial works would be ing the dam s banks. Pajhwok Afghan News during an started with the Finance Minis- He said land, homes and or- exclusive interview that the dam s try s $37m, but the ministry could chards of 5000 people were to be reconstruction project has two not provide the money, thus forc- submerged in water in Shah Wa- phases. ing the USAID to halt the project. likot district with the dam s re- The phase one includes con- He called as crucial raising of the construction and residents were EMERGENCY struction of the dam s small and dam s banks, saying the reservoir ready to be shifted to other areas big gates, valve house and exten- was 40 percent silted, reducing its and vacate their homes. But the CALLS sion of the outlet tunnel and water storage capacity from 484 project has been stopped, he la- phase-2 is raising the dam by eight million cubic square metres to 300 mented. He said the dam s was Police metres, he said. Attaee said the million cubic square metres. He the only irrigation source for peo- project phase-1 had been complet- said agriculture lands in seven dis- ple and the government should ed by 80 percent and the remain- tricts, Shah Walikot, Arghandab, complete it with financial support 100 - 119 ing would be completed over the Zheri, Panjwai, Maiwand, Dand from USAID and the World Bank. next two months. The total cost and Daman were irrigated from A resident of Arghandab s Manar Hospitals on the phase-1 is estimated at $71 the dam, benefiting 2.5 million area, Noor Mohammad, also said nsecurity, frequent political neurs. Another businesswoman tom taxes over raw materials are million being provided by the people. the dam s reconstruction would turbulences, withdrawal of Nafisa Hashemi said that her com- also counted as major challenges United States Agency for Inter- Attaee said if the dam was help overcome the shortage of ir- Iforeign security forces, disap- pany is her hope to have a bright by the entrepreneurs. Chairman of FMIC Hospital national Development (USAID). raised, it would not only help re- rigation water and electricity. Ear- pointing attitude of the govern- future. She is owner of the Nafisa the PayghamAzizi Handicrafts, Behind Kabul Medical The contractor for the phase- solve the scarcity of irrigation lier, Canada has rehabilitated ment are counted as major factors Handicrafts Company. Her major Food Stuff and Saffron Company, University: 1 is a Turkish company, which water but also enhance the pow- many of the irrigation canals south for slow economic growth in the problem is high amount given to Nisar Ahmad Paygham, said that has been effectively carrying out er-producing capacity to 10 mega- of Dahla Dam as part of the country. A government which is the government as income tax be- this year for not promising for the 0202500200-+93793275595 its activities, according to Attaee. watts. Arghandab Irrigation Rehabilita- mostly run by donations has only cause the company is in survival company. He said the number of He said completion of the The irrigation director urged tion Project at a cost of $50 mil- one option to free itself from for- mode. I pay around 12 percent contracts and donations shrunken phase-1 would prevent the dam s the government to make serious lion from 2009 to 2011. eign influence and that sole op- income tax, but the revenue is less this year. He said that due to po- Rabia-i-Balkhi Hospital water from being wasted and efforts at initiating the second First built in 1950-52 on the tion is to strengthen economy. To than that, said Ms Hashemi while litical turmoil in 2014, most of the Pule Bagh-e- Umomi do so the government would have asking the government to lower contractors ended their business would pave the ground for launch- phase after completion of the Arghandab River 30 kilometres 070263672 ing the phase-2, which has been phase-1, which was about to fin- northeast of Kandahar City, the to facilitate the businesspersons the income tax rate. Her company with Afghan companies. Instead halted for the time being. ish over the next two months. He Dahla Dam s technical and struc- and investors. However, situation produces different kinds of hand- of helping the investors, the gov- Once the dam is raised by eight said the dam was full of water, tural parts have been destroyed in the country is quite different icrafts including carpets and rugs, ernment has increase custom duty and depressing as businessmen decoration pieces made of lapis on raw materials. I am paying 20 Khairkhana Hospital metres, six more supporting dams which would be released to farm- due to 30 years of the conflict and and women in a trade fair held in lazuli and precious stones. She percent as custom duty when im- 0799-321007 would be constructed along it be- ers through its network of canals negligence. (Pajhwok) the last week of February in Kab- suggested that taxpayers should porting raw materials. Moreover, ul expressed serious concerns over be categorized based on their in- high power tariff has also affected 2401352 policies of the National Unity vestment. In simple words, those our business because I pay Afs10 Government. Chairperson of the who made more investment for per kilowatt electricity. Most Sheren Qahraman Handicrafts should give more income tax as of the time we try to shut down Indira Gandhi Children Company, Nelofar Ebrahemia compared to the companies with machines and avoid overloaded who displayed the company s low investment.Criticizing the electricity bills, he lamented. Hospital, Wazir Akbar made handicrafts in the expo, said government she said the market- Chief of the Maza Food Industry, that she started business in 2001 ing facilities should be provided Zakia Roshan, said that her com- Khan, Kabul 2301372 with satisfactory growth in the by the relevant authorities be- pany produces chocolates and past decade. She said that she cause the businesspersons find it make less profit because she has showcased the products in differ- difficult to export products. The to pay unbearable custom tax and Ibn-e- Seena ent trade fairs but the last two government shall train the weav- electricity bills. Lambasting the Pul-e-Artan, Kabul years were very disappointing ers as our designs are too old. Peo- government for not taking the busi- from business point of view. Talk- ple want something new and mod- nesspersons problems seriously, 2100359 ing to Afghanistan Times, she la- ern, she maintained. Business- she said the relevant authorities mented over inattention of the men in the country are supported should take appropriate measures government towards Small and by the Afghanistan Chamber of to support and encourage local Wazir Akbar Khan Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Commerce and Industries (ACCI) products. She said that import of Hospital the facilities required by Afghan and some NGOs. They provide foreign products should be businesspeople are not provided facilities for holding such exhibi- banned. Ms Roshan also suggest- 2301741, 2301743 by the authorities. She also ac- tions. High transportation charg- ed that the government should knowledged that buying-capacity es is another problem faced by provide electricity to the compa- of citizens has declined in the past Afghan exporters. I cannot ex- nies on subsidized rates. Spokes- Ali Abad two years that she termed a set- port goods due to high transpor- man for the Ministry of Com- back for her budding company. tation cost, said Head of Amiri merce and Industries, Mosafir Shahrara, Kabul We will be satisfied be don t run Carpets and Jewelry House Qoqandi, in an interview with Af- 2100439 in loss. At this critical juncture, (ACJH). Farhad Amiri said that ghanistan Times rejected that alle- what matters most is survival not he is charged $45 per kilogram gations regarding inattention of the profit. Our business is dependent when exporting carpets. The sky- government towards problems Malalai Maternity on purchasing power of ordinary rocketing postage cost has also faced by the Afghan business com- Hospital The phase one includes construction of the dam s small and big gates, valve house citizens. People don t have the affected the retail market. Export munity. He said the government economic capacity to buy an em- agents or companies do not ac- has tried to facilitate the busi- 2201377/ 2301743 and extension of the outlet tunnel and phase-2 is raising the dam by eight metres, he said. broidered suit for at least cept cargo that is less than 70 kg. nesspersons in different areas such Afs6,000, she underlined the Foreigners find it hard to import as transit trade. unfortunate reality while referring Afghan-made products. Trans- In the past 13 years the govern- Banks Kandahar to poor national economic growth. portation charges for a small car- ment tried its best while using the 4 rebels killed, 5 Responding to a question, she said pet that costs Afs5,000 is available resources to support the Da Afghanistan Bank that her company s made prod- Afs10,000. Afghan carpets were local companies, the spokesman cooperatives ucts are sold abroad especially in sent to the United States and Ger- added. However, he acknowledged 2100302, 2100303 injured in Ghazni clash Asian markets because the for- many through Pakistan while hav- that the government is not pro- sell donated eigners do have the capability of ing made-in-Pakistan tags. How- viding soft loans to the industrial- Kabul Bank purchasing their products. Male ever, this is no more practiced, ists. The government lacks the tractors and female suits, jewelry, embroi- he said. He urged the government required financial resources to do 222666, 070285285 dered suits, cross-stitches and dif- to provide exports facilities to the so, he said. He asked the local Azizi Bank KANDAHAR CITY: Half of the ferent kinds of handicrafts were businesspersons through the companies to find raw materials tractors distributed among local the major products showcased by state-owned cargo companies with in the country if available instead 0799 700900 agricultural cooperatives in six dis- Ms Qahraman in the expo. She affordable rates. He also sought of rushing to foreign lands. Re- tricts of southern Kandahar prov- went on saying that the govern- carpet processing machines in sponding to a query he said the Pashtany Bank ince have been sold, with the mon- ment could provide ground for Kabul because Afghan rugs are government has already increased 2102908, 2103868 ey ending up in private pockets, a business improvement but if fa- processed in Pakistan in these custom duty on 16 different prod- public representative said on cilities were given to the entrepre- days. High power tariff and cus- ucts that are imported. Thursday. The provincial council Air Services head, Haji Syed Jan Khakrezwal, told Pajhwok Afghan News they National unity of paramount importance: CMSJ Safi Airways had summoned officials of the ag- riculture department to brief the KABUL: A number of civil soci- CMSJ, in a meeting held in Kabul enough. We have already missed 020 22 22 222 council members on the issue. He ety activists on Thursday warned said recent statements by Chief opportunities in this regard. said the cooperatives in Zheri, that the country would plunge Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Ab- The CEO seat is not an imagi- Panjwai, Maiwand, Dand, GHAZNI CITY: Four Taliban injured, he said. The police also Ariana militants were killed and five oth- confiscated two Kalashnikovs, a into crisis if differences among dullah Abdulalh about his con- nary, ceremonial or a gift by some- Arghandab and Spin Boldak dis- leaders of unity government were cerns about the government were one, he said. Another member of 020-2100270 tricts had been distributed 77 trac- ers injured during a clash with walkie-talkie and three military police in the Zankhan district of uniforms at the clash site. not bridged. The Civil Movement earlier realized by the people. CMSJ Ghulam Mohammad Mo- tors last year by the provincial of Social Justice (CMSJ), a civil Abdullah who has 50 percent hammadi said a political transition agriculture department and aid- southern Ghazni province on But a resident of the area, society institute, said differences share in the national unity gov- of the government should be more Kam Air giving agencies for development Thursday, the district chief said. Ahmadullah, said one policeman of opinions between leaders were ernment said I am not convinced legitimate but he regretted viola- 0799974422 of the agriculture sector. He said Ahmad Zia told Pajhwok Af- had been killed in the clash that previously behind the doors and regarding performance of the gov- tion of the constitution and elec- half of the tractors, supposed to ghan News the clash broke out left three militants dead. the people had no knowledge ernment. I fear there will be no big tion law during the election pro- be used by farmers in time of need, after the insurgents attacked a se- We saw the Taliban evacu- about them. But those differenc- achievement in the future too, cess. Hotels had been sold. Khakrezwal said curity post in Sangar area near the ating their dead comrades as well es surfaced publicly which Zaki added. A day earlier, Abdul- Our demand from the lead- Safi Landmark they had formed a delegation to district centre. as the police shifting their dead showed that the governance lah in a conference about human ers is that to respect the agree- investigate the issue and refer The firefight that lasted three and injured colleagues in their would get worse if the situation rights said: The government s ment they signed during the for- those involved in the corruption hours left four attackers dead and pick-up vehicle, he told Pajhwok was not controlled, the CMSJ efforts about human rights done mation of the national unity gov- 020-2203131 to the judicial organs. Pajhwok five attackers and one policeman Afghan News. (Pajhwok) warned. Ahmad Zaki, head of the in the past few months were not ernment, he said. (Pajhwok) tried to seek comments from the SERENA provincial agriculture director, but it was told he had somewhere on a trip. The provincial council chief 0799654000 said they were trying to investi- gate the issue in cooperation with New Rumi Restaurant the agriculture director. A member of the council, Haji Nimatullah 0776351347 Sherdil, said the number of trac- tors sold was higher than known. Internet Services He said there were no coopera- tives in some districts and dozens UA Telecom of tractors had directly been giv- 0796701701 / 0796702702 en to farmers. Residents also said a large number of tractors had been distributed to cooperatives, but Exchange Rate the vehicles were sold and the money pocketed by members of Purchase: the bodies. A farmer in Zheri dis- trict, Allah Nazar, said 13 trac- tors were distributed to nine co- One US$ = operatives in the town and four 57.80Afs of them had disappeared. The One Pound Sterling= council chief also said they had launched efforts at improving the 84.94Afs education system in the province. One Euro = Khakrezwal said they had sought information from the provincial 62.06Afs education department regarding 1000 Pak Rs = low quality of education, the clo- 559Afs sure of nearly 100 schools out of 400 and the appearance of less Sale: number of students in university One US$ = entrance test in Kandahar. He said funds were regularly received for 58 Afs schools which had long been One Pound Sterling= closed and money amounting to 85.74Afs tens of thousands of afghanis re- leased for firewood to keep class- One Euro= rooms warm during winter had 62.66 Afs been lost to corruption. 1000 Pak Rs= 567Afs (Pajhwok) HERAT: Afghan men take in an exam to join the Afghan National Army in Heart, the other day. (epa/Jalil Rezayee) 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. SATURDAY . APRIL 11 , 2015 AFGHANISTAN TIMES India negotiating to buy 63 Rafale jets from France: Report ADEN: Pakistan's parliament vot- India was aiming to agree a deal to ed on Friday not to join the Saudi- buy 63 French-made Rafale fight- led military intervention in Yemen, er jets for 7.2 billion euros ($7.7 dashing Riyadh's hopes for pow- billion) during Prime Minister erful support from outside of the Narendra Modi's visit to Paris region in its fight to halt the ad- starting on Friday, a French news- vance of Iranian-allied Houthi paper reported. Indian officials rebels. Saudi Arabia had asked fel- confirmed that a major push was on to reach an agreement to buy low Sunni-majority Pakistan to Rafales during Modi's visit to Par- provide ships, aircraft and troops is, with one holding out the pros- for the campaign, now in its third pect of an announcement - if not a week, to stem the influence of final deal - if India is able to secure Shi'ite Iran in what appears to be more favourable terms. Talks have proxy war between the Gulf's two been going on for more than three dominant powers. While Saudi years over how to resolve differ- Arabia has the support of its Sun- ences over pricing and local assem- ni Gulf Arab neighbors, Pakistan's bly. "The discussions went on parliament voted against becom- through the night and were still ing militarily involved. It adopted going on this morning," Le Monde a draft resolution calling on all sides quoted a source close to the mat- to resolve their differences peace- ter as saying. Rafale "The idea is fully in a "deteriorating security to announce the contract during and humanitarian situation" which Prime Minister Narendra Modi's has "implications for peace and visit to Paris on Friday or Satur- stability of the region." "(Parlia- day," the source said. Neither ment) desires that Pakistan should Dassault Aviation, which builds the maintain neutrality in the Yemen Rafale, nor the French president's conflict so as to be able to play a office could be reached for com- proactive diplomatic role to end ment. The French defence minis- the crisis," it said, while express- try declined to comment. An Indi- ing "unequivocal support for the an newspaper and a widely Kingdom of Saudi Arabia" and watched defence blogger said that promising to "stand shoulder to a direct government-to-govern- shoulder with Saudi Arabia and its ment contract to buy a smaller people" if Saudi territory were vi- number of planes than the 126 olated. Pakistan's government has originally envisaged under a ten- yet to comment publicly on the der deal was one possible outcome because of problems linked to lo- draft but has said it would comply calising production of most of the with parliament's decision. The planes in India. Blogger Nitin Saudi-led coalition began air strikes Ghokale said the talks focused on in Yemen against the Houthis on buying between 60 and 63 jets. One March 26 after the rebels, who al- Indian official, who requested an- ready control the capital, began a ed weapons storage sites used by Houthi forces fighting his succes- ity and water had been cut in sev- staff in the field," he added, citing air strike hit a local government onymity, said, "It's correct that rapid advance towards the south- soldiers loyal to former president sor President Abd-Rabbu Man- eral districts, rubbish had been left the fatal shooting of two brothers compound in the northern suburb discussions are under way, but a ern port city of Aden. Saudi Ara- Ali Abdullah Saleh, a powerful sour Hadi, a former general seen uncollected and hospitals were working for the Red Crescent while of Dar Saad and fires in Aden's contract announcement is a bit of bia is concerned that the violence supporter of the Houthis. The air by the Houthis as a pawn of Sunni unable to cope with the number of evacuating wounded last week. outskirts sent plumes of smoke hype." "If things work out and could spill over the border it shares raids, which hit the Defence Min- Gulf Arab monarchies and the wounded. "The humanitarian sit- Aden residents reported heavy ex- into the air. Two planes carrying terms are more attractive than ear- with Yemen, and is also worried istry and other facilities, lasted West. Hadi has fled to Saudi Ara- uation in Aden is catastrophic and plosions from coalition air strikes emergency medical aid landed in lier, then maybe an understanding." about the influence of Iran, which hours, residents told Reuters. "The bia. Yemen's 150,000 barrel-per- disastrous, both in terms of the ris- and naval bombardment on Houthi Sanaa on Friday, the first deliver- A source at the Indian defence min- has denied Saudi allegations it has sky was lit up," said Fadel Mu- day Aden refinery has shut as the ing number of killed and injured as positions which shook windows ies from international aid groups istry said that a "serious effort" provided direct military support hammad. "We heard big explo- conflict worsened, industry sourc- well as in declining capabilities of throughout the city. An Indian ship since the heavy fighting began. was under way by both sides to to the Houthis. Iran's supreme sions." Saleh is still influential in es said. The refinery earlier sus- medics, along with shortages in captain working in Aden was killed They were brought in by the In- reach a solution. Rafale Modi, leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has the military, despite giving up pended its tender process for im- water and electricity," local health in shelling on the city’s dockyard ternational Committee of the Red who in an interview on April 8 said called the Saudi's involvement in power in 2012 after mass protests porting oil products, due to the ministry official Al-Khadr Lawsar overnight, his company an- Cross and the United Nations Chil- the two countries should be able Yemen "genocide". Coalition air against his rule, complicating ef- crisis and several tankers headed said. "We call on fighters to adhere nounced, and local media reported dren's Fund, UNICEF, which had to make progress in talks on the strikes hit Yemen for a sixteenth forts to stabilize the country. to the country have been diverted to international law and respect the that Houthi and allied army units been trying for days to get aid Rafale, is in France for a two-day straight day. In Sanaa, they target- Troops loyal to him are backing away. Aden residents said electric- work of ambulances and medical had fired mortars into the area. An flights into the country. state visit. India, Pakistan ties: Modi cites China, Sri Lanka hold drill Simla, Lahore pacts for talks to enhance anti-terror skills BEIJING: China and Sri Lanka the Kashmiri Hurriyat leaders last have held joint drill at a compre- year which annoyed the Indian hensive military training base in foreign ministry. Since then, the southern China to enhance their two sides have taken tentative capabilities, specially in combat- steps towards a possible resump- ing terror. The Chinese People's tion in dialogue, with Foreign Sec- Armed Police Force (APF) and the retary S. Jaishan•kar visiting Islam- Sri Lankan Army held the drill abad for talks with his Pakistani code-named 'Silk Road Coopera- counterpart. Take a look: Good tion -2015' in Guangzhou. The neighbours “The Simla Agreement joint drill was aimed at helping both and Lahore Declaration have to be sides to learn from each other, so the basis for going forward,” he as to improve their capabilities of said, referring to two bilateral trea- performing duties, the Chinese ties agreed between the troubled state-run Military Online News neighbours to normalise relations reported. The focus of the drill and curb a nuclear arms race in held on March 29 was on devel- South Asia. oping anti-terrorist skills and tac- “Peace can only thrive when the tical trainings. The anti-terrorist climate is right,” Mr Modi said, skills highlight skills of shooting, when asked when the bilateral dia- capturing and climbing etc. And logue could resume. He signalled the tactical trainings are mainly his desire to build bridges with composed of operations of search- Pakistan when he invited South ing blocks, rescuing hostages as Asian leaders, including his Paki- well as anti-hijacking aircraft and teams to Sri Lanka to take part in the second phase of the joint drill, the stani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, to buses, said Su Haihui, deputy di- report said. Sri Lanka under former president Mahinda Rajapaksa's NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Min- an interview published . “We re- interview to an Indian newspaper. his inauguration last year. He fol- rector of the Training Department regime has endorsed China sponsored Silk Road and Maritime Silk Road ister Narendra Modi has said he is main open to bilateral dialogue He was speaking a day before leav- lowed it up with his ‘sari-and- of the Chinese APF. The second (MSR) initiative for which USD 1.5 billion Colombo Port City project open to talks with Pakistan on all with Pakistan on all outstanding ing for France, Germany and Can- shawl’ diplomacy with Mr Sharif, phase of the drill between China was to provide a key base in the Indian Ocean. The new government outstanding issues in the issues in an environment free from ada. Bilateral ties went into a freeze which rekindled hopes that the and Sri Lanka is expected to be headed by Maithripala Sirisena has kept the project under suspension fra•mework of Simla and Lahore terrorism and violence,” Mr Modi after Pakistan’s High Commission- détente was well intentioned, the held in June this year. China will over concerns relating to environmental clearance and heavy interests pacts, but he indicated no time in told Hindustan Times in his first er Abdul Basit held meetings with Hindustan Times said. send several special operation rates charged over the loans provided for the Chinese projects. 1,019 return as evacuation mission ends: Pak FO

India has evacuated 272 Bang- ladeshis from strife-torn Yemen as it has called off rescue operations for its nationals. The Indian High Commission in Dhaka has tweet- ed that the ship INS Sumitra has rescued those Bangladeshis from Al Hudaydah. However, Bang- ladesh government did not give any figure, though of late it has sent its diplomats from Kuwait to Djibouti ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office (FO) announced that the evacua- after getting India’s assurance for tion mission initiated to rescue Pakistani citizens who were stranded in help. The rescue operation has war-torn Yemen has culminated after all Pakistanis were brought home. been coordinated from Djibouti, "1,019 stranded Pakistanis have been evacuated from Yemen in the last just on the other side of Gulf of 10 days by three special flights, three naval evacuations and a land Aden. India’s junior external affairs evacuation through neighbouring Oman. However, there may still be an minister VK Singh has coordinat- estimated 100-150 Pakistanis left in the country," FO spokesperson ed the whole process from Djibou- Tasneem Aslam said. Take a look: Tears of joys as Pakistanis return ti. India’s External Affairs Minis- safely from Yemen Regarding the Pakistanis who have been left over in ter Sushma Swaraj has tweeted that Yemen, Aslam said they are mostly the ones who have chosen to stay in “the evacuation operation is over. Yemen. She said the emergency evacuation operation has thus effective- General V.K.Singh is returning to- ly culminated on April 7, 2015, since her office does not have any more night. We are closing our Embassy compatriots registered for evacuation. The spokesperson said this was there”. However, it is not clear the first wide-scale evacuation from Yemen carried out through special whether any Bangladeshis re- flights and Navy vessels during the current crisis, and the first to con- mained stranded in Yemen. The clude successfully, safely bringing back all nationals wanting to evacuate foreign ministry on Friday told at a minimal cost to the national exchequer. Aslam further said a special bdnews24.com that they would exemption was obtained from the Saudi government for the “No Fly” issue a statement later in the restriction imposed on Yemeni airspace, along with ground clearances evening. Bangladesh does not have from local authorities. Also read: Pakistan Navy ship carrying 182 ar- diplomatic mission in Yemen, but rives in Karachi from Yemen "Seamless implementation of a historic the foreign secretary said they es- emergency evacuation mission, under Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s timated there might be between rently controlled by Houthi rebels, who have ousted Yemen’s President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. The conflict in Yemen has turned the leadership and supervision, has ensured a safe return for all our stranded 1500 and 3000 nationals living in impoverished Arabian Peninsula state into the latest theatre for Sunni Saudi Arabia’s proxy war with its regional Shia rival Iran. Bangladesh earlier citizens in Yemen and earned laurels for the country, with a number of Yemen. Later, the government es- endorsed its support to Saudi-led effort in Yemen. Tehran, however, denies Riyadh's charges that it has been arming the Houthis. Houthis have foreign nationals having been rescued and returned to their countries," timated around 350 Bangladeshis emerged as the country's most powerful faction when they took over the capital six months ago together with supporters of former president Ali she concluded. are stuck in the capital Sana’a, cur- Abdullah Saleh. 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. SATURDAY . APRIL 11 , 2015 AFGHANISTAN TIMES Ukraine military, rebels accuse each other of increased attacks KIEV: Ukraine's military and pro- new pro-Western leadership in Russian rebels accused each other Kiev and the ousting of a Mos- on Friday of intensifying attacks in cow-backed president occupied separatist eastern territories despite state buildings in two big cities of a two-month-old ceasefire deal. The Ukraine's Russian-speaking east, conflict has reached stalemate in Donetsk and Luhansk. More than recent weeks with the truce, bro- 6,000 civilians, rebels and Ukrai- kered in the Belarussian capital of nian servicemen have been killed Minsk in mid-February, still tech- since then in a crisis in which Kiev nically in force though casualties are has accused its former Soviet mas- reported almost daily. "The enemy ter of arming and supporting the has significantly intensified firing rebels, a charge Moscow denies on our positions from weapons On the rebel side, separatist forc- that according to the Minsk agree- es accused government troops in ment are meant to have been with- the town of Avdiivka of firing from drawn," Kiev's military spokesman tanks at rebel positions near Do- Andriy Lysenko said in a televised netsk airport about 7 km (4.4 briefing, adding that the majority miles) away, rebel news agency of attacks had taken place around DAN reported early on Friday. the airport of rebel-held Donetsk. Ukrainian military spokesman He said in the past 24 hours rebels Vladislav Seleznyov said it was not had fired at government troops 18 possible for government troops to times with weapons of between 120 fire tank rounds that distance. "For mm and 122 mm caliber. According that ... heavy artillery systems to the Mink deal, weapons bigger would be needed and we have with- than 100 mm caliber, including large drawn them," he told Reuters by artillery, heavy mortar and power- phone. The Ukrainian military said ful rocket systems, are meant to none of its servicemen had been have been withdrawn from the killed in the past 24 hours, al- frontline. The conflict erupted a though two were wounded by a year ago when rebels opposed to a landmine. Kerry holds landmark talks with Cuban counterpart The Cuban and US foreign minis- America Editor During a trip to ters have held a historic meeting in Jamaica before heading to Panama, Panama, the highest-level encounter Obama confirmed that the State between the two countries before Department had completed a re- their presidents attend a landmark view of Cuba's inclusion on the list, summit. The US State Department's but that he declined to say what Iran's highest political authority fighters, who control Yemen's cap- comments reported by Associat- ons storage sites used by soldiers said that two weeks of Saudi-led Twitter account published a picture its recommendation was. Having has denounced the Saudi-led inter- ital Sanaa and who were on the ed Press news agency. Khameini's loyal to former President Ali Ab- air strikes against Houthi rebels in of John Kerry, secretary of state, Cuba's name on the list has been a vention against Houthi fighters in verge of capturing the southern comments follow a plea by Iran's dullah Saleh, a powerful support- Yemen, and the rebels' advances and his Cuban counterpart Bruno major sticking point in negotiations Yemen, in what appears to be the port city of Aden, where President President Hassan Rouhani for all er of the Houthis. The air raids, "have turned an internal political Rodriguez looking at the camera with aimed at reopening embassies, strongest criticism of the campaign Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi was sides to bring an end to hostilities. which hit the Defence Ministry crisis into a violent conflict that straight faces as they shook hands which closed after the foes broke so far by an Iranian leader. Ayatol- based, before the Saudi air strikes "To the countries in the region, I and other facilities, lasted hours, risks deep and long-lasting region- late on Thursday, on the eve of the relations in 1961. The blacklisting lah Ali Khameini said on Thurs- began. ran summoned the Saudi say, let's adopt the spirit of broth- residents told Reuters news agen- al repercussions". Summit of the Americas. It was the means that Cuba is subject to a day Saudi Arabia would not be charge d'affaires in Tehran in re- erhood. Let's respect each other cy. Also on Friday, two planes car- Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday first time the chief diplomats from ban on weapons exports and eco- victorious in its war against the sponse to those "baseless accusa- and other nations ... do not kill in- rying emergency medical aid land- that he was urging all countries in the two nations met since 1958, one nomic aid as well as financial sanc- Zaydi Shia fighters, and described tions", IRNA news agency said. nocent children. Let's think about ed in Sanaa, the first deliveries from the region to go beyond national year before Fidel Castro's revolution- tions that make it difficult to get the aerial bombardment as "geno- Khamenei also criticised what he an end to the war, about ceasefire international aid groups since the priorities and help the Yemeni peo- ary guerrillas came to power. Kerry World Bank and other loans. Cuba cide". "This is a crime and geno- called "a few inexperienced young and humanitarian assistance," heavy fighting began. ple, saying "the last thing the re- and Rodriguez were in a room with was first put on the list, which also cide that can be prosecuted in in- men" controlling foreign affairs in Rouhani said. The Iranian condem- They were brought in by the In- gion and our world need is more of two chairs and a glass coffee table, includes Syria, Sudan and Iran, in ternational courts," Khamenei said Saudi Arabia, a veiled reference to nation came as Houthi fighters and ternational Committee of the Red the chaos and crimes we have seen but the tweet did not reveal more. 1982 for harbouring ETA Basque of the air raids carried out by Sau- the Saudi king's son, Mohammed allied military units captured Ataq, Cross and the United Nations Chil- in Libya and Syria". The UN Se- The presidents of the two nations, separatists and Colombian FARC di Arabia and its allies, Reuters bin Salman, the defence minister the capital of oil-rich Shabwa prov- dren's Fund, UNICEF, which had curity Council is expected to vote Barack Obama and Raul Castro, fighters. Obama said the overall news agency reported. Saudi Ara- who is leading the air campaign. ince, despite 16 days of bombard- been trying for days to get aid on a resolution effectively impos- landed in Panama in advance of their talks on establishing diplomatic re- bia has repeatedly accused Iran of "They prefer barbaric behaviour ment by the Saudi air force. Strikes flights into the country. Against ing an arms embargo on Houthi own encounter set for the 35-nation lations with Cuba was moving arming and supporting Houthi over dignity," Khamenei said in in Sanaa on Friday targeted weap- this backdrop, the UN chief has fighters on Friday. summit on Friday and Saturday. Al along as he expected. An announce- Jazeera's Diplomatic Editor James ment about the "terror list" during Bays, reporting from Panama City, the Panama City summit would Erdogan said this year's summit was historic add to the historic symbolism of Pentagon chief vows to deploy because all of the countries in the the gathering. The meeting will won’t restore Americas were present for the first mark the first time that a Cuban time. "The Summit of the Americas leader attends the event. Before Egyptian ties is held every two years and, in some Cuba can be removed from the list, ways, this year's meeting is a com- Congress will have 45 days to de- ‘best’ US weaponry to Asia ‘until Morsi ing of age," he said. "A lot of atten- cide whether to override Obama's tion will be on the relationship of recommendation. US politicians SEOUL: Defence Secretary Ash- nently stationed in South Korea those two countries." Diplomatic who have been critical of the dip- ton Carter promised Friday that and would assume operational freed’ thaw Obama was moving closer to lomatic detente could seize on the the US would deploy state of the command of both armed forces in Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turk- removing a major hurdle in the US- review of the list to further attack art weaponry in Asia, including the the event of a conflict with the ish president, says Egypt should Cuba diplomatic thaw, as a US sen- Obama's Cuba policy. Speaking to latest stealth bombers and cyber North. The two Koreas remain free ousted president Mohamed ator indicated that the State Depart- Al Jazeera, Juan Carlos Hidalgo, a warfare units, to counter threats technically at war because the Morsi from prison and lift death ment recommended removing Cuba Latin American policy analyst at posed by the likes of North Ko- 1950-53 Korean conflict ended sentences against his supporters from a list of state sponsors of ter- the CATO Institute, said US-Cuba rea. "Our newest and best things with a ceasefire rather than a peace before Ankara could consider an rorism. Senator Ben Cardin, a lead- negotiations had been held in se- are being deployed to this part of treaty. Stressing that military de- improvement in relations with ing member of the upper chamber's cret, "so we don't know what's the world," Carter said in Seoul -- terrence and readiness were "at a Cairo. Ties between the two foreign relations committee, said the going to happen". "It's been a ril- the second leg of a visit to the two premium" on the divided peninsu- former allies have been strained removal was "an important step for- ing point for over half a century key US military allies in the re- la, Carter said the US was invest- since then Egyptian army chief ward in our efforts to forge a more for Cuba, which has been present- gion, Japan and South Korea. The ing in "advanced capabilities .... Abdel Fattah el-Sisi toppled elect- fruitful relationship with Cuba". ing itself as a victim of US aggres- Pentagon chief said his talks with tailored to this dynamic security ed president Morsi of the Muslim MENDING US-VENEZUELA sion. But now, all of a sudden, the South Korean Defence Minister environment." Asked to expand, he Brotherhood in 2013 after mass TIES Panama City, Panama - De- US wants to be friends with Han Min-Koo had included a "can- cited new stealth bombers, F-35 protests against his rule. Egyptian spite the frosty relations between [Cuba]," he said. Blog: New be- did assessment" of the threat stealth fighters and highly devel- security forces then mounted a the US and Venezuela, which at one ginning, old conflicts at Panama posed to the Korean peninsula -- oped cyber warfare systems that Korea. China and Russia are both plicated by tensions between its fierce crackdown against the point seemed would prevent a final summit "If you look at statements Brotherhood, killing hundreds of "and the US homeland" -- by North could be rotationally deployed in vocally opposed to the THAAD allies in Seoul and Tokyo. Wash- its supporters as they protested declaration at the summit, there from Castro over the past months, Korea's nuclear weapons and bal- the Asian theatre. North Korea has deployment, warning that it would ington has pushed hard for the two in Cairo, arresting thousands and seems to be some signs of a rap- it looks like he is trying to raise listic missile programme. "As it an advanced cyber warfare capa- undermine regional peace and sta- neighbours to put simmering terri- putting Morsi and other leaders on proachment. President Obama's the price tag by asking the US to demonstrated once again with the bility which it has wielded in dam- bility It's a tricky issue for Seoul torial and historical disputes be- trial. "Mr Morsi is a president statement that Venezuela represent- return Guantanamo Bay or lift the recent missile launches, North aging hacking assaults on South which must weigh the priorities of hind them, and Obama even host- elected by 52 percent of the votes. ed a security risk to the US gave sanctions in return for closer ties." Korea is intent on continued prov- Korean financial institutions. The its most important military ally, ed a strained three-way leadership They should give him his freedom," President Nicolas Maduro fresh am- In January, Castro said that Cuba ocation," he told reporters. The FBI has accused the North of be- the US, against its largest trade summit in March last year. But re- Erdogan was quoted by Turkish munition with which to claim that would not improve relations with North fired two surface-to-air mis- ing behind a devastating cyber at- partner, China. Carter insisted lations remain extremely frosty, newspapers as telling reporters as the US was plotting to overthrow the US unless it returned the Guan- siles off its west coast on Tues- tack on Sony Pictures, the studio THAAD was not discussed in and Carter said there was only so he returned from an official visit him. Now, Maduro seems to be ex- tanamo Bay naval base and mili- day, just as Carter arrived in Japan behind the Hollywood film "The Seoul because the system was still much the US could do. "We hope to Iran. An official from Erdogan's tending an olive branch, saying he tary prison to Cuba and lifted the on the first leg of his tour. Earlier, Interview" -- a comedy about a fic- in production. "We're not at the for healing and reconciliation, but office confirmed his comments. wants better relations with the White five decades-old sanctions. A scene it had test fired a series of short tional plot to assassinate North point yet where we would begin it is not for the United States to Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood has House. Maduro's comments fol- of tensions among Cuban dissi- range ballistic missiles to express Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. At the discussing its deployment with interpose itself between the par- close ties with Turkey's ruling AK lowed comments by a US official dents and government sympathis- its anger with annual South Kore- same time, he said his talks in Seoul anybody," he said. Carter's two- ties," he said. After the press con- Party, which Erdogan co-founded who said Venezuela did not repre- ers emerged in Panama City on an-US military exercises which had not touched on the sensitive nation trip was partly aimed at ference, Carter visited a memorial and which has emerged as one of sent a risk to the US. Diplomats hope Thursday when about 100 Castro Pyongyang condemns as rehears- issue of a missile defence system, underlining President Barack to the 46 seamen who died in the the fiercest international critics of the clarification would "leave the regime supporters jeered dissidents als for invasion. The United States known as THAAD, that Washing- Obama's commitment to a US stra- 2010 sinking of the South Korean Morsi's removal, calling it an "un- door open" to a final statement. - as they arrived at a Latin Ameri- has close to 30,000 troops perma- ton is looking to deploy in South tegic shift to Asia -- a move com- naval corvette Cheonan. acceptable coup" by the army. Lucia Newman, Al Jazeera Latin can civil society forum. PLO ‘against’ Syria army Yarmouk camp offensive The PLO said it is against a Syri- control of the camp of exploiting in Syria, is now only a few kilo- an military offensive into a Pales- the plight of Palestinians to their meters from Assad’s seat of pow- tinian refugee camp in Damascus own ends. “They (radical Islam- er. The Palestinian official echoed that has been overrun by militants, ists) have tried to use the camp as the Syrian government line that the going against earlier comments by a launching pad to expand their only way to rid the camp of the a member voicing support for an scope of clashes and their terror ultra-radical militants was through operation, Reuters news agency activities inside and outside the force. “What we have agreed with reported. The Islamic State of Iraq camp,” said Majdalani, a former our Syrian brothers and factions is and Syria (ISIS) militant group has minister in the Western-backed that the options that existed for a seized almost all of the Yarmouk Palestinian Authority. Majdalani political solution were closed by camp, sparking clashes between said the Syrian army alongside lo- the fighters of Daesh [ISIS],” he local armed groups and the Islam- cal Palestinian groups had some said. “The crimes they have com- ist militants, the Syrian Observa- success in pushing back ISIS and mitted ... left us with no choice tory for Human Rights reported. had so far secured 35 percent of except a security one that respects “We refuse to be drawn into any the camp. The sprawling Yarmouk the partnership with the Syrian armed campaign, whatever its na- camp was home to some 160,000 state,” he told a news conference ture or cover, and we call for re- Palestinians before the Syrian con- in Damascus. The Observatory sorting to other means to spare the flict began in 2011, refugees from has said Syrian air force jets had blood of our people and prevent the 1948 war of Israel’s founding, been waging a bombing campaign more destruction and displacement and their descendants. Majdalani on militant hideouts in the camp for our people of the camp,” the said there were just 17,500 resi- almost daily since ISIS fighters in- Palestine Liberation Organization dents left, with around 2,000 evac- filtrated from the adjacent, rebel- said in a statement issued from uated since the latest round of held Hajar al Aswad neighborhood. Ramallah. Earlier, Ahmad Ma- fighting. The Syrian Observatory The United Nations has said it is jdalani, a member of its executive for Human Rights, which monitors extremely concerned about the committee who was sent by the the conflict from Britain, earlier safety and protection of Syrians PLO leadership to Damascus to said that ISIS controlled 90 per- and Palestinians in the camp. Ci- discuss the crisis with the govern- cent of the camp after defeating vilians trapped there have long ment, said he fully endorsed a Syr- fighters mainly from Aknaf Beit suffered a two-year government General Ban Ki-moon told reporters in New York the camp was beginning to resemble “a death camp” with its residents facing “a double-edged ian military offensive to regain al-Maqdis, a Syrian and Palestin- siege to force rebels to capitulate sword: armed elements inside the camp and government forces outside.” Ban warned that any “massive assault on the camp and all civilians would control of the camp. Majdalani ian militia opposed to Assad. ISIS, that has led to chronic food short- be yet one more outrageous war crime for which those responsible must be held accountable. “We simply cannot stand by and watch a massacre blamed the hard-line Islamists in the most powerful insurgent group ages and disease. U.N. Secretary unfold,” he 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. SATURDAY .APRIL 11, 2015 AFGHANISTANTIMES We a r e a n a t ion a l in st it u t ion a n d n ot t h e voice of a gov t or a p r iva t e or ga n iza t ion China: Afghanistan’s new hope AFGHANISTAN TIMES By Tamim Asey powers and strengthened internal- — from China to Africa to South The Afghan business communities ly, Afghanistan is still fighting its Asia. Afghanistan, however, has have a keen interest for partner with Editor: Abdul Saboor Sarir With the recent surge in direct di- battle for a united, prosperous, and one of the most underdeveloped Chinese firms and factories. Chi- plomacy and high level visits be- peaceful Afghanistan. China has infrastructures in the world, bare- nese state-owned companies such Phone No: +93-772364666 tween China and Afghanistan there international diplomatic clout, in- ly even tapping into its full re- as the China National Petroleum E-mail: [email protected] is an emerging hope amongst Af- fluence in the region, and is an eco- source potential. China should in- Corporation International and Chi- ghans that China can be counted nomic powerhouse, all of which vest in Afghanistan’s infrastructure na Metallurgical Group Corpora- on as an honest partner, broker, can help to facilitate talks with and development to gain access to Af- tion have invested in Amu Darya Email: [email protected] and good neighbor. An increased pressure groups and states to ghanistan’s resources and create a oil river basin and Aynak copper economic and security interest in achieve regional stability. While land bridge, better connecting Chi- mine in Afghanistan, though the www.afghanistantimes.af China by former Afghan President China might have legitimate secu- na to Central Asia and the Middle experience with the two projects Hamid Karzai during his last rity and geostrategic concerns over East. Furthermore, Afghanistan is has not been encouraging so far. Photojournalist: M. Sadiq Yusufi months in office and the current engaging itself in such a controver- the backyard of the Persian Gulf, The contractual obligations have president, Ashraf Ghani, with his sial international and regional is- and given that the majority of Chi- either been not met or were asked Advisory editorial board first foreign trip to Beijing are all sue (and potentially a never-end- nese oil supply passes through the to be renegotiated. Despite Chi- indicators of a great rebalancing act ing insurgency in Afghanistan), the Gulf, it is of vital national security na’s issues in following through and Saduddin Shpoon, Dr. Sharif Fayez, Dr. Sultana Parvanta, Dr. Sharifa Sharif, by Kabul to reach out to China costs of staying indifferent will be interest for China to expand its delivery in Afghanistan, Afghani- after decades of tepid relations. much higher. A neighborhood en- economic and political influence in stan has much to learn from the Dr. Omar Zakhilwal, Setara Delawari, Ahmad Takal But this new hope of a partner- gulfed in terrorism, the drug trade, Afghanistan. With some much of Chinese economic model. Afghan- ship should go beyond diplomatic extremism, and proxy wars is the China’s energy imports passing istan needs to move away from an Graphic-Designers: niceties and be based on a strong biggest threat to the national secu- through Afghanistan’s sphere, the aid dependent economy move to- foundation of mutual interests. rity and rise of China. On the oth- security of the Chinese energy wards a trade and export oriented Mansoor Faizy and Edriss Akbari Afghanistan needs Chinese finan- er hand, China should stop relying supplies depends on the stability economy. China’s economic poli- Marketing & Advertising: cial, economic, and technical re- on Pakistan when dealing with of Afghanistan. China has some of cies have a lot to offer in terms of sources and its political leverage Sino-Afghan border issues, partic- the best vocational training insti- models and examples. China has Mohammad Parwiz Arian, 0708954626, 0778894038 at the international stage whereas ularly when it comes to the East tutes and higher education institu- successfully used a state capital- Afghanistan is the missing link in Turkestan Islamic Movement. The tions in the region. According to ism economic model mixed with Mailing address: P.O. Box: 371, Kabul, Afghanistan China’s regional diplomacy and time has come for China to end its the recent Times Education rank- special economic zones, assembly Our Bank Accounts: Azizi Bank: 000101100258091 / 000101200895656 geopolitics. As a rising power, passivity with Afghanistan, direct- ing, Chinese universities and insti- lines, and export oriented trade to China cannot and should not tol- ly engage with the Afghan govern- tutes rank among the world’s 100 become one of the world’s biggest Printed at Afghanistan Times Printing Press erate an unstable Afghanistan in its ment, and help support build a best universities and institutes. economies. In the long run, the neighborhood. A troubled and un- strong, national government for Meanwhile China has also over the benefits of Chinese engagement and stable neighborhood infested with Afghanistan to serve as a credible years accumulated valuable assem- influence in building a stable and extremists and regional proxy ter- partner for China in its neighbor- bly and manufacturing experience peaceful Afghanistan far outweigh The constitution says rorist groups is probably the big- hood. Afghanistan has natural and for the international market. Chi- the costs. China can exert its dip- gest impediment to China’s rise to human resources as well as a prime na can assist Afghanistan in creat- lomatic status to bring parties to a peaceful and responsible power. geographic location that are ripe ing an indigenous manufacturing in- the negotiating table and use its History is filled with examples, for Chinese picking. The World dustry in the country. Afghanistan powerful economy to support such as the Byzantine, Ottoman, Bank has termed Afghanistan as a — a country where much of the mutually beneficial infrastructure and Khmer Empires, where rising country with huge potential to population is still illiterate — can development programs in Afghan- Article 115: powers eventually fell or disinte- serve as a resource corridor be- greatly benefit from Chinese edu- istan. A stable and peaceful Af- During the sessions of the Loya Jirga, provisions of Articles One Hundred One and One Hundred Two of grated due to instability in their tween South and Central Asia. cation and manufacturing prowess. ghanistan can be both a reliable this Constitution shall be applied to its members. neighborhood. Both China and China — one of the biggest con- Chinese business interests and trading partner with China and Afghanistan have suffered from sumers of raw material and energy products have mainly been rerout- bring needed stability to the region. imperial conquests and fell prey inputs — has some of the world’s ed and exported to Afghanistan via Instability in a country breeds in- to various geopolitical games. biggest construction, railway, and Pakistan because Afghan road- stability in the region, and China Editorial These empires were mostly sup- road companies. They are efficient, ways from China cannot accom- cannot afford such a liability. Chi- ported by outside powers, and experienced, and highly competent modate the demands of the moun- na will have to engage in Afghani- today, while China has managed companies who have been build- tainous border between the two stan for its own national and eco- to throw off the influence of those ing infrastructures across the globe countries. nomic security.

Traders lament there are too many factors to have stunted the develop- ment of national economy. But they count growing insecurity, political By Margot Sangster gym time for both a boys and a was forced to wait for me a short letes do well on the international instability, foreign troop drawdown, and on top of that government’s de- girls team. Sadly at the time I did distance away due to road con- stage. This success is no surprise Is it now time for Afghanistan to not know to question his response. struction. Experiencing and wit- given how strong, determined and jecting attitude, are some of the major ones. Since they have chided the acknowledge and celebrate the re- Times have changed. Now in the nessing what happens in the work- smart Afghans are. What if the ality that approximately 50% of high schools of my homeland high place when a woman speaks and it girls and women who wish to pur- government, what it should do. Go into hibernation? Come up with a their population are girls and wom- schools boys and girls almost al- appears as though none has heard sue their athletic interests were counter-narrative? Respond with denials? Or use some buttering words to en, and worthy of having the same ways have equal access to any what was said or her words were applauded for these actions not rights and freedoms as boys and sports they might wish to pursue. ignored and dismissed. I noticed made to be afraid for their safety charm the traders and businessmen? Or should it shrug off its shoulders men? Some girls and women may This leads to developing new skills, that some recommendations made and well-being. My limited read- choose not to exercise these rights friendships, and enhanced physi- by women surface at a later date ing of the Quran is that Moslem and decide in a determined way that it must save the sinking ship of the but still it is just and appropriate cal and mental health. Do you not and that a man then takes credit women should dress modestly. national economy? Then again what it should do? Should spread its palms that they are empowered to make desire the same opportunities for for the ideas expressed. Can we Most sports are quite able to make these decisions for themselves or your girls and women? Another not let go of a scarcity mentality? it possible for women to partici- before the international community to save the decline of economy? En- in consultation with those close to question for some of you to con- Afghanistan needs the contribu- pate within this expectation. Af- them, as warranted. Why are some sider is whether Afghan girls and tions of both its women and men. ghan women who wish to cycle, tice foreign investment or check the capital flight? Initiate micro-financ- Afghan men fearful of the girls and women deserve equal access to the My understanding is that hon- play cricket and football, and com- ing programs, encourage SMEs, prod women to be market and job orient- women in their lives attending same food as their brothers? On or is an important concept in Af- pete in other sports such as taek- school, working outside the home, more than one occasion I have wit- ghanistan, that what a girl or woman wondo can compete successfully ed? Oh, fixing the economy is not that much simple. It’s really much trou- riding a bicycle, swimming in a nessed this is not the case. And does or is perceived to have done for their homeland internationally pool, climbing a mountain, visit- what about providing girls and is viewed as reflecting positively while pursuing their studies and blesome issue that requires both leaders of the national unity government ing with friends and family, be- women with access to modern tech- or negatively on her family. It is being a valued member of their fam- to be on the same page, to bury their hatchets, put their heads together, coming an artist or actor, or the nology such as cell phones and now 2015. What if male and fe- ily. Everyone stands to gain – the multiple other ways Afghan girls Facebook so they are left behind male Afghans of all ages made a past 36 years have taken a toll on decide what’s more important. But alas! This is not happening. They talk and women lead constricted lives. in our “brave new world”. One decision to redefine honor? What Afghans emotionally, physically, When Afghan girls and women are well regarded Indian author Gur- if honor was dependent on not socially, spiritually, and financial- something else and do something else. With such a practice, will they save empowered they win as they are charan Das in his book ‘India Un- what other people think, rather it ly. What a wonderful way to cel- this sinking ship? Ego is important or national interests are sacred? Per- free to enjoy all aspects of their bound’ stated that it is access to was dependent on boys and girls ebrate the talent and diversity of lives more fully. Surely such hap- technology that is driving the cur- being able to use all the talents and the Afghan people than through sonal gains are important or national benefits? Feeding the fed is impor- piness will benefit their families, rent success of the Indian econo- resources they had within their sports? What better way to unite communities and country as a my. If you want physically and means? A growing number of Af- the country than through the indi- tant to feeding the hungry? Though, the development of economy and the whole? Treating Afghan women mentally healthy Afghan women ghans recognize the importance of vidual and collective accomplish- progress of businesses and trade activities primarily are linked to produc- and girls like second class citizens they require equal access to the their daughters attending school ments of Afghans whatever their does a disservice to everyone not same nutrition their brothers re- and obtaining as much education gender or ethnic background. The tion capacity, second to security, third to consumption, and fourth to roads to mention leading to many of ceive. Your girls grow up to be the as possible. Human beings are alternative is sobering. Balkaniza- these females becoming depressed, mothers and wives and grandmoth- blessed with a powerful brain and tion of Afghanistan would be a great infrastructure. When there is no production capacity the society is left resentful, and underutilized. The ers of your shared future. The it is a shame not to use it fully. loss to the world and to individual with no option but to be a consumer society. And yes we are. Who is ben- social fabric of the western coun- physical demands of living in Af- Developing one’s intellectual ca- Afghans who are honored to call try I am from has faced some of ghanistan are sometimes harsh and pacity to think and analyze criti- themselves citizens of Afghanistan. efitted? Traders and businessmen are, but the true capital goes to the man- these very same challenges in de- require that girls and boys are as cally benefits everyone – the girl, (To be concluded) cades past. I remember in my ear- strong as possible. I have person- her family, community, and the After being employed for two ufacturers. Again when there is no security who is suffered? All citizens ly high school years being unable ally experienced sexual harassment country as a whole. If Afghani- years in Afghanistan, Margot suffer, but business class the most, because they are being kidnapped. They to wear pants in class. We were on the streets of Kabul even though stan wishes to become self-suffi- Sangster, the author of this article allowed to wear pants to school if I was dressed modestly in keeping cient and flourish economically all is currently seeking another job in don’t take the risk for domestic investment. They try to take their wealth it was snowing but then had to take with Afghan mores. After getting its citizens need to be involved and Afghanistan. If unsuccessful in them off before going to class. This over my initial shock at being in- contribute what they can and wish. finding a suitable position, she will out from here and invest it somewhere in a country which doesn’t face was only the case for my first one appropriately grabbed by a young Athletic endeavors may be depart and follow Afghanistan’s security problems. Yes this happening in this country. Those who earned or two years of high school. On man racing by, I yelled loudly at another arena of opportunity. Af- political and societal developments another occasion, I asked the male him as dusk was falling. It was ghans are a proud and strong peo- with great interest from abroad. millions here in the booming war industry are now madly piping their wealth physical education teacher why empowering for me to do so, to let ple. This applies to the women Her professional background is in there was no girls’ intercollegiate him know that his physical touch- and men, as well as to the girls and psychosocial counseling and she out from here. Why? Because wealth is more important. Patriotism they basketball team. He responded by ing was unwanted and inappropri- boys. I frequently witness how is particularly interested in gender like only to the extent of songs and national parades. Beyond that they saying that there was not enough ate. I returned to my taxi which happy Afghans are when their ath- related concerns. don’t see any good in it. On top of that there is an outnumbering legion of ministries, deputies, sub-deputies and so on. What for? Does this nation Air pollution bigger killer t han war really need such a larger crowed? A crowed is but a large number of peo- ple gathered together in a disorganized way but here the crowed of minis- tries and deputies and advisors look disorganized, but try it is not. They all are well-organized but for eating away the national wealth, belching in public to show their power and status. With such manifestations will the fate of the common man ever change? And if it doesn’t change what hap- pens? We see it, feel it in our inner bones, but don’t give it a damn. If someone is being killed it doesn’t pain until someone from our own is killed. If someone’s house is reduced to rubbles, it doesn’t matter until Kabul city our own is safe. 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.

SATURDAY .APRIL 11 , 2015 AFGHANISTANTIMES Rand Paul’s Trojan horse campaign By Margaret Carlson The challenges facing China’s Silk Road strategy — and how to overcome them. Rand Paul is a pleasant man with an impish grin and a head of per- By Xue Li and Xu Yanzhou venting the rise of a regional pow- gional mechanisms led by Beijing, manently tousled curls. And, by er or at least reducing its impact such as the Free Trade Area of the American presidential standards, In 2014, “one belt and one road” on British security and interests. Asia-Pacific and the Asian Infra- he is on the short side, at five feet (OBOR), a reference to the Silk Britain put these practices to use structure Investment Bank (AIIB). eight inches, which, for the mo- Road Economic Belt and the 21st in its continental policy for hun- Compared to U.S. initiatives, Chi- ment, adds to the my-mother- Century Maritime Silk Road, were dreds of years. After World War na’s actions reveal more openness, dressed-me- this-morning look. the keywords for Chinese diplo- II, the superpower U.S. adopted inclusiveness, and even morality. The Kentucky senator, who for- macy. The OBOR strategy has be- the idea of balancing in its regional Building its own regional space is mally announced his presidential By Alyssa Ayres come China’s major foreign policy campaign on Tuesday, may be new “South Asian subsidiary” of portant economic role in the coun- strategies: for instance, support- a necessary step on China’s path counting on his likability to buy goal, Beijing will promote this ini- ing Western Europe’s confronta- to becoming a global power. Since President Ashraf Ghani’s success- al-Qaeda, made by Ayman al- try. India’s involvement with Af- tiative economically, politically, him time to make a coherent whole tion with the Soviet Union and its China’s strengths lie in the econom- of his myriad parts. He is attempt- ful visit to Washington last month Zawahiri in late 2014, adds yet ghanistan spans development as- militarily and culturally over the Eastern European allies; support- ic sphere, the OBOR mainly fo- next eight to ten years. In Chinese ing to merge his iconoclastic self, notwithstanding, the headlines out another wrinkle to this anxiety. sistance, infrastructure support, ing Pakistan against India in South cuses on economic cooperation. the Tea Party persona that brought academia, it’s often said that 2013 of Afghanistan since the end of in- This sobering backdrop partly ex- commercial engagement and train- Asia; confronting communist coun- But frankly, revitalizing the econ- him to Washington and his familial marked the conception of the tries through a series of bilateral omies of all the Silk Road coun- ternational combat operations in plains why President Barack ing programs. Four years ago, In- libertarianism, even as he tries to OBOR idea, while 2014 saw its alliance in East Asia. At present, tries is a task beyond any single draw the establishment and social- December 2014 have mostly been Obama recently announced, in re- dia became the first country to sign operationalization. In 2015, the Washington favors Japan in the state’s capability and responsibil- conservative wings of the party he grim. The Taliban have stepped up sponse to the urgings of Afghani- a bilateral security agreement with main task will be fully implement- East China Sea disputes and other ity. Hence, China should be cau- needs to win a few primaries. It is attacks since the start of 2015, and stan President Ashraf Ghani, that Afghanistan. But, as I note, there ing OBOR. In 2014, preparations claimants in the South China Sea tious about the economic and po- working and it isn’t. He is on the for the OBOR strategy made re- disputes in order to balance out litical risks in implementing its short list of candidates to take se- the self-declared Islamic State has the drawdown of U.S. troops are areas where Indian expertise markable progress. Politically, Chi- China’s rise. In the post-Cold War strategy. Many analysts have ar- riously, but sooner or later he will spread to Afghanistan. During the would be delayed during 2015. could help Afghanistan further, na made use of the Conference on era, the biggest challenge for the gued that the main domestic driv- have to choose who he loves most. March UN Security Council ses- But while slowing the pace of U.S. especially in consolidating democ- Interaction and Confidence-Build- U.S. is a rapidly rising China. Dur- ing force of the OBOR strategy is Is it the libertarians he grew up sion held to renew the mandate of troop withdrawal may limit fur- racy and boosting civilian securi- ing Measures in Asia (CICA) and a ing the Clinton administration, a need to reduce foreign exchange with as the son of the anti-govern- dual-track approach; economically, ment, anti-defence serial presiden- the UN Assistance Mission in Af- ther deterioration of Afghan secu- ty. Of course, Pakistan will almost Washington had a clear hedging reserves and to transfer excess ca- Beijing advanced several economic strategy toward Beijing — that is, pacity. However, the three princi- tial candidate Ron Paul? Or those ghanistan, UN Special Represen- rity this year, it does not address certainly object to additional Indi- corridors and upgraded the China- both engagement and deterrence. ples of foreign exchange reserves on the left and students entranced tative Nicholas Haysom told the the current and future needs for an support to Afghanistan, as Is- ASEAN free zone, as well as the At that time, China lacked the ca- are security, liquidity, and profit- by his unorthodox positions on criminal justice, privacy, drug law Security Council that the Islamic increased support to Afghanistan lamabad has frequently done in the Asia-Pacific free trade zone. All pability to challenge the U.S. Thus, ability, with security as the most these examples hint that China is Washington highlighted engage- important. Considering that the in- liberalisation, small defence and State banner might serve to unite and its security forces as they past. But an enhanced Indian role isolationism? At the same time, undergoing a strategic foreign poli- ment in order to involve China in vestment environment in Silk Road disparate radical groups. he has to woo the base if he is go- work to prevent the destabiliza- in Afghanistan’s stability—espe- cy transformation — that is the the international political and eco- countries is not as developed as Unsurprisingly, Afghanistan’s tion of their country. In a Council cially without “boots on the policy of “keeping a low profile” ing to be a serious contender. His nomic system. After the global fi- the environment in Europe and the rush to pander to parents who neighbors fret about the regional on Foreign Relations Policy Inno- ground”—poses no real threat to is fading, as it cannot fully reflect nancial crisis in 2008, China has U.S., the return on investment is the new government’s diplomatic don’t want the government to force spillover of a destabilized Afghan- vation Memorandum released to- Pakistani interests. Washington increasingly played a significant likely to be low. Some investments them to vaccinate their children ambitions. Being “proactive and role in world politics and econom- may even become bad debts. It’s a istan. New Delhi in particular, day, I argue that Washington needs should make it clear to Islamabad was ugly to the larger electorate enterprising,” in the words of Zhao ics; thus the U.S. started to adjust serious violation of the principles worries about a throwback to the but it helped him win the annual to work more closely with India that Indian support for Afghan sta- Kejin and Yan Xuetong, is Beijing’s its China policy. Since China does of foreign exchange reserves man- presidential straw poll of the Con- 1990s, when regional terrorist net- to stabilize Afghanistan. India, bilization should not be disrupt- new diplomatic approach. Neigh- not accept the idea of a “G2,” the agement to have these funds be- servative Political Action Confer- works used a chaotic, insecure Af- now Afghanistan’s fifth largest bi- ed. This article originally appeared borhood diplomacy has a signifi- Obama administration began to come bad debts. China needs to ence for the third time. Last week cant role in this strategy and will ghanistan as a base to plot attacks lateral donor in terms of pledged on the Council on Foreign Rela- emphasize deterrence. Washington avoid this by all means. As for the showed how tough it is going to be probably become more important launched the “pivot to Asia,” later question of excess capacity, let’s for Paul to be all things to all Re- on India. The announcement of a assistance, has long played an im- tions’ Asia Unbound blog. than the traditional diplomatic pri- rebranded the “rebalance to Asia.” take the steel industry as an exam- publican voters. He was the artful ority of China-U.S. relations. The At the same time, it put forward ple. Even if the demand for steel dodger on two very hot issues. success of this new OBOR strate- the idea of an “Indo-Asia-Pacific” from Silk Road countries equals the While the other candidates were gy depends on three factors. First, to woo South Asian countries demand of China’s domestic rail- attacking President Barack The forgotten war on terror how should China assess the Unit- while balancing China. It is worth way consumption (itself an im- Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran and ed States’ “rebalance to Asia” – is noting that the U.S. has not given pressive figure), China still could siding with Indiana on its religious By Afrasiab Khattak itary courts may just be a matter of avoid the wrath of the state. The it containment or hedging? Second, up on engaging with China. How not solve the problem of excess freedom law, Paul was officially a few days. But that was not the amendments in the Military Act how can China gain recognition and on vacation and unavailable to com- case. More about it later. The major were specifically aimed at terror- to resolve the distrust of neigh- steel. In 2014, steel consumption cooperation from countries along boring countries? Recently, Chi- for domestic railway construction ment. But now, as an official can- The horrific tragedy at the Army change that seemed to have taken ists who take up arms by misus- didate, he can no longer avoid the Public School Peshawar on Decem- place after the Peshawar tragedy in ing the name of religion or sect. It the Belt and Road? Third, how can na has tried to establish all kinds totaled 21 million tons; the vol- China avoid economic and political of international mechanisms with ume of excess steel reached 450 fray. Just look at his travel sched- ber 16 was supposed to have gal- the rhetoric of the previously reluc- was regarded to be a major shift in ule for coming weeks. He will find vanized state and society in Paki- tant government and some major the state policy as a realization risks as much as possible? How to itself in a leadership role. Beijing million tons. That massive discrep- political parties was to own the war that the large private militias of assess the U.S. “rebalance to sympathetic souls in New Hamp- stan to decisively act against ter- has also emphasized great power ancy can’t be solved by transfer- shire, where living free or dying rorism of all brands. “Never forget against terror as “our own war” and extremist religious militants (some Asia”? Washington launched its re- relations and continued to advo- ring materials to other countries. Peshawar” was the battle cry heard that there was to be no distinction of them war hardened) posed the balance strategy because of China’s has a long tradition and anyone can cate a non-aligned policy while tak- In this case, shutting down the fac- vote in the primary. The welcome from all directions. The subsequent made between good and bad Tali- main threat to the state. Some reli- rise. In the same way, Beijing put ing aggressive steps in its maritime tories may be the only solution, ban. Initially after the December 24 gious political parties vehemently will not be as warm in South Caro- All Parties Conferences held on forward the OBOR initiative part- disputes. Thus, the surrounding even if it is painful. Additionally, December 17 and December 24, APC numerous committees were opposed it labeling it as “biased” lina, where the military is next to ly in response to the negative im- countries are concerned that Chi- it is also worth noting the political godliness. To show that he is not 2014, that approved the 20 points formed for the implementation of against religious circles. But in prac- pacts of the U.S. Asia-Pacific re- National Action Plan (NAP) made different points of NAP with great tice this thrust of the military na’s pursuit of its own national in- risks of the OBOR strategy. Many necessarily his dovish father’s son, tall claims in this regard. Actually fanfare and and subsequently there courts is still missing so the reli- balance. As a result, how China as- terests could harm its neighbors. Silk Road countries suffer from Paul has picked the USS York- it was Operation Zarb-e-Azb, that were a few public briefings about gious political parties are not anx- sesses the rebalance will have a large Because of this fear, many coun- political instability, serious corrup- town, a Second World War battle- had commenced in June 2014, so the successes achieved. The names ious anymore. The very brief in- impact on Beijing’s reaction and tries have adopted a dual strategy tion and/or the threat of terrorism. ship in Charleston Harbour, as the far the most serious and large scale of some notorious terrorist net- formation (if it can be called infor- countermeasures. If the strategy of relying on China economically How to find political stable coun- backdrop for a speech on national military operation against terror works previously known as “stra- mation at all) about the decisions was introduced to contain China, and relying on the U.S. for securi- tries with economic potential that security. Not so long ago, Paul outfits in North Waziristan and tegic assets” were also mentioned of the military courts was an ISPR then Beijing has to confront it by ty. A successful implementation of are willing to cooperate with Chi- might have been able to finesse his some other parts of FATA was re- as possible targets of the state ac- Twitter message about upholding establishing and enlarging alliances the OBOR initiative will help to na? This should be a major research defence credentials. He had sym- garded to be the actual beginning tion against terrorism. The Parlia- of the military court convictions as well as exploring quasi-allies and pathisers in a country weary after of an effective fight against terror- mentary Committee that was by COAS. It didn’t give any de- gain real understanding and sup- question for the OBOR strategy. partnerships with friendly coun- port from countries along the Silk We can loosely categorize Silk more than a decade of war. But now ism by a state that had not only formed by the APC held on Decem- tails about the nature of cases, pro- that the Republican Party has re- remained for a long time in denial ber 17 to prepare NAP was declared cess and venue of trials or convicts. tries. In that way, China can ex- Road routes, especially on the se- Road countries into four groups: about the existence of terror sanc- in the 2nd APC as a monitoring com- The process attracted criticism pand its political clout and dilute curity front. This may be the big- small and medium-sized countries; turned to its hawkish roots after tuaries, but had also been known mittee for the implementation of from at least one national newspa- U.S. influence in China’s periph- gest challenge of the entire OBOR countries that have territorial dis- being subjected to the gory provo- for regarding some of the terror- NAP. But all these committees have per for not being transparent ery. But the strategy may not be strategy. To begin, China could putes with China; countries that cations of Daesh (the self-pro- ists networks as “strategic assets”. faded away if actually not dead with- enough to qualify for “the justice targeted at containing China. In- build sub-regional multilateral se- are sub-regional powers; and coun- claimed Islamic State of Iraq and Even then the Pakistani state and out any public explanation. Almost being seen to be done”. The interi- stead, perhaps the rebalance aims the Levant) and the shirtless sa- curity mechanisms in key areas, tries that could potentially act as bre-rattling of Russian President society could not maintain full fo- all the banned outfits that were sup- or ministry that was supposed to to deliver a message: that the U.S. such as establishing a common fish- “pivot states” (meaning they are cus on this campaign as a pro- posed to be disallowed to work un- forward cases to military courts is has the capability to confront Chi- Vladimir Putin of Russia, Paul is longed and intense political agita- der new names are publicly more missing in action. If important ing system in the South China Sea reliable partners for China and playing reverse political Twister. na, but won’t do so except as a last and carrying out joint patrols as reach a certain threshold of national tion and sit in organized by PTI active than before and some of them sources in Islamabad are to be be- resort. Instead, the U.S. hopes that He is trying to get a foot out of all against the government of PML- are taking out regular public pro- lieved the Ministry of Interior is well as bilateral and multilateral power). Countries in this last group camps, with the challenge of dis- N, largely perceived as scripted cessions for putting pressure to de- not the body supervising the war China will pursue its national in- military exercises. Economically, are the key to the OBOR strategy. tancing himself both from Obama’s ones, was a national distraction termine the state’s foreign policy. on terror. The PM office, which is terests in an internationally accept- China has advanced its OBOR Summary This article has raised hated deal with Iran and the belli- from the military operation and the Reforms program in religious semi- already burdened with so many ed way and play a bigger role in strategy through investment and three questions (or risks) facing the cosity of the likes of Senators John miseries of millions of Pashtun naries is history now and they are other things, is also reported to international affairs. In short, such the joint construction of infrastruc- OBOR strategy. However, any McCain and Lindsey Graham, who IDPs. Then came the Peshawar back to business as usual. The only have taken over an anti-terror cam- a rebalance is a hedging strategy that ture, in order to share China’s eco- assessments or adjustments to seem to want to fight all comers. tragedy that was supposed to have regular government announcements paign. But so far there is no public has the dual aims of both engage- nomic growth with Silk Road coun- China’s development strategy All of this shape-shifting threat- fully redirected national focus on that we still hear are ISPR’s press knowledge about it. In all the prov- ment and deterrence. In this case, tries. However, many small and made in response to these ques- ens to turn him into the very thing terrorism. Or so we thought. The releases about Zarb-e-Azb which inces the apex committees are hold- there is considerable overlap be- medium-sized countries are wor- tions should also be considered a he claims to stand against with the only point, out of the 20 points has destroyed important terrorist ing the fort. In the meanwhile Pa- tween U.S. and Chinese strategic NAP that took no time in imple- infrastructure in Tochi Valley of kistan remains obsessed with the ried that economic dependence on necessary part of China’s overall campaign slogan he unveiled Tues- mentation, was the establishment North Waziristan and parts of Khy- situation in Yemen, which has the goals and simultaneous competi- China will lead to a flood of Chi- rise. The OBOR strategy is a blue- day: “Defeat the Washington ma- of military courts for putting on ber Agency. This operation has suc- potential of turning us yet again tion and cooperation will become nese immigrants as well as an in- print for China to become a com- chine. Unleash the American trial persons described on that oc- cessfully removed terrorist sanctu- into a frontline state. If the Arab the new normal. Many people have crease in domestic corruption. It’s prehensive global power. The dream.” Meanwhile, well-funded casion as “Jet Black” terrorists aries from areas inhabited by the Sheikdoms want to surround Iran argued that the U.S. is in fact try- hard to find examples of this hap- OBOR is in competition with the conservative hawks were already Amendments were made quite hur- Dawar tribe in North Waziristan, with the IS and other extremist ing to contain China. The general pening in previous cases of invest- U.S. “rebalance to Asia.” This com- taking up arms against him, airing riedly in the Army Act of 1952 for but it has yet to launch a full-fledged militants to get her bleeding by a argument is that Washington is at- ment from developed countries, petition will test various aspects negative ads (Paul is dangerous) be- expanding its jurisdiction to in- ground operation in Datta Khel and thousand wounds which is the tempting to westernize China ideo- but still Beijing has to make an ef- of China and the United States’ fore he could finish his announce- Shawal inhabited by Utmanzai most attractive option? There are clude civilian terrorists The Con- logically and politically; strength- fort to address these concerns. national capabilities. If China can ment: “I am running for president stitution of the country was also Wazirs. no prizes for guessing. en alliances and support China’s to return our country to the prin- This area is yet to be cleansed of The recent murder of eight Iranian There are other challenges as well. properly implement the OBOR amended to provide legal protec- rivals; prevent the sale of advanced ciples of liberty and limited gov- tion to the military courts. Some local and foreign terrorists still hid- border guards at the hands of Some Silk Road countries are con- strategy, it is possible for Beijing ernment.” Paul has had a check- major political parties had serious ing there although there have been Jaish-ul-adl (who also claimed re- technology and arms to China; push cerned about the negative effects to change “America’s” Asia-Pacif- China to adopt a market economy; ered record since coming to Wash- reservations about amending the regular aerial bombardments by the sponsibility for the crime aimed at large construction projects will ic into “China’s neighborhood.” ington. If his 12-hour, 52-minute Constitution for military courts Air Force and drone attacks by US journalists in Dalbandin, and promote cultural infiltration have on the environment, while Conversely, if the OBOR fails, it through exchanges and training. filibuster to force the administra- and they had to go with it with a drones. Also, the Afghan Taliban Balochistan), just one day before some small countries worry that will mean opportunities for the tion to clarify when it would use very heavy heart for it was dubbed who shifted to other areas, are still the visit of the Iranian Foreign However, of all the above points, large-scale investment will alter U.S. and trouble for China. The as the “national consensus against able to use pockets in FATA for their Minister to Pakistan should re- drones was a high point of his ear- only “westernizing China ideolog- their traditional culture and way OBOR is China’s attempt to ly days, there were several low terrorism “. Looking at the unholy activities across the border and a move any doubt about the nature ically and politically” fits the mold of life. The Chinese government is evolve from a regional power with haste of the government to pass summer offensive by them across of the forthcoming threat.—(The ones before and after, including of containment. The other factors currently searching for solutions global influence to a comprehen- questioning the wisdom of the Civ- the Constitutional amendment the the Durand Line seems imminent. Nation) Afrasiab Khattak is a re- are better explained as a hedging public impression at that time was Major extremist militant outfits in tired Senator and an analyst of re- to these problems domestically, sive global power. The strategy has il Rights act, authoring a bill to le- that trials against terrorists in mil- the Punjab still seem to be able to gional affairs. strategy. And the U.S. is pragmatic but the current situation requires been decided, but the details could galise interstate traffic in unpas- enough to realize that, having had China to also solve these problems determine success or failure. Chi- teurised milk, putting forward a so much trouble dealing with Iraq as they apply to foreign invest- na is already relatively strong, but doomsday budget and showing a and Afghanistan, it’s not capable ments. Although it will be very it must cautiously consider points thin skin after being exposed for LETTER TO THE EDITOR of “westernizing China.” Indeed, difficult to solve these problems, of emphasis and its own capabili- lifting the work of others in a the U.S. isn’t seeking to western- China has no choice. How to avoid ties in implementing this strategy. quickie book. He is supposed to ize China; instead Obama’s rebal- political and economic risks? A China does not want to become be the gentler, kinder Ted Cruz, ance to Asia fits with the tradition- rising country inevitably needs to the finance ministry for Silk Road the one you would want to do Textile industry al Anglo-Saxon strategy for foreign establish its own political, securi- countries. (Courtesy: shots of Kentucky bourbon with, policy. The main driving force of ty, economic, and cultural space. The Diplomat) Dr. Xue Li is Di- yet he petulantly challenged his Several industrial parks and factories were damaged and almost vanished and destroyed in past decades of the British Empire’s global expan- Historically, that space has been rector of Department of Interna- accusers to a duel, blamed staff and sion was the pursuit of commercial exclusive. Even today, the U.S. re- tional Strategy at the Institute of then like a child threatening to take war in Afghanistan. Since the fall of the Taliban in 2001, Afghans found new opportunity to rehabilitate his ball and go home, said he would interests. Creating a balance of balance to Asia seeks to build ex- World Economics and Politics, and revive damaged and destroyed factories and lead the country towards self-reliance. In an attempt to be perfectly happy returning to his power and fostering regional sta- clusive security and economic Chinese Academy of Social Scienc- revive textile industry, the Commerce and Industries Ministry recently signed an agreement with Textiles bility could help to realize commer- opthalmology practice in Bowling mechanisms — strengthening bi- es. Xu Yanzhou received her doc- Green if people did not stop pick- Ministry of India. The pact will allow India to offer technical assistance, capacity building programs to cial goals; hence these became the lateral alliances and quasi-allianc- torate from Durham University core of the British Empire’s strate- ing on him. Paul has been doing Afghans and would share Indians’ experience with Afghans. Afghanistan as the heart of Asia can play a es and launching the exclusive (UK) in December 2014 and stud- better on the optics. In an unpleas- gy. That entailed helping the weak- vital role in serving as corridor among Asian countries. This country needs strengthened trade and econom- Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). ies international responsibility, ant, partisan Senate, he has built er side in order to promote a re- China has acted differently. China South China Sea disputes, and ic ties with neighboring countries, particularly including India, China, Iran and Pakistan. The national legislative alliances with Demo- gional balance of power and pre- welcomes U.S. engagement in re- Chinese foreign policy. crats. unity government should boost up its economic and trade relations with world countries—in particular Afghanistan’s neighbors. Strengthened economy is the key to lead the country towards self-sufficiency. It is the dream of every Afghan and also it is a challenge for the new government to prove its ability in changing this dream into reality. Disclaimer: Samir Amiri, Dar-ul-Aman, Kabul The views and opinions expressed in the articles are those of the author(s) Letter to editor will be edited for policy, content and clarity. All letters must have the writer’s name and address. You may send your letters to: and do not reflect the views or opinions of the Afghanistan Times. [email protected] 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. SATURDAY . APRIL 11, 2015 AFGHANISTANTIMES UK elections and the shift from ‘tribal’ politics UK: Some seven million viewers across Britain tuned into the first, and only, televised multi-party debate ahead of May's general elec- HAVANA: Yoandy Perez Delga- tion. What they saw on April 2 do dreams of a better life - one in was a stark illustration of how which he can someday support a much UK politics has changed in family in his Caribbean homeland. recent years. Conservative Prime But for the 24-year-old student, Minister David Cameron fielded that cherished future seems an im- questions from the live studio au- possibility at the moment. "I love dience, and parried blows from my country, it has everything: opposition Labour leader Ed Mili- beautiful weather, fine cigars, good band. But the real winners were rum. But at this point, I hope I the five smaller parties also on the will meet a foreign woman and we stage. Polls declared Scottish Na- get married, and I will go to live in tional Party (SNP) leader Nicola her country instead of here." So Sturgeon the victor of the night, when US President Barack Obama followed by the eurosceptic Unit- and Cuban President Raúl Castro ed Kingdom Independence Party's meet this week at the Summit of (UKIP) Nigel Farage. British pol- the Americas in Panama - the first itics has long been a two-horse time a Cuban leader has appeared race. But the field for May's gen- at the gathering in its 21-year his- eral election is increasingly open, tory - Delgado said he hopes the potentially spelling a permanent five-decade-old trade embargo that end to centuries of single-party has strangled his country's econo- majority rule at Westminster. In my will soon be a thing of the past. 1951, 97 percent of the UK elec- That way, he said, he'll be able to torate voted Labour or Conserva- find a decent paying job so he can tive. At the last general election, in remain in Cuba - "the greatest na- 2010, that figure was just two in tion in the world", as he put it. three, leading to a historic coali- "It's a historic week and it's great tion between the Tories and the for my country," Delgado, who is Liberal Democrats. This time studying English and Cuban his- around, the prospects of one par- tory at the University of Havana, ty winning overall control look said of Castro and Obama coming even slimmer. We have about a together. Yoandy Perez Delgado, quarter of the electorate saying 24, is cautiously optimistic full they are going to vote for someone detente with the US will materia- other than Conservative, Labour lise [Robert Kennedy/Al Jazeera] or Lib Dem. That is just off the "I only hope this [rapprochement] end of the historical pattern. John gets done soon. It's been 55 years, Curtice, Strathclyde University we've suffered long enough. Not a professor Labour and Conserva- deal in one year or two years, we tives are tied at 34 percent each, want our economic freedom now," according to a BBC poll of polls. said Delgado, his eyes bulging with emotion. Building embassies For The Labour party would need a many Cubans here, the euphoria The Castro brothers have never before been invited to attend the Summit of the Americas [AP] lead of around five points to win a of the December 17 announcement majority, said John Curtice, pro- that Havana and Washington were lum to dozens of American fugi- watching. "Maybe they'll have a ci- worlds divided Despite optimism Panama will be important as a granddaughters. It was the second fessor of politics at Strathclyde working on normalising relations tives. Opening the official mis- gar together," Camilo Condis, a 29- over positive steps towards peace symbol of a new era and help time she had been rejected, and she University. Due to the vagaries of has disappeared after months sions could be close, however, one year-old restaurant manager in Ha- and prosperity with the US, many Obama build confidence with oth- doesn't plan to apply again. If re- Britain's first-past-the-post sys- without any apparent progress. representative of the Cuban gov- vana, told Al Jazeera with a smile. Cubans here remain wary of a per- er Latin American partners. But the lations are normalised between tem, the Tories, who draw most of The ultimate goal in negotiations ernment told Al Jazeera. "The em- "What we really need here is a strong ceived slow pace in negotiations. Venezuela crisis threatens the Cuba and the US, perhaps she will their support in the richer south, for Havana is the lifting of the de- bassies are one issue that's defi- economy, so hopefully the presi- For President Castro, the situation smooth outcome, and the civil so- get to see her family again, she said. would require a seven-point mar- cades-old economic embargo im- nitely going to happen," he said, dents' meeting is a sign that we're remains a juggling act, said Profes- ciety issue is also key to a posi- "I pray to god that will happen," gin of victory to emerge with the posed during Cold War tensions requesting anonymity because of moving in that direction." In terms sor Ted Henken of Baruch College tive, fruitful outcome as opposed said the woman, who asked not to 326 seats needed to command a that has devastated the country - the sensitivity of ongoing talks. of détente, the Cuban government is in New York and co-author of En- to one filled with acrimony," Hen- be identified by name. A man in majority in the House of Com- costing an estimated $1 trillion . "Maybe it will happen a few days viewing the process in two stages, trepreneurial Cuba: The Changing ken said. Visa woes Cubans line his late 20s wearing a white golf mons. The reality, said Curtice, is As a first step in détente, it was after the Summit of the Americas, said the Cuba representative, with Policy Landscape . "One of the big- up outside the US interests sec- shirt with red trim was there to there is unlikely to be a clear win- hoped the establishment of embas- perhaps by the end of April." Grip embassies the first priority before gest challenges for Raul going for- tion in Havana [Robert Kennedy/ pick up his US visa, but was still ner on May 7. "We have never seen sies in both countries would have and grin Raul Castro has urged going forward. "Once the embassy ward is to manage the rising hopes Al Jazeera] Without an official US waiting outside after four hours. an election like this." "We have taken place ahead of the Summit Obama to use executive powers to issue is resolved, then we can move and expectations of the Cuban peo- embassy in place, life for Cubans After travelling seven hours from about a quarter of the electorate of the Americas, but that has failed ease the decades-long embargo [Re- on to the normalisation of relations ple," Henken said in an email. "If wishing to see relatives in the US Camaguey province, he said he saying they are going to vote for to come to fruition. Obstacles to uters] Friday's Obama-Castro - and all the issues that come with they rise faster than he can keep up, remains a challenge. On a hot sun- was uncertain a new US embassy someone other than Conservative, an embassy deal are Cuba's inabil- face-to-face has been described as that," he told Al Jazeera. Roberta he's going to be under pressure to ny day last week, dozens of Cu- in Havana would make things any Labour or Lib Dem. That is just ity to carry out normal banking in the first working meeting involv- Jacobson, US assistant secretary of do more faster, especially if he ap- bans waited outside the US inter- faster. "Whatever they do, the off the end of the historical pat- the United States because of the ing the two countries since 1959. state for Western Hemisphere Af- pears to be the one dragging his feet ests section office, which deals number of people applying will tern. You can go all the way back economic sanctions , and Havana's Launched in 1992, no Cuban lead- fairs, said without elaborating last or scuttling the momentum of talks." with visa issues but isn't an offi- still be the same and even more to 1832 and you won't beat it," continued inclusion on the US gov- er has ever attended the Summit of week that " there will be an interac- The US-Cuba rapprochement could cial mission. Some had been there people will come for visas if rela- Curtice said. Horse-trading and ernment's list of "state sponsors the Americas. Obama and Castro tion " between Castro and Obama in also be overshadowed at the sum- for hours waiting for their number tions improve," he said, also re- deal-brokering A hung parliament of terrorism". Cuba has been on engaged in a historic handshake in Panama City. "It's useful, obvious- mit by the recent flare up in ten- to be called. A visibly upset wom- questing anonymity. With all eyes would necessitate something on the list since 1982 for allegedly December 2013 in South Africa at ly, to be able to have that contact sions between Havana's staunch ally an in her 50s with dyed red hair on the historic Summit of the which British politics has tradi- supporting the Basque armed the funeral of Nelson Mandela. and move things along so that we Venezuela and the US. Cuban dissi- and rimless glasses came out shak- Americas this week, it is the peo- tionally not been strong: horse- group ETA and FARC rebels in This time observers are wonder- can get things done and open em- dent groups have also been invited ing her head, telling waiting rela- ple of Cuba who are undoubtedly trading and deal-brokering. The co- Colombia. Havana has also been ing what the two leaders will do bassies and move ahead with this to Panama for a parallel civil soci- tives she failed to obtain a US visa watching the closest. alition government has long been accused of granting political asy- before the cameras with the world relationship," said Jacobson. Two ety conference. "The face-to-face in to visit her US-based daughters and (AL JAZEERA) the norm on the continent, but in the UK it is still a relative novelty. A predicted collapse in the Liberal Democrat vote - and the Fixed Saudi businessman Term Parliaments Act introduced in 2011 to make dissolving West- minster almost impossible - could starts campaign to make the business of forming a new government even more tricky. This all means that the party that emerges in the strongest position help female may have to reach an arrangement - either a formal coalition or a looser deal - with one or more of the UK's convicts marry insurgent parties. The most likely A wealthy Saudi businessman has a new life after their release from kingmaker is the SNP, which is initiated a campaign aimed at en- prison. Al-Maawi said he had campaigning on an anti-austerity couraging men to marry ex-convicts helped two convicts inside prison message. Despite defeat in last especially women who have re- get married so they can live togeth- September's independence referen- pented and regretted the crimes that er legally. The man and woman dum, the nationalists have seen resulted in their incarceration. Fahd were jailed because they were liv- their support surge. Membership Saad Al-Johani is married to three ing together without a marriage has quadrupled to more than women and has children from all of contract. Omar Zuhair Hafiz, su- 100,000. Polls suggest that the them but he wants to marry for a pervisor of the National Society SNP may win dozens of seats from fourth time. “My fourth wife will for Human Rights (NSHR) in Labour, making it far more diffi- be a convict,” he declared. He said Makkah region, welcomed Al-Jo- cult for Miliband to secure a ma- female ex-convicts have to be en- hani’s proposal and said Saudi so- jority. Last year's independence couraged to marry so they can lead ciety should not judge ex-convicts referendum fundamentally changed a normal life when they are released after they complete their jail terms Scottish politics, said political from jail. “Why do we always for- and are released. “We should not commentator Gerry Hassan. give men’s sins and crimes but are always look at female convicts as "Something has profoundly not ready to do this with women?” criminals. We should help them changed about how the Scottish he questioned. Al-Johani said he has enjoy their God-given rights en- public see and do politics and their always wondered where ex-con- sured by Islam,” he said. Hafiz said role in the union. Passivity, accep- victs go if their families refuse to once a female convict has complet- tance and belief in traditional elites accept them upon their release. He ed her jail term, she is a free per- - Labour included - now seem a was surprised to learn that many son who should only be judged by thing of the past." UK parties have ex-cons return to a life of crime be- her manners and ethical behavior. struggled to understand the SNP cause they are rejected by their fam- “We should look at female ex-con- surge. Last weekend a leaked memo ilies and society. “Allah accepts victs who are released after serv- purportedly revealing that nation- repentance and forgives sinners. ing their sentences as normal hu- alist leader Sturgeon had told a Why do we, as human beings, close man beings with rights and duties French diplomat that she would the doors in the faces of female ex- toward their families and society,” prefer another Tory administra- cons? Why do not we give them he said. Faisal Awad, an Islamic tion, appeared in the right-wing hope for a new life? Why do we researcher, said once a convict is Daily Telegraph. But the smear prevent them from settling down released, this means that she has appears to have backfired, with and enjoying a happy married life?” paid the price of her crimes or mis- both sides flatly denying the claims. he asked. Al-Johani said he spoke takes. “Every one of us is liable to Questions have been raised about to a number of scholars and preach- make mistakes. When a male or a how the civil service document was ers who liked his idea and encour- female prisoner is released, we released. An inquiry will now be aged him to establish a charitable should rehabilitate him/her and held. RELATED: Could the Mus- society to look after the affairs of enable them to become a useful lim vote sway the UK's general ex-con women. “I have asked offi- member of society,” he said. Awad election? While the SNP will take cials at the Ministry of Social Af- warned against looking at released votes from Labour in Scotland, the fairs to recommend a female con- prisoners as criminals and asked Conservatives in particular face a vict who is about to be released from the families of ex-con women to threat from the UKIP. The party, jail so I can marry her,” he said while take them back in their homes and which campaigns on a hard-right adding he will soon launch his soci- allow them to lead a normal life. platform based on clamping down Brennan said it took President Rowhani two years to persuade Iran's supreme leader to allow the ety to look after the affairs of wom- Maj. Gen. Ali Hussain Al-Harithy, on immigration and leaving the en convicts and help them find suit- former director general of prisons, European Union, is particularly Islamic Republic to join the nuclear talks (File photo: AP) able men to get married to. Ziyad said the chances of ex-con women popular with socially conserva- Saad Al-Maawi, a Mazoun (mar- getting married are very slim be- tive, white working class voters. Iran’s President persuaded the supreme leader Ayatolah Ali Khamenei to allow the country enter the nuclear talks, or see its economy “destined to riage official) said marrying an ex- cause they require the approval of Cameron has promised a referen- go down”, the New York Times reported, citing the director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) John Brennan. Speaking at the Kennedy convict will confirm her repentance their male guardians and the pres- dum on EU membership in a bid School of Government at Havard,, he said that President Hassan Rowhani’s election was imperative, but he added that it then took a further two from the mistake that landed her in ence of witnesses. He said when a to stem the UKIP tide. UKIP's years for the Iranian president to persuade the Ayatolah that “six years of sacntions had really hit”. He said that while the supreme leader had not prison in the first place. “Marry- male guardian refuses to marry a best chances of success rest with spoken publically about the nuclear talks - which reached an initial agreement at the end of last month – he had also not permitted hardliners to speak ing an ex-con should not be a cause woman under his guardianship, the its colourful leader Farage in South out against it. But he suggested that key members of the Rowhani government, including the main negotiator, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad of worry that she may return to a prison administration will exert all Thanet. On the opposite end of Zarif, would be blamed if the talks stalled. “I think Khamenei was in the position of being able to say to Rowhani and Zarif, ‘Okay see if you can life of crime and repeat past mis- efforts to convince him to change the political spectrum, the Greens get a deal’,” Brennan said. “Because if you do, Khamenei is going to be able to derive the benefits from it, and if you don’t get one Rowhani has Zarif takes,” he said while urging eligible his mind before finally going to believe this could be their break- to blame,” he added, without explaining how the CIA came to gain such information. men to help women prisoners start court to complete the marriage. through year. (AL JAZEERA) 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. SATURDAY . APRIL 11 , 2015 AFGHANISTANTIMES Bank of Japan’s Nakaso warns market against ISLAMABAD: The Economic betting on Coordi•nation Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet decided to impose more easing 17 per cent general sales tax on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and TOKYO: Bank of Japan Deputy other imported gas and exempted Governor Hiroshi Nakaso has the LNG terminal operator from tempered market expectations that income tax for five years. The meet- the bank will expand its stimulus ing, presided over by Finance Min- program later this month, saying a ister Ishaq Dar, also decided to tax cut in its inflation forecast would floating storage and regasification not be enough to justify more unit (FSRU) to a five per cent im- monetary easing. Nakaso, one of port duty, allocated 325mmcfd Governor Haruhiko Kuroda's two LNG to independent power plants deputies, said that while slumping and allowed extension in deadline oil costs have pushed inflation for export of 650,000 tonnes of back to zero, rising wages and a sugar to July 15. It also extended steady economic recovery will 20-year tax holiday to Gwadar underpin a long-term rise in pric- Port for three more years to 23 es. "What's important is the un- years. The ECC allocates derlying trend of inflation dynam- 325mmcfd of LNG to IPPs which ics, which are steadily improving," will be enhanced to 400mmcfd by Nakaso told Reuters in an inter- the end of the year On a proposal view on Thursday, his first with of the petroleum ministry regard- non-Japanese media in nearly a ing exemption of taxes and duties year. "As long as there's no change on gas import pipeline and LNG, to the underlying trend of infla- the Federal Board of Revenue ex- tion, additional monetary easing is plained that all imported fuels unnecessary." Expectations that were paying requisite taxes while the BOJ might add to its stimulus locally produced natural gas was program at a rate meeting on April also subject to 17pc GST. It was, 30 have helped send Japanese therefore, decided that LNG and shares to a 15-year-high. But Na- imported gas shall be treated like kaso's remarks are the strongest any other imported fuel and taxes denial to date by a senior BOJ of- as applicable shall be paid. An of- ficial about the need for immediate ficial said the taxation policy was policy action. They also show that quite clear regarding taxation but Nakaso, who rarely speaks in pub- since the LNG was a new com- lic, shares Kuroda's conviction that modity entering the country, it was Japan is on track to hit the bank's required to be explicitly declared 2 percent inflation target in about to be liable to 17pc GST. It was a year from now. The BOJ is un- also proposed that the government, der pressure to cut its forecast that vide its LNG policy, had given a inflation will hit 2 percent within five-year tax holiday to LNG ter- the current fiscal year at a twice- minal operators and owners under for onward supply and as such it located 325mmcfd of LNG to IPPs with other issues concerning treat- May 15. The ministry of com- bond for $300 million. On a pro- yearly review of its projections on Section-113 and Section 113-C of should be considered as plant and which will be enhanced to ment of transportation charges as merce, however, reported that due posal from the Ministry of Water April 30, due to the impact of fall- the Income Tax Ordinance 2001. machinery of a floating LNG ter- 400mmcfd by the end of the year. non-operating income for both the to lengthy procedural requirement and Power, the ECC allowed ing oil prices. But while acknowl- However, the FBR was of the minal. The committee agreed with The enhanced volumes would be gas companies, to a committee, for export, contracts for 323,466 NTDC to carry out tariff adjust- edging that inflation was moving view that tax holiday did not in- this point of view and advised the allocated to Rousch Power after comprising secretaries of finance, only tonnes could be registered till ment for 10.5MW Davis Energen away from the BOJ's target, Na- clude Article 113 of the Income Tax FBR to consider it as plant and its ratification by the Cabinet petroleum and water and power, March 27. The ministry further Ltd as admissible under Power kaso said there were clear improve- Ordinance. After detailed debate, machinery in the existing SRO, committee on energy, led by the member gas of Ogra. The commit- pleaded that apparently it would Purchase Agreement. On a propos- ments in inflation expectations the ECC decided that a tax holiday which meant FSRU to be subject- prime minister. The IPPs, to be tee would also suggest mechanism not be possible to export the re- al from the Ministry of Ports and such as the rising number of firms should be treated for terminal op- ed to 5pc customs duty. On an- provided LNG in the first phase, and required amendments and in maining quantity by May 15. Ac- Shipping, tax holiday period for promising wage hikes, including erators and owners and no tax other summary on allocation, pric- include Saif, Sapphire, Orient and case of disagreement, revert back cordingly, the ECC allowed exten- Gwadar Port and the Gwadar Port should be levied. Under another for temporary workers. "We're ing of LNG and associated mat- Halmore, Kot Addu. The ECC re- to the ECC for adjudication. The sion in the export period. The ECC free zone was extended from 20 to seeing some positive changes in proposal regarding exemption of ters, the ECC decided that Ogra ferred the matter regarding re-allo- meeting also allowed extension in also allowed Fatima Fertiliser Com- 23 years as requested by China customs duty and sales tax on corporate and household behavior would determine the price of LNG cation of RLNG to Fauji Kabir- deadline for export of sugar (up to pany, Pakistan to undertake equi- Overseas Port Compnay Ltd that rarely happened when Japan lease of FSRU, the petroleum min- on a monthly basis on the pattern wala Power Plant by equivalent 650,000 MT) till July 15. The ty investment in fertiliser manu- (COPC) to attract national and istry contended that FSRU was a was mired in deflation," Nakaso of other petroleum products with- reduction from Kapco, allocation meeting was informed that the facturing plant in US, namely foreign investors and to enhance said. "That's evidence that Japan new concept in Pakistan. It re- out going through the process of to Rousch Power by allocation ECC had earlier approved for ex- Midwest Fertiliser Corporation, the overall FDI through Gwadar ceived, stored and regasified LNG public hearing. The ECC also al- from Nandipur power plant, along port of this quantity of sugar by through floating an international Port Authority. is shaking off its deflationary mind- set." The BOJ now expects core consumer inflation to hit 1.0 per- cent in the year to March 2016, Gulf mostly up roughly triple the pace estimated by private analysts. Nakaso be- came deputy governor when Kuro- despite oil, Egypt da took the helm in 2013 and de- ployed his "quantitative and qual- itative easing" (QQE) program - a radical monetary experiment aimed continues recovery at getting inflation to 2 percent in Most major Gulf stock markets Banque Saudi Fransi gained 2.0 When it comes to stocks, America roughly two years. Nakaso said he rose as positive corporate news percent after it posted a 22.7 per- is the big loser this year. The S&P saw no need to alter the BOJ's and earnings outweighed a pull- cent rise in first-quarter net profit 500 (INDEX: .SPX) is up just 1.6 pledge to hit 2 percent inflation back of oil prices, while Egypt to 1.05 billion riyals ($279.9 mil- percent through Thursday's close, "at the earliest possible time with continued its bounce from three- lion), beating analysts' average fore- making it the worst among major a time horizon of about two years" month lows. Brent crude plunged cast of 867.6 million riyals. Mean- market indices for 2015. In Asia, as having that target will help in 6 percent on Wednesday because while Qatar National Bank, the larg- India's BSE Sensex is up 5 per- its efforts to stimulate the econo- of a shock jump in U.S. crude in- est lender in the Gulf Arab region, cent, Japan's Nikkei (CBOE: my. "We have no intention of ventories and news of record Sau- reported a 10.1 percent increase in .NKXQ) is up 14 percent, and changing this commitment," he di output. It rebounded about 3 first-quarter net profit to 2.7 bil- Hong Kong's Hang Seng (Hong said. The BOJ argues the two-year percent to $57.20 a barrel in Asia lion riyals ($741.7 million); ana- Kong Stock Exchange: .HSI) is also time frame is not a rigid deadline on Thursday. But Saudi Arabia's lysts polled by Reuters had on up 14 percent. In Europe, the UK's but a broader commitment with stock market rose across the board average forecast 2.63 billion riy- FTSE 100 (FTSE International: room for maneuver. Nakaso, an ex- with the main index up 1.1 per- als. QNB also reported an 8.9 per- .FTSE) is up 6 percent, France's pert on market operations, said he cent. Even petrochemicals, very cent increase in its lending. CAC 40 (Euronext Paris: .FCHI) was mindful of the need to ensure sensitive to oil prices, posted This, combined with the Saudi is up 22 percent, Germany's DAX the BOJ's massive purchases do gains; Saudi Basic Industries Corp Fransi announcement, partially (XETRA: .GDAXI) is up 24 per- not dry up liquidity in the bond (SABIC) climbed 0.8 percent. One eased concern that growth in the cent, and Russia's RTS (Exchange: market. But there is so far no sign factor buoying sentiment may be Gulf's banking sector is slowing .SPRTSTR) is up 27 percent. In of severe market distortions or ex- the anticipated release of the Cap- because of regulatory initiatives fact, the only European indices cessive risk-taking spurred by ital Market Authority's final rules and delays in some public projects, that are underperforming the US QQE, he said, brushing aside con- for opening the market to direct and could slow further if low oil can be found in Romania, Croatia, cerns held by some board mem- foreign investment. prices start to tighten banking sys- and Greece. Some American inves- bers that the cost of the stimulus The rules are expected to be pub- tem liquidity. tors say that foreign stocks are still was outweighing the benefits. "I lished by the end of April and the QNB's shares rose 0.8 percent, a bargain, compared to domestic don't think we'll face a situation market to be opened by the end of pulling up the Qatari stock index, equities. "I would definitely say where our purchases will be inter- Ramadan in mid-July, a senior Sau- which gained 0.3 percent. United investors should take some mon- rupted," he said, suggesting that di banker told Reuters last week. Arab Emirates stock markets fell ey off of the U.S. large caps and the BOJ still had room to top up National Shipping Company of in early trade but closed well off maybe allocate some more into in- bond purchases if it were to ex- Saudi Arabia (Bahri) soared 9.8 their lows because of Saudi Ara- ternational sectors, particularly pand QQE again. The BOJ now percent to 45.50 riyals, its highest bia's strength. Europe and Japan," said Erin holds nearly a quarter of Japan's level since September 2006, after Dubai's index ended 0.2 percent Gibbs, equity chief investment government bond market as it buys it more than doubled first-quarter lower as some of the low-priced officer with S&P Capital IQ. "Yes, respectively, over the next year. At the same time, earnings multiples abroad are lower than in the US, so up almost all the bonds sold by net profit. shares which led the market up our economy is definitely stron- investors are getting a better deal. "I still see further appreciation going into the next year because of this the government each month, rais- The company also said it had earlier in the week lost steam. ger, but when you look at corpo- significant growth, because they're coming off of easy [comparisons] and lows," Gibbs said. Due to the low ing concerns it was crowding out agreed a 10-year deal with South Dubai Investments, which had rate earnings growth, you really see growth prospects and high valuations for large-cap stocks, Gibbs advises that investors diversify at the very private investors. Its aggressive Korea's S-Oil Corp to ship crude soared 23 percent in the previous a huge divergence." Gibbs notes least. "If investors are really just focusing on the S&P 500, think about spreading that out, allocating into purchases also mean its balance oil from the third quarter of this two weeks ahead of Wednesday's that S&P 500 earnings are expect- international as well as down on in the market cap chain," she said, referring to small- and medium-cap sheet is now equal to the size of year; it expects to book revenues annual meeting which approved a ed to be flat, which analysts thinks equities Taking a technical tact, Rich Ross of Evercore ISI says that "There's plenty of upside around the Australia's economy, making an of at least 250 million riyals ($67 higher cash dividend and a bonus earnings in Europe and Japan will world, [and] perhaps a little less so in the U.S." But looking at the S&P 500 chart, Ross calls for a trade up exit from QQE increasingly chal- million) annually from the deal. share issue, fell 0.4 percent. rise by 12 percent and 15 percent, to 2,200 by the summer, which would represent a 5 percent rally from current levels. lenging. Oil edges up towards $57, heads for weekly gain as Iran supports

LONDON: Oil edged higher to- ment, while the U.S. maintains that wards $57 a barrel on Friday, head- sanctions would be lifted gradual- ing for a weekly gain, supported ly. The price of Brent has halved by an easing of concerns that the from $115 hit last June, a drop that interim accord over Iran's nuclear deepened after OPEC in Novem- work will lead to a rapid rise in ber decided not to cut output, Iranian oil supplies. Evidence this choosing to defend market share week of ample global supplies, in- instead. Top exporter Saudi Ara- cluding the biggest jump in U.S. bia was the driving force behind inventories since 2001, a glut of the policy shift. "Most of the fun- unsold Nigerian crude and Saudi damental factors are still pointing Arabian output reaching a record to lower prices," said Eugen Wein- high, limited the rally. Brent crude berg, analyst at Commerzbank. was up 23 cents at $56.80 a barrel "At the moment, we have an over- by 0725 ET, remaining on track supply of more than 1 million bar- for its third weekly gain in four rels per day." While some OPEC weeks. U.S. crude was down 15 members are urging output cuts to cents at $50.64 a barrel. "The lat- boost prices, Saudi Arabia has est agreement with Iran does not shown no sign of a rethink. Oil open the floodgates for a signifi- Minister Ali al-Naimi told report- cant return of Iranian oil on the ers on Tuesday that Riyadh had market as many had feared," said boosted its crude production to Harry Tchilinguirian, head of com- 10.3 million bpd, the highest rate modity markets strategy and oil on record. Further pressuring pric- strategy at BNP Paribas. World es, a U.S. government report on powers and Iran announced the Wednesday said domestic crude interim accord last week. But on stocks surged by nearly 11 million Thursday, Iranian supreme leader barrels last week, the biggest gain Ayatollah Ali Khamenei demand- in 14 years. A glut of unsold Nige- ed all sanctions on Iran be lifted on rian crude is building up too, trad- the same day as any final agree- ers say. 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. SATURDAY . APRIL 11 , 2015 AFGHANISTANTIMES Run All Night: Back to the basics Even though Deepika Padukone's seven different looks in Shoojit Sircar's upcoming family comedy drama, Piku have been loved by her fans and the audiences, what many people don't know that the stunning superstar not just worked on her looks but also became a stu- dent to prepare for her role, quite literally! Even though she plays an architect in the film, sources tell us that Deepika ended up reading a lot of material on medical ailments and medicines as several scenes required her to tend to Walking into Run All Night is like Mr.Bachchan, who plays her fa- being served with the cold main ther, in the film. Confirming the course you’ve had plenty of times news, Deepika says that she, before; the familiar ingredients reg- "...spent hours going through in- ister on your palate before you’ve formation about various medical have a chance to taste the meal. issues, and their symptoms, solu- This is after all not just any other tions, etc. I now know the basic Liam Neeson film from the cele- details about blood pressure, con- brated actor’s wide range of work, stipation, etc." 'Piku' is a roller but an action film; an action film coaster ride of a crazy father- where Neeson is fighting for the daughter relationship essayed by survival of his kin against mem- Amitabh Bachchan and Deepika bers of organised crime one bullet, Padukone with Irrfan Khan top one stranglehold, one car crash, and lining the cast, in a pivotal author one one-liner at a time. Somewhere backed role. 'Piku' also marks com- in this review is an opportunity ing together of Shoojit Sircar, Ron- for an overused joke about bad nie Lahiri and Juhi Chaturvedi, the guys making the fatal mistake of team behind Vicky Donor. Pro- going after Liam Neeson’s family, duced by MSM Motion Pictures but I won’t bother. After all, not (a division of Sony Entertainment everyone has the skill to milk an Network), Saraswati Entertain- old cow long after she should have ment and Rising Sun Films, dis- been sent to the great barnyard in tributed worldwide by YRF, 'Piku' the sky. Run All Night may be a will release worldwide on May 8, very recognisable ride, but it is a 2015. fairly thrilling one. This is mostly due to performances in the film from its three lead actors who com- Kristen Stewart mand screen presence by simply Taylor Swift, Lorde shoot Amyra Dastur was apprehensive walking into a scene. As a former ‘doesn’t care’ Irish mob hitman nicknamed The DOWN FIGHT RUMOURS Gravedigger, Liam Neeson (Jimmy about Robert about working with Emraan? Conlon) fits into his role of an ag- ing assassin as neatly as an old glove. This is Neeson at his best; Pattinson’s an endearing character for audienc- es in spite of his questionable life engagement choices. Playing Neeson’s old friend and ex-boss is Ed Harris Actress Kristen Stewart moved (Shawn Maguire), who is now out on from her failed romance with to kill the Conlon family after a co-star Robert Pattinson and series of events lead to the execu- doesn't even care about his en- tion of his son at the hands of The gagement to singer FKA Twigs. Gravedigger. The chemistry be- A source close to the actress told tween the two veterans is palpa- eonline.com that "she doesn't ble and often ignites the film. This care about the engagement, there is Neeson at his best; an endearing isn't hostility but she has moved character for audiences in spite of on and is in a really great place his questionable life choices. Play- right now," reports ing Neeson’s old friend and ex- aceshowbiz.com. "This has boss is Ed Harris (Shawn Magu- been one of the better times for ire). The chemistry between the her personally, she is just doing two veterans is palpable and often her own thing," said another ignites the film. Another actor in source. The "Twilight" actress Run All Night familiar with crime herself never personally com- films is Joel Kinnaman (Easy mented on Pattinson and twigs' Money). recent engagement. In a recent interview with Singer Taylor Swift has set the hollywoodreporter.com, the 24- record straight about rumours that year-old actress opened up she's fighting with pop star Lorde. about how hard it was for her to Clarke on the On Monday, Lorde shared the avoid rumors on news media that "Love story" singer's tweet on her often exaggerated her personal own Twitter page and added a life. "I've taken so much s**t dragon ladies of comment to the post, reports that I'm just like, 'I'm not the aceshowbiz.com. "Media, when winner!' I'm not gonna be let you say 'Lorde & Taylor are fight- down when I don't get the pat Actress Amyra Dastur says she The actress added that Emraan film is slated for an April 17 re- ing' - by fighting do you mean 'Face- on the back, I'm totally used to was sceptical before saying yes to helped break the ice on the sets. lease. The 21-year-old, who ven- ‘Game of Thrones’ Timing constantly from US to NZ the kick in the a** (sic)," she her forthcoming film "Mr. X" op- `Vikram made me feel very com- tured into Hindi cinema in Manish and LOLing at you'? Thnx bye said. "It has taken serious ad- posite Emraan Hashmi because of fortable and after reading the script Tiwary's "Issaq" alongside Prateik (sic)," Swift wrote on Twitter. justing time, there's just nothing his bold image. "I was a little ap- there was no looking back. Emraan Babbar, emphasises that it's a `fam- Lorde shared the post and added: that I can really do about that. If prehensive and sceptical initially is a wonderful co-star with a great ily" entertainer. "Sisters are doin' it for themselves you think about the source of it to work with Emraan. However, sense of humour and he made me "It's a proper U/A film as there @taylorswift13." The singer of all, which is really the big, big, Vikram Bhatt (film's director) made feel very comfortable," she said. are just two kisses in it. It's a fam- "Shake it dof" and the "Still sane" big green monster of cash, there's it very clear that its an unusual film The film features Emraan as an in- ily film. People do kiss and I think hitmaker were reportedly fighting just no way that that's stop- and a U/A certificate kind of film. I visible guy, who seeks revenge for its time Indian audience accept it," about recording a duet together. ping," she added. was fine with it then,` Amyra said. all the wrongs done to him. The she said.

LOS ANGELES: Game of Thrones ma centres on a visionary young actor Emilia Clarke shot down mi- writer living at the dawn of the age sogynistic claims over the popu- of TV in 1949, who creates a sci- lar TV series. She said the female ence-fiction series that tells sto- characters on the show have be- ries no one else will dare to tell. come much stronger. The 28-year- Michael Cassutt is writing the pi- old hit back after the show was lot of the show. Martin, however, slammed for its depiction of sexu- is not expected to commit a lot of al violence. “You start to see all time to the possible new series. the women in the show accepting Earlier, he cancelled a number of who they are and embodying that appearances and said he wouldn’t with such power that it’s palpa- write for Game of Thrones season ble. I think that’s the beauty of the five to focus more on completing show,” said Clarke, who plays the sixth book of A Song of Ice and Daenerys Targaryen in the HBO Fire series. He said he’s determined series. “As women, we accept our to finish the new book The Winds femininity and take strength from of Winter by 2016, before the sixth it, as opposed to trying to hide it season of the TV series goes on and behave in a masculine way,” air. He admitted that he regretted she added. “People have started not working on the new book im- to see Daenerys as a strong female mediately after finishing 2011’s A icon,” she stated. Comments were Dance with Dragons. “I was red- made referring to a controversial hot on the book and put it aside scene in which actor Lena Head- for six months. I was pushing so ey’s character Cersei Lannister hard that I was writing very well. I appeared to be raped by her broth- should have just gone on from er whilst laying next to her son. In there because I was so into it and other news, George R R Martin, it was moving so fast then,” he author of A Song of Ice and Fire shared. “But I didn’t because I had novel series, which Game of to switch gears into the editing Thrones is based on, is developing phase and then the book tour. The a new series titled Captain Cos- iron does cool off for me, especial- HSY not only participated in the show but also choreographed it. — Photo courtesy: Tapu Javeri mos for HBO. The upcoming dra- ly.” 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. SATURDAY . APRIL 11, 2015 AFGHANISTANTIMES Chinese GP P2: Lewis Hamilton sets the pace

Floyd Mayweather is within but Ferrari 3.5lbs of the welterweight limit more than three weeks out from impress his meeting with Manny Pacqui- ao. World Boxing Council rules Lewis Hamilton completed a Fri- demand weight checks 30 days and day clean sweep by topping Prac- a week before fight night to ensure tice Two, but Ferrari’s long run boxers get down to the limit grad- pace will have been a concern for ually and safely. And the organisa- Mercedes. As was the case in Ma- tion, whose welterweight belt is laysia two weeks ago, the Silver one of three up for grabs live on Arrows look to have the edge over Sky Sports Box Office on May 2, a single lap – as highlighted by posted a picture on its website Hamilton’s advantage of over four showing Mayweather tipping the tenths to Kimi Raikkonen as the scales at 150.5lbs - well inside its world champion set the pace with 30-day stipulation. The unbeaten a 1:37.219. However, during the American has won world titles at long runs Raikkonen and Nico five different weights - from su- Rosberg headed out on the medi- per-feather to light-middle - while um compound at the same time and Pacquiao is an eight-weight world the Finn was around three tenths champion who won his first WBC of a second quicker than the Mer- belt at flyweight. Mayweather v cedes driver, suggesting an inter- Pacquiao is live on Sky Sports Box esting race battle awaits on Sun- Office and the cost of the event day. "It's quite close between us will be £19.95 / €24.95 across all and Ferrari, and Nico's quite quick forms of booking, up until mid- as well, so I think we definitely night Friday, May 1. From then have a race like we said we would,” on the cost will still be £19.95 / Hamilton told Sky Sports News €24.95 if bookings are made via HQ. "I don't know how long I went remote control and online, but will on both tyres, but the prime didn't cost £24.95 / €29.95 if booked via feel so good. It didn't feel too bad the phone. Please note an addition- on the option." The state of play al £2 booking fee still applies if looks equally fascinating ahead of bookings are made via a telephone qualifying. The soft tyre yielded agent. Cable customers please con- around a two-second improvement tact your operator for booking in- in lap time, meaning few will be formation. able to rest on their laurels and save a set of the yellow-marked com- pound in Q1. Ferrari's Kimi Stephen Curry Reanne Evans fails in Raikkonen and Mercedes' Nico Fernando Verdasco survives Rosberg exchange overtaking rallies Golden moves during the second practice bid to qualify for session ahead of the Chinese GP. State Warriors Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen and Mer- tough test in Houston cedes' Nico Rosberg exchange over- past Portland World Championships taking moves during the second Defending champion Fernando well and has strong legs. He has a said he was relieved to go through practice session ahead of the Chi- Verdasco beat 18-year-old Hyeon good forehand and a good back- after battling tricky weather con- Reanne Evans gave Ken Doherty of limited experience once the Cru- nese GP. Red Bull showed signs Chung 7-6 6-2 in the second round hand and serves all the time at 120- ditions "Windy, sun in and out of a major fright but her bid to be- cible comes into sight. It was argu- of improvement, finishing the ses- of the US Men's Clay Court Cham- something. “He's pretty complete. the clouds, a lot going on. But I come the first woman to qualify ably as tough an assignment as she sion as the third-quickest team, but pionship in Houston. The Span- With a little more experience, he's was fortunate. I played well and for the World Championship end- might have faced. Once Doherty once again they struggled with iard survived stiff early resistance going to go high in the rankings." got through. “But I was able to ed in valiant defeat. The 29-year- inched in front at the halfway brake temperatures. Daniil from Chung in the first set, before Chung was the first South Korean dictate play with my forehand and old mother-of-one from Dudley point, he might have been expect- Kvyat’s left-rear brake caught fire breaking the South Korean player player to win a match in the tour- the clay helps my kick serves. was handed a discretionary place ed to pull away, but when Evans after stopping in the pits briefly in the fifth game of the second set nament since Hyung-Taik Lee They get up out of his strike zone in the 128-strong field of players was at the table in the 16th frame for a front-wing adjustment and he Stephen Curry eclipsed his own on his way to victory. Verdasco, reached the final in 2001. and he likes everything in the pock- bidding to join the sport's leading she seemed set to level at eight then suffered a complete failure at NBA record for most three-point- 32, praised his young opponent Elsewhere, American Jack Sock et." In other second round match- stars at the Crucible, after winning frames each. She led by 50 points the end of the backstraight causing ers in a season, scoring 45 points and believes he has a bright future upset second-seeded Roberto Bau- es, Russia's Teymuraz Gabashvili 10 consecutive ladies' world titles. but Doherty battled his way back, the Russian to go straight on into to rally the Golden State Warriors in the game. tista Agut of Spain 6-4 6-4. Sock beat fourth-seeded American John A shock outcome looked on the and took a crucial frame to lead 9- the tyre barrier. He wasn’t the only to a 116-105 victory over the Port- "After the first break of the match is playing his third tournament of Isner 6-2 7-6 and fifth-seeded San- cards when Evans led 3-1 and 4-3 7. Since losing in the first round to driver to be in the wars at Turn 14 land Trail Blazers. Curry entered maybe he went down mentally," the year after having surgery to tiago Giraldo of Colombia saw off as Williams' Felipe Massa lost con- the game four shy of his mark of the sixth seed said. "But he plays repair a torn muscle in his pelvis Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia 7-6 (7- trol under braking and speared to 272 3-pointers, which he set two really good to be 18. He moves in December. And the 22-year-old 2) 6-3. the outside of the track. His car years ago in the season finale at made light contact with the wall, Portland. He hit six before half- but bringing out the red flag to re- time and eight overall, teaming up cover the stranded FW37. Having with fellow Splash Brothers star failed to complete his qualifying Klay Thompson to bring the War- simulation, the Brazilian found riors back from 13 points down. himself 17th on the timesheet. Curry added nine assists, and Th- Despite downplaying their chanc- ompson scored 26 to help Golden es heading into the weekend, State avoid its first three-game los- win two medals at the World Short McLaren showed further signs of ing streak this season. LaMarcus Track Speed Skating Champs Elise improvement as Jenson Button Aldridge had 27 points and six re- on being the first Briton to win broke into the top 10, albeit with a bounds, and Damian Lillard added two medals at the World Short fastest lap time two seconds down 20 points and eight assists for the Track Speed Skating Champs The on Hamilton’s benchmark. Fernan- Blazers, who have already locked start of my season was really dis- in the early stages at the Ponds Liang Wenbo in 2008, the popular do Alonso was a further half sec- up the Northwest Division. In appointing. I struggled with moti- Forge venue in Sheffield, a short Irishman has qualified in alternate ond back as he continues to adjust Florida, Pau Gasol had 16 points vation for the sport after Sochi. walk from snooker's most famous years. Were that sequence to con- to life with his new team. At the and 15 rebounds and Chicago Bulls (She was controversially disquali- venue. However 1997 world cham- tinue he would miss out this time. back of the grid there were further easily wiped out a 19-point half- fied three times at the 2014 Win- pion Doherty recovered to nudge Evans ensured his jitters only in- problems for Manor Marussia as time deficit to win 89-78 and deal ter Games). I had always thought ahead 5-4 by the end of the morn- creased by pulling it back to 9-8 Will Stevens’ session was delayed a huge blow to Miami's playoff short track was my thing but I lost ing session and, despite Evans and then leading 52-17 at one with a power unit issue. The Brit- hopes. Aaron Brooks and Taj Gib- that. I felt I had given up so much. making it tense, the Dubliner re- point when she looked destined to on finished the session over seven son each scored 14 points for the I didn’t skate for eight weeks which turned in the evening to complete take it to a deciding frame. Doher- seconds off the pace with team- Bulls, who were outscored 33-12 was the longest I had ever done a 10-8 victory. The 45-year-old ty fought back to 44-52, but a miss mate Roberto Merhi 5.4 seconds in the second quarter then went on and I was just frustrated. I didn’t must still battle through two more on the brown set up a topsy-tur- slower than Hamilton. A strange a staggering 39-8 run to open the Elise Christie has had enough emo- Russian misery to get on the podi- blame anyone and I knew I had rounds to reach the first-round vy game of brinkmanship that moment during the Chinese GP second half. Miami missed its first tional ups and downs over the last um again at the start of 2015 and made mistakes. It wasn’t until I stage of the main event, but for Evans seemed to be edging at 61- second practice session as some- 12 shots after halftime, and the free- 12 months to last a lifetime. Just just as the fairytale was heading got back into training that I rea- Evans the quest is over. Bowing 50, before Doherty summoned a one ran across the main straight fall never stopped. Mike Dunleavy over a year ago the 24-year-old Sky for a glitzy finale, another fall in a lised how affected I was. It was a out means Evans can play in the successful snooker on the pink and from the grandstand towards the and Derrick Rose each had 12 for Scholar from Livingston was "con- top competition made her want to rubbish time. It just didn’t feel the Ladies' World Championship in snatched the frame 63-61. "It was pitlane in a black j A strange mo- Chicago, which moved back into fused and heartbroken" after crash- quit the sport. Worse was to come. same and I saw it as a grind. I strug- Leeds, which begins on April 17, a struggle, the whole game was ment during the Chinese GP sec- the No. 3 spot in the Eastern Con- ing out of the Sochi Olympics. The death of her Grandma rocked gled with pushing my body but she has won that title in each scrappy but I just dug in there," ond practice session as someone ference standings. Hassan White- Tears, no medals, abused on Twit- her to the core a week before she through the limits and then I went of the last 10 years and was keen Evans told the World Snooker web- ran across the main straight from side had 19 points and 16 rebounds ter and she didn't want to go any- was due to compete on the world's to Korea. Things changed for me. to prove herself against the elite site. "I'm happy to have stuck in the grandstand towards the pitlane for the Heat. Dwyane Wade scored where near an ice rink.Christie's biggest stage. What happened It was so different and opened me men. Drawing Doherty in the first there with a player who has been in a black j There were also woes nine points, shooting just 4 for 20. season is far from the classic next? Here's Elise's momentous up to the ‘old me’ with my brain round meant she tackled an oppo- world champion and has so much at Force India where Sergio Perez The Heat were outscored 57-27 'bounce back' tears to cheers sto- year in her own words... taken out of its normal environ- nent unlikely to suffer an attack of experience, and to have given him endured brake problems and Nico after half-time. ry. She returned to the ice after her Elise on being the first Briton to ment. nerves, which can afflict players a fright. Hulkenberg niggling gearbox issues. Jordan Spieth sets early pace at Augusta National with 64 Jordan Spieth has made a sparkling day's play at Augusta as Jordan knew I had a birdie chance. It was ther stroke back after 68s, with the latter posting just a single bogey all day. start to the 2015 Masters where Spieth impressed with a round of probably one of the easier holes he carded an eight-under-par 64 to 64. Butch Harmon and Paul today. “I was thinking I could play grab a three-shot lead after 18 holes McGinley join Sarah Stirk to look the last four in one-under and post The in-form Texan, who has fin- back on the day's play at Augusta a 63. “But I had a little bit of a ished 1st-2nd-2nd in his last three as Jordan Spieth impressed with a mud ball on 15 and a little in-be- events, was at one stage threaten- round of 64. From there he took tween clubs and I chose to hit a ing to tear up the Augusta Nation- four more shots – missing a 14- hybrid instead of a solid 4-iron. al record books as he reached eight- footer for par – and a resulting That was the only mistake today.” under-par through 14 holes. At the bogey-six broke the spell. Pars at However, last year’s joint runner- 14th he produced arguably the 16 and 17 followed before Spieth up will have left the course think- shot of the day when, from a diffi- collected his ninth birdie of the day ing what might have been but he cult lie behind a tree just off the at the final hole where, pin-high, remains in great shape to challenge fairway on the right, he curled his he confidently rolled in a 20-foot- for the title once again on Sunday. approach onto the green with the er. Afterwards, Spieth admitted Jordan Spieth hit this breath tak- ball clattering the flag before com- that the course was in perfect con- ing shot on the 14th to set him up ing to rest two feet from the cup. dition for collecting birdies. Jor- for a birdie which moved him to Watch how Jordan Spieth finished dan Spieth admits there's still a long eight under.Jordan Spieth hit this top of the leader board after scor- way to go in this year's Masters breath taking shot on the 14th to ing eight under on day one of the despite finishing with an impres- set him up for a birdie which Masters. Watch how Jordan Spi- sive round of 64. Jordan Spieth moved him to eight under. His near- eth finish d top of the leader board admits there's still a long way to est challengers after 18 holes are after scoring eight under on day go in this year's Masters despite Charley Hoffman, Justin Rose, one of the Masters. He duly made finishing with an impressive round Ernie Els and Jason Day who all his sixth birdie in seven holes and of 64. He said: “The greens were made 67s. American Hoffman teed looked ready to make history over softer and slower than they will off in the opening group while Augusta’s closing quartet. At this be the rest of the week. “It al- Aussie Day was part of the final point and with the par-five 15th lowed us to fire shots into the hole threesome. Day had a particular- to play, the world No 4 needed to and not have to worry too much ly interesting round in which he cover the final four holes in two- about downhill putts which were parred the opening seven holes, under to post the lowest round ever somewhat makeable anyway. before his afternoon caught fire recorded at The Masters and be- “Last year in round one I was ten- with birdies at eight and nine. come the first player in history to tative, making sure I got my pars, There were then five successive break 63 in a major. But on the but this time I was a little more birdies from the 12th, with a cou- 15th, and with the adrenaline ob- ready to ride off some of the mo- ple of bogeys also thrown in to viously pumping, he over-hit his mentum and fire at the pins know- the mix for the former Masters approach which raced through the ing the greens were receptive.” runner-up. In between Hoffman green and down the bank at the The greens were softer and slower and Day there were five-under-par back of the putting surface. Butch than they will be the rest of the scores for Rose and Els who made Harmon and Paul McGinley join week. Jordan Spieth As for his an eagle-three at 15. Russell Hen- Sarah Stirk to look back on the solitary bogey at 15, he added: “I ley and Sergio Garcia were a fur- 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. SATURDAY . APRIL 11 . 2015 -Hamal 22, 1394 H.S Vol:IX Issue No:246 Price: Afs.15

Final agreement on CASA-1000 to The fighting PAKISTAN SAYS AFGHANISTAN season be signed this month: Official to get only SAFTA-based incentives returns to AT Monitoring Desk to fill supply gaps in Afghanistan Logar, Ghazni and Kandahar prov- and Pakistan. Radio Azadi quoted inces once the project was com- AT Monitoring Desk sures that the countries enjoy equal establish Dera Ismail Khan, Zub, Afghanistan nergy ministers of the four the acting minister of energy and pleted. Despite optimism about trading opportunities. Dastager Quetta-Chaman route to access the KABUL: Pakistani Federal Min- stakeholder countries of the water, Ghulam Faruq Qazizada, beginning of the project but crit- said that opportunities to traders Central Asian countries through By Peter Gelling CASA-1000 electricity as saying that the project is high- ics believe that insecurity and ex- ister for Commerce and Industries of the two countries should be Afghanistan, he said, adding that the E said that facilities and incentives provided on reciprocal basis based route would play key role to im- transmission project would sign ly important for Afghanistan as istence of armed men are big hur- NEED TO KNOW: An Afghan would be provided to Afghanistan on the Pak-Afghan Transit Trade prove trade ties with the regional soldier killed an American the final agreement of the project the country will receive up to 300 dles before implementation of under the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (APTTA). He also countries. Pakistan is going to es- in Istanbul city of Turkey on mega watt power and nearly $58 CASA-1000. However, security Agreement (SAFTA) aimed at in- soldier in eastern Afghanistan on hoped that the trilateral trade tablish ports at Chaman and Thursday. It was the second such April 24, said official on Friday. million on annual basis through officials have vowed that will creasing trade activities between agreement between Afghanistan, Torkham in order to strengthen eco- When completed, Central CASA-1000. He termed the leave no stone unturned to ensure the two neighboring countries. In Tajikistan and Pakistan would be nomic and trade ties with Afghani- attack this year and a reminder Asia South Asia Electricity Trans- project as a vital step towards safety of CASA-1000 project. a meeting with office-bearers of finalized soon. He further said stan and other regional countries, that America s longest war isn t mission and Trade Project extending Kabul s ties with Cen- Total cost of CASA-1000 the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cham- that illegal trade between Afghan- he said. Responding to concerns of exactly over yet. The Taliban has (CASA-1000) will enable the tral Asian and South Asian coun- project has been estimated more ber of Commerce & Industries the istan and the Central Asian coun- the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa business amped up attacks in the last few Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan tries. He added that lack of elec- than $1 billion, most of which will other day, Khurram Dastager said tries should be discouraged. To community over the depilated Pe- weeks, announcing the end of the to sell their excess hydropower tricity will be ended in Khost, be funded by the Word Bank. that Pakistan could not grant the increase trade and commerce ac- shawar-Torkham highway, the min- brutal Afghan winter and the start Most Favored Nation (MFN) sta- tivities with Afghanistan and Cen- ister vowed to take up the issue in a of the so-called fighting season. tus to Afghanistan because the lat- tral Asian states, the Pakistani meeting with the concerned offi- The Taliban is resurgent. Last year Fixing economy: Govt prepares 4 killed, 12 injured ter isn t member of the World minister stressed over establish- cials. He also assured the traders of it regained lost territory and man- Trade Organization (WTO). ment of trade-corridor at the coun- establishing Web Based One Cus- aged to carry out some of the 10-YEAR ECONOMIC PLAN in car bomb MFN status is a method that try s western-side such as at toms system at Torkham to facili- worst attacks of the war. For Af- blast in Nangarhar helps in liberalizing trade and en- Torkham. Pakistan has planned to tate the traders. ghan soldiers, 2014 was the dead- AT Monitoring Desk liest year yet. More than 40 US AT News Report soldiers were also killed in 2014, KABUL: As the country s econ- Policy to register undocumented includingMaj. Gen. Harold J. omy is dwindling and the foreign KABUL: At least four people Greene, the highest-ranking US aid is shrinking, the Ministry of were killed and 12 others wound- military officer to be killed in Af- Economy the other day said that ed in a car bomb explosion on a Afghan refugees on the anvil: CAR ghanistan ever. The increased has prepared a 10-year economic convoy of NATO troops in east- violence led US President Barack plan to overcome economic prob- ern Nangarhar province, said Our correspondent Pakistan and the policy is likely to the intensified efforts in order Obama to expand the missionof lems ahead. Turkey s Hurriyet spokesman for the provincial gov- to be on ground in four months to create an enabling environment the 10,000 America soldiers who Daily News quoted the acting ernor office. Hazrat Husain PESHAWAR: Acting Commis- time. He further told the partici- for voluntary return and sustain- remain in Afghanistan. The troops minister of economy, Hukum Mashriqiwal said that the incident sioner for Afghan Refugees in pants that Afghan refugees could able reintegration of returnees in had been mostly training and ad- Khan Habibi, as saying that the took place on Friday in Behsood Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province stay in Pakistan up to December Afghanistan, the Commissioner vising Afghan security forces. But plan has been launched to fight hurdles due to fall in foreign aid as district of the province. We don t said that an inclusive policy to 31, 2015 as per the agreement added. Addressing the meeting, they are now allowed to join in back economic difficulties deriv- well as local and international in- have any report regarding the ca- register the unregistered refugees reached at the 25th Tripartite UNHCR Peshawar head Jacque the fight. Obama also approved ing from unrest. Terming peace as vestment. The country s gross sualties inflected on foreign would be drafted within next two Commission meeting held at Is- Fraquin said the international or- the use of airstrikes to support the key factor for trade and eco- domestic product stands at about troops. However, the blast left months. Addressing a workshop lamabad in March 2015 among the ganizations would abide by the thecontroversial practice of Af- nomic improvement in the coun- $34 billion with an exchange rate four civilians dead and wounded the other day, organized by Com- Government of Pakistan, UNH- agreements made with Pakistan re- ghan night raids on suspected Tal- try, he said roots for economic of $19.85 billion, and the GDP 12 others, he added. missionerate of Afghan Refugees CR and Afghanistan. garding repatriation of Afghan ref- iban hideouts. This also happened order are needed for peace in ex- per capita is about $1,150. Crit- Officials in the provincial (CAR) in collaboration with the The Ministry of SAFRON ugees. last year: Despite a US-funded change. Afghanistan s economy ics say economic development in public health directorate said that UNHCR on protection of Afghan has sent a draft proposal to the He said the parties are com- $7.6 billion drug war in Afghani- developed significantly during Afghanistan requires the utiliza- health condition of three of the refugees, Waqar Maroof said the ministries of Interior and Finance mitted to undertake a joint fund stan, the opium crop was the big- past 14 years under former Pres- tion of the country s untapped un- injured persons is serious. Zabi- commissionerate in Islamabad, for seeking funds and once the raising initiatives led by Afghani- gest ever. And now there are signs ident Hamid Karzai s tenure as derground resources, mechaniza- hullah Mujahid, a spokesman for Ministry of SAFRON and funds were approved, the modal- stan, UNCHR and Pakistan to that the Islamic State is joining in this period of time witnessed bil- tion of agriculture and proper uti- the Taliban, accepted the respon- NADRA are working jointly to ities of registration of the unreg- ensure resource mobilization for the chaos. It does not bode well lions of dollars in international lizing of the country s water re- sibility of the blast and claimed formulate a coherent policy, con- istered Afghan nationals would be the implementation of enhanced for 2015. assistance and investment. How- sources which pour into neighbor- that they have inflected heavy ca- taining modalities for the registra- put on place accordingly. The par- voluntary return and reintegration WANT TO KNOW: ever, the economy has faced huge ing countries free of charges. sualties on foreign troops. tion of unregistered Afghans in ties to the said meeting had agreed package. It s hard to recall now but for weeks last summer the United States was consumed by a debate Bodies of Parents of Tajik soldier about illegal migrants entering the Kabul gathering stresses country. The problem was they kidnapped NGO were mostly children. By the end plea to Afghan Taliban of the year almost 70,000 unac- workers found companied kids had been stopped conditions-free peace talks by border agents. Most of the chil- TARINKOT: The dead bodies of to release their son dren were fleeing murderous drug five employees of a foreign Save Former vice-president Mohammad Yunus Qanuni, who attended the gathering, said there was gangs in their home countries of the Children NGO were found no place for extremism in Islam. Those who interpret Islam as an extremism ideology knows Honduras, Guatemala and El Sal- on Friday in the Sosang and Zam- nothing about Islam, he added. He said violence was a negative phenomenon but it was inten- vador. Others were running from to areas of Tarinkot, the provin- tionally attributed to Islam by some political forces to defame the holy religion. unbearable poverty. Still others cial capital of central Uruzgan were simply attempting to reunite province, an official said. KABUL: Influential individuals, hidin leader Gulbaddin Hekmat- talks must be started without any with their parents who were work- The individuals were kid- religious scholars and former jiha- yar. condition because peace will be ing in the United States. The sto- napped 45 days ago by Taliban dis on Thursday held a gathering Hekmatyar leads the HIA fac- the biggest acheivement. The ries were always tragic, always from the Surkhab locality who in the capital Kabul, calling for the tion, which has been waging an former presidential candidate sad. A difficult conversation traveled there to monitor their long-anticipated peace talks to be insurgency against the government dubbed the national unity govern- erupted in the United States. Do projects. started soon without precondi- and its foreign backers. Helal said ment as illegal, asking the leaders you arrest them and send them The district s police chief 2nd tions. the government should negotiate to appoint ministers and gover- back? Do you take them in? Lt. Gul Agha said a team of inves- The gathering at the Loya Jir- with the Taliban to end the vio- nors soon to clear the country s Obama called an urgent humani- tigators had been dispatched to ga s tent titled Islam is religion lence. fate. Former vice-president Mo- tarian situation on the southern probe the incident. of justice, brotherhood, there is If we follow Islamic princi- hammad Yunus Qanuni, who at- border, provoking emergency Zubeda Akbar, spokesperson no place for extremism in Islam ples, we will find justice and free- tended the gathering, said there meetings with Mexican and Cen- of Save The Children, could not was arranged by Qutbuddin Helal, dom, he said. He said there were was no place for extremism in Is- tral American leaders. confirm the employees killing but a senior member of the Hezb-i- high hopes two months ago that lam. Those who interpret Islam In the year since the news a relative of one of the slain offi- Islami Afghanistan (HIA) s non- the peace talks would begin, but as an extremism ideology knows broke, Mexico has stepped up its cials wishing anonymity, said they violent faction led by Abdul Hadi the government later said it would nothing about Islam, he added. The parents of an abducted Tajik ghanistan in Dushanbe told them own deportations, stopping mi- received news about death of their Arghandiwal. Helal told the gath- make no compromise on achieve- He said violence was a negative soldier made a desperate plea to that the Afghan government is un- grants from even reaching the US family members who worked for ering their aim was to support Is- ments made over the past 13 years. phenomenon but it was intention- Taliban militants group in Afghan- able to free the hostage. According border. Honduras has also sent its the NGO. Among the dead em- lam and the Afghan nation, not a Can you tell me what you have ally attributed to Islam by some istan to free their abducted son. to them the government of Tajiki- own special forces to stop chil- ployees, one belonged to Nangar- party or individual. But some par- achieved in 13 years that you will political forces to defame the holy The 21-year-old Tajik soldier stan has also not taken any step to dren from leaving at all. This is all har while the rests were the resi- ticipants chanted long live muja- lose, he asked the government. religion. About peace, Qanuni said Merajuddin Shadeyov is current- free Meraj from the captivity. expected to prevent a repeat of dents of Uruzgan province. Tali- Helal said no party had won the peace is the demand of every ly in the custody of the Taliban Meraj was abducted from the the crisis last summer. ban did not yet comment on the war during the past 13 years and Afghan, we need peace, we should militants in Afghanistan. The par- border region between Afghanistan But it s done nothing to help incident. (Pajhwok) Jalalabad firefight there were no signs the violence win it, and we want an end to the ents of Meraj have urged the me- and Pakistan around four months the fleeing children. incident being would come to an end in another armed struggle. dia agencies to launch a campaign ago with reports suggesting the STRANGE BUT TRUE: NATO condemns 13 years. The only way to Fortunately, more opportuni- for the freedom of their son. The group has demanded to free to In Chinese cities, there is this investigated: ANA achieve peace is flexibility and ties are available today for peace plea by the parents of Meraj were comrades in exchange for his free- tradition that is kind of annoying. attack on Balkh agreeing with each other. Peace negotiations. (Pajhwok) followed after the embassy of Af- dom. (KP) Elderly women gather in the early JALALABAD: A security official mornings or evenings, blast mixes AGO compound said investigations into the green- of techno, Mandopop or revolu- on-blue incident showed two Af- tionary songs, and dance to their AT Monitoring Desk ghan National Army (ANA) sol- heart s desire. It is partly for ex- diers, one foreign service member ercise, it is partly social. But for KABUL: The NATO-led Reso- were killed and seven foreign the younger generation under lute Support (RS) mission has troops and an Afghan soldier pressure to work and excel, the strongly condemned attack on the wounded in the brief firefight in noise drives them nuts. It s got- Attorney General Office (AGO) Jalalabad, the provincial capital of ten so bad that clashes between compound in Mazar-i-Sharif city eastern Nangarhar province. the dancing seniors and their of northern Balkh province. The incident took place in the neighbors have broken out. So a The NATO headquarters said governor s house last Wednesday. couple weeks ago, to diffuse the in a statement on Friday that the After the incident, a statement tension, the Chinese central gov- Headquarters Resolute Support from the Resolute Support mis- ernment decided it would try and strongly condemns the Taliban sion said: An incident in Jalala- regulated the practice. It failed al- attack in Mazar-i-Sharif on an bad resulted in the death of one most immediately. The seniors Afghan court facility that left sev- Resolute Support service mem- straight-up refused to follow any eral dead and injured. Today, the ber. Col. Numan Hatifi, spokes- state-prescribed routines. And the Taliban struck a court in Mazar-i- man for the 201st Selab Military security forces who are supposed Sharif killing and wounding inno- Corps, on Friday said that Afghan to enforce this kind of cent Afghans, said Brig. Gen. and foreign troops exchanged fire thing appear entirely unwilling to Wilson Shoffner, Deputy Chief when the soldiers of 4th brigade confront large, potentially cranky of Staff for Communications. were returning back after the end troupes of elders. (Global Post) Once again, the Taliban has dis- of a meeting between Afghan and played their complete contempt foreign officials. The contingent 4 HURT IN KABUL for the safety of Afghan civilians. of Afghan forces had been with Victims of the attack included foreigners in different operations SUICIDE ATTACK police, prosecutors, court staff, and trainings for the past 18 KABUL: Four persons were in- women and children. The Taliban months, he said, adding that they jured when a convoy of foreign has claimed responsibility for the were invited by the foreigners to forces came under yet another attack. On behalf of General observe security of surrounding suicide attack in the 15th police Campbell, Headquarters Resolute areas at the governor house. The district of capital Kabul on Fri- Support expresses its condolenc- official recalled, the firing between day, the city s crime branch chief es to the families of those killed both sides erupted after Afghan said. Brig. Gen. Farid Fazli told and wounded in today s attack. soldier Abdul Azim resorted to un- Pajhwok Afghan News the attack We remain committed to assisting provoked firing on foreigners. The took place at around 3: 30 pm near our Afghan partners in achieving Resolute Support mission had the Daspecharai locality. A bomb- sustainable security and stability, said that the incident would be er ploughed his explosive-laden the statement added. At least ten investigated jointly with Afghan vehicle into the foreign troops people were killed and around officials to ensure that such inci- convoy, which left three civilians seventy others were wounded af- dents should not harm our fu- wounded, he added. Col. Huma- ter a group of the Taliban insur- ture cooperation with Afghans. yun Ayni, the head of 119 unit at gents stormed the attorney s of- Earlier, Zubair Sediqi, who the Minister of Interior, said one fice at 11:30am on Thursday. Ac- claimed to be a spokesperson of foreign soldier was also among the Hezb-i-Islami (HIA), said the at- injured. As usual, Taliban claimed cording to local security officials, credit for the attack, with the the attack was launched by four tacker was a member of his party. He added the attacker, Azim, was group s spokesman Zabihullah insurgents who were all killed fol- Mujahid said two armored vehi- lowing clashes which lasted for their insider in the Afghan army ranks. (Pajhwok) CHILE: A vehicle partially submerged in dry mud is seen in an area that was hit by floods at Chanaral town, Chile . cles damaged and all soldiers on- almost eight hours. board killed. (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.