Page 2 | NATIONAL A divided Taliban could unleash a new proxy war in Afghanistan Page 3 | ECONOMY What’s going on The COVID-19 pandemic is transforming international relations not Basic goods imported between Russia, U.S. just by straining relations among powerful states, but also ... to Afghanistan via and Afghanistan? Chabahar Page 2 | NATIONAL

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Your Gateway to Afghanistan & the Region Tuesday, June 30, 2020 Issue No. 799 www.heartofasia.af 10 afs Afghans Paid $1.6 Billion in

Wolesi Jirga Bribes in 2018: Report approves Ministry of It has assessed the two general Martyrs and Disabled directorates of the Ministry of Finance: the customs department The Independent Disabled and Martyrs and the revenue department. Support Authority has been promoted to The report finds alleged interference the Ministry of Martyrs and Disabled in by government officials, MPs and compliance with a presidential decree, “warlords” in the activities of the the Wolesi Jirga told on Monday. two departments and says they have Mohammad Halim Ali Yar, deputy head provided conditions for corruption in of the Judicial Commission of Wolesi the two offices. Jirga, said the government issued According to a Kabul-based a legislative decree promoting the watchdog, almost $1 billion is wasted Department of Martyrs and Disabled in in the country’s customs annually. the Ministry of Work and Social Affairs to “At least $2 billion is taken as a an independent authority. bribe from the people and this Yar said two months later, the president encompasses big corruption in issued another presidential decree, procurement and does not include promoting the independent authority land-grabbing,” said Nasir Taimori, to the State Ministry for Martyrs and a researcher at Integrity Watch Disabled. Afghanistan. He said both decrees were discussed in Members of the Chamber of the Judicial Commission and majority Commerce and Investment said that of the members wanted to reject them a big amount of money is wasted However, later a joint meeting of both A report by the Independent Joint endemic in the country and they no Afs189.5 billion ($2.45 billion) in annually due to “corruption” and the houses was organized and it was Anti-Corruption Monitoring and longer trust government officials. 2018. “bribery” in customs. decided that this authority should ... P3 Evaluation Committee (MEC), which The report shows that the “According to the 2018 report of “One person is appointed to a focused on areas vulnerable to government’s income from taxpayers Integrity Watch Afghanistan, $1.65 management post after paying corruption, stated that Afghans paid was Afs86.5 billion ($1.12 billion) billion has been paid in bribes $500,000 or he is appointed by $1.65 billion in bribes in 2018, less in 2018 and Afs68.7 billion ($889 across Afghanistan, which does the mafia. It is obvious that he will than the $2.88 billion in 2016 but million) in 2019-- in both cases less not specifically relate to customs,” work for himself and embezzles higher than the government’s annual than the amount that Afghans paid said Maiwand Rouhani, head of the the national revenue,” said Zalmay revenue. as bribes in 2018. secretariat of the MEC. Azimi, deputy head of the Chamber The report finds that people still According to the report, the country’s The MEC report lists eight key of Commerce and Investment in Congress Unites to believe that corruption is highly national revenue in 2018 was around conditions that affect reforms. Nangarhar. Demand Answers Iran holds meeting Kremlin slams claims over Russia ‘bounties’ from Trump On with Taliban in Qatar Russian Bounties Senior leaders of the Taliban are to Taliban to kill Americans as elaborate hoax in Afghanistan currently stationed in Doha, Qatar, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov where Iran’s special envoy for Members of Congress in both parties has blasted reports that Russia Afghanistan Mohammad Ebrahim demanded answers on Monday about allegedly offered Afghan militants Taherian holds a meeting with them reported bounties paid by Russian bounties for killing US military on Sunday. operatives to Afghan insurgents for personnel as lies and an elaborate As reported the two sides have targeting American troops. hoax. According to him, the topic The stories appeared to have taken even conferred on the interference of was not discussed between the two the most senior lawmakers off guard, foreign forces in regional countries’ leaders. and they said they wanted briefings soon affairs as well as those of Afghanistan’s. “These claims are nothing but from the Defense Department and the Reducing violence, commencing lies,” the Kremlin spokesman said, intelligence community. Afghan-Afghan talks without the commenting on the publication of “I think it is absolutely essential that we interference of foreign forces, in The New York Times. “Once again, Trump who already evaluated these for Trump’s judgment a few months get the information and be able to judge particular of the US, and Tehran-Kabul we can only express regret that once publications,” he added. When asked ago, while the White House National its credibility,” said Rep. Mac Thornberry, joint interests have also been among largest, reputable and high-quality if Putin and Trump had had a phone Security Council discussed the topic R-Texas, the ranking member of the the discussed subjects in this meeting. world media outlets have been call to discuss these allegations, in late March. House Armed Services Committee. On June 24, Taherian held a ... P3 increasingly more often publishing Peskov said, “No.” In turn, Trump revealed that he had The story is unfolding along two parallel elaborate hoaxes in the last few On Friday, The New York Times not been briefed about any such tracks in Washington, based on two key years, which definitely does not claimed that an unidentified unit attacks in Afghanistan. On Sunday, questions: bode well with keeping up with their of the Russian military intelligence he took to Twitter to announce that First, what actually has taken place — reputation and prestige,” Peskov encouraged Taliban militants the US intelligence did not find this and have any American troops been stressed. to attack military personnel of information credible, slamming The killed as a result of Russian-sponsored “If intelligence services continue to the international coalition in New York Times report as “possibly targeted action? And second: Who knew be accountable before the president Afghanistan. The newspaper alleged another fabricated Russia Hoax, what about the reporting on these in the US, then I suggest you focus on that these conclusions of American maybe by the Fake News” meant to allegations that has flowed up from ... P3 the relevant statement of President intelligence services were presented tarnish the Republicans’ reputation. June 30, 2020 Heart of Asia NATIONAL TUESDAY 2 [email protected] fb/heart of asia twitter/@heartofasiapost 6 months on,... By Jonathan Marcus how to save lives now. These include empowering communities to understand that they are not helpless What’s going on between and that there are things everyone should do to protect themselves and others. “That includes physical Russia, U.S. and Afghanistan? distancing, hand hygiene, For a start, we have a triple denial from all of the covering coughs, staying main parties involved. The Russian government has home if you feel sick, wearing dismissed the story out of hand. So too have the masks when appropriate, and Taliban. only sharing information from And U.S. President Donald Trump has vehemently reliable sources,” said Tedros. denied any knowledge of the matter - with White Tedros said that unless House sources telling the U.S. press that the subject countries address the never reached as high as the president or vice- problems the organization president because there was no consensus in the has already identified, he said intelligence community about the veracity of the reports. a “lack of national unity and However, serious U.S. news outlets are carrying lack of global solidarity” in a a range of reports quoting a variety of sources, “divided world” is “actually suggesting that an intelligence assessment that helping the virus to spread.” Russian agents were offering bounties to the Taliban Respect needed for the killing of U.S. or coalition troops had been Dr. Mike Ryan, the WHO’s around since March; that significant amounts of executive director of cash had been seized in U.S. raids; and that some emergencies, said that the US personnel may indeed have been killed as a result. These sources also indicate that the intelligence organization wants to have But Russia is also waging a “grey” or undeclared in the Middle East and elsewhere; but on the other, assessment was indeed briefed at the highest levels, “international discourse war against the West. This has many elements: this administration is strangely accepting of Russian including mention at the president’s own daily that’s based on mutual cyber-attacks; disinformation campaigns; electoral denials, for example concerning its alleged intrusion intelligence briefing. respect.” interference; the funding of extremists in Western into the U.S. election campaign. Mr Trump’s critics - not least the Democratic He said: “We encourage all countries and so on. Much of this ambiguity is down to the person of presidential contender Joe Biden - have seized upon At times, this has even resulted in direct action: President Trump himself, whom many see as rather people at all levels and in all these reports to highlight once again their view that for example the use of nerve agent in the bungled admiring of strong, dictatorial leaders. countries to use language Mr Trump is not up to defending U.S. interests. assassination attempt on a former Russian And to this extent, the handling of this intelligence that is appropriately But perhaps more interestingly, even some key intelligence officer in the British cathedral town of report casts another light on the whole foreign policy respectful, and there’s Republicans are raising questions - Representative Salisbury, and a full-scale assault by Russian military process within the Trump administration. nothing associated with any Liz Cheney of Wyoming asking the inevitable question contractors on a U.S. position in Syria during which It will add weight to those critics from both the connotations that are that are of who did know about the assessment and when US air strikes are reported to have killed significant Democratic side of politics and more hardline did they know it? negative.” numbers of Russians. Republicans, like the former National Security Payback? Ryan added: “Everyone Russia under President Vladimir Putin has smarted Adviser John Bolton, who argue in their different Why, though, might Russia promote such action? has a job. We can do better from every perceived indignity suffered since the fall ways that there is no strategic direction, no joined Potentially, it has multiple motives. than we’re doing right now. of the Soviet Union. It was, of course, US support up thinking, and no leadership from the top. Russia maintains close links with the Taliban for good We have a lot of vulnerable for Afghan irregular fighters that contributed to This is a delicate story at the best of times and it is reason. It sees the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan Moscow’s forced withdrawal from Afghanistan in not going to go away. If even partly true and if any people to protect and shield. winding down. It is deeply concerned about the rise the 1980s. deaths can be ascribed to the paying of bounties by “We have a lot of communities of Islamist fundamentalism in the region spreading in And there are suggestions that some in the Russian the Russians, it would mark a new low point in US- with poor health systems and its direction. And it sees the Taliban as one potential hierarchy might not be averse to paying the Americans Russia relations since the Cold War ended. poor living conditions that we bulwark against this. back for both past and more recent setbacks. The fact that it comes in the midst of a re-election need to support. And we need Moscow is believed to have supported key Taliban Ambiguity campaign where Mr Trump is having to deal with to focus on that,” he said, in leaders with arms and money. And while it also This episode also throws a stark light on the current plunging popularity amidst the Covid-19 pandemic maintains links with the Afghan government and an apparent reference to the state of US-Russia relations. U.S. policy towards and the Black Lives Matter demonstrations gives it in broad terms supports the putative Afghan peace growth of the virus in parts of Moscow is suffering from a kind of schizophrenia. an added edge. deal, it is effectively hedging its bets, fearful of future Africa and Latin America. On the one hand, the US is wary of Russian nuclear For there is a factor here that Washington’s friends Afghan instability. modernisation and suspicious of its broader plans and enemies alike have to contend with: there ... P3 By Jared Schwartz and Yelena Biberman PTM to get Pashtuns their A divided Taliban could unleash a new rights, justice, vows Pashteen proxy war in Afghanistan

The COVID-19 pandemic is Haqqani faction and its allies as well gained the loyalty and operational transforming international relations as a new proxy war between India and resources of the most vigorous not just by straining relations Pakistan are likely to ensue. Taliban factions in the south, where among powerful states, but also by Upon assuming power in 2016, Haqqani has been unpopular. disrupting violent no state actors. Akhundzada intentionally split In May, a Taliban spokesman made a Perhaps no major militant outfit has operational control of the Taliban’s shocking statement describing India’s felt the impact as much as the Taliban. military forces between Haqqani revocation of Kashmir’s autonomy The group’s leader, Hibatullah and Yaqoob in order to prevent and subsequent military crackdown Akhundzada, is either seriously ill with the two from creating potentially as an Indian “internal affair.” Just a the virus or possibly dead. Sirajuddin powerful breakaway factions. While month earlier, anti-India militants Haqqani, the head of the powerful Akhundzada and Haqqani have been had been found training for Kashmir Haqqani Network and deputy out of commission, however, Yaqoob operations at a Taliban training camp leader of the Taliban, is also very has taken on the latter’s role as chief in Afghanistan. Indian intelligence ill with COVID-19. This has allowed of operations and the Afghanistan officials believe that Jaish-e- Mohammad Yaqoob, the other deputy affairs portfolio. He has also set up a Mohammed (JeM), an extremist group The Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement Pashteen, who later addressed leader, to take operational control of new financial commission to manage based in Pakistan that seeks to annex (PTM) has promised continued a protest sit-in organised by the the organization. the world’s second-richest militant Kashmir, is operating three training efforts for getting Pashtuns Khyber Siyasi Ittehad, promised The shift in the balance of power group. Among his supporters are camps in Nangarhar, Afghanistan, their rights and ensuring justice PTM would launch a countrywide within the Taliban has the potential Qayyum Zakir, who is influential in the in return for JeM training Haqqani for those killed in fake police protest against the extrajudicial to upend Afghan security, India- narcotics-producing Afghan province Network operatives in Pakistan. The encounters. killing of Irfanullah. Pakistan relations, and the US military of Helmand, and Ibrahim Sadar, a Taliban’s contradictory policy toward Accompanied by lawmaker Ali He told the protestors: “We withdrawal from Afghanistan. powerful voice in the Helmand shura, India suggests a major internal rift Wazir, PTM chairman Manzoor don’t promote terrorism, we Haqqani is an ally of Pakistan and al- or council. From the time of his initial between the Haqqani and Yaqoob Pashteen visited the Bara tehsil don’t block roads and we don’t Qaeda, while Yaqoob favors the peace bid for leadership, Yaqoob has also factions. of Khyber district on Sunday to demolish houses of innocent process with the United States and enjoyed the backing of the Taliban’s Both India and Pakistan are likely to express sympathies with the people.”, rapprochement with India. Yaqoob’s interior minister and Kandahar’s exploit this rift in order to advance family of Irfanullah. His organization would always rise might therefore seem like good shadow governor. In recent weeks, their own security interests in the news for Washington. But, as Yaqoob despite being widely seen within the region, especially as the United Irfanullah was allegedly killed promote peace and justice on and Haqqani factions compete with Taliban as an arrogant and entitled States draws down its troops and in a fake encounter with the Pashtuns’ soil, Pashteen pledged, each other for power, a spike in son of the organization’s founder Afghanistan potentially descends into Counter-Terrorism Department’s assailing the forces that deprived violence against soft targets by the Mullah Mohammad Omar, Yaqoob has chaos. .. . P3 personnel in Peshawar on June the Pashtun population of their 22. rights and justice. June 30, 2020 Heart of Asia ECONOMY TUESDAY 3 [email protected] fb/heart of asia twitter/@heartofasiapost Basic goods imported to Afghanistan Exchange Rates via Chabahar 77.1 77.2 India’s fifth consignment of “Each vessel, carrying 10,000 to 15,000 85.4 85.5 humanitarian aid to Afghanistan has tons of goods, arrived in Chabahar arrived in Chabahar’s Shahid Beheshti Port, cargoes of which have been 93.4 93.5 Port, said the director-general of Sistan transported to neighboring Afghanistan and Baluchestan Ports and Maritime via trucks.” 462 463 Department. Chabahar Port has a good and suitable Behrouz Aghaei said on Monday situation for transporting, transiting that the fifths vessel, carrying 300 and transshipping [maritime transport] 20.2 20.3 containers of wheat, weighing 7,500 of goods to the Central Asian countries tons, has docked at the southeastern and Afghanistan, he said, adding, “with 975 985 Iranian port and is ready to unload the the coordination made in this regard, Afghanistan-bound cargo. all 75,000 tons of wheat, donated by and lucrative ports in the country which added. He noted that the previous four ships India to Afghanistan, will be transited to could play a very important role in He pointed out that Chabahar Port is arrived at the strategic port of Chabahar this country via Milak Border in Zabol.” regional bond, he stressed. considered as a golden opportunity Contact Numbers early spring, despite the coronavirus Transit of goods inside and outside Despite the existence of two ports of for Afghanistan in the field of exporting pandemic, to help transport the the country will play a very important Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Kalantari, and transiting goods, adding, humanitarian cargo to Afghanistan. role in the economic prosperity of this suitable ways have been provided “development of trade, economic Kabul Police -119 Aghaei noted that some 14 vessels southern province, Aghaei emphasized. for mooring, loading and unloading and trade relations between nations Kabul Ambulance - 112 carrying Indian cargo to Afghanistan This unique advantage and capability of cargoes of oceangoing ships as well as is one of the main objectives behind have so far arrived in Chabahar in the Chabahar Port in the field of transit has the prosperity of transit and exports in construction of Shahid Beheshti Port Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital past two years. made this port as one of the prosperous the southeast part of the country, he in Chabahar.” 0202301360 Ata Turk Hospital Iran holds... A divided Taliban... Pakistan may use its proxies and Kashmiri militants’ presence phone conversation with Pakistan’s Special envoy The Haqqani Network is widely to project influence outside of in Afghanistan constitute an 0202500312 for Afghanistan, where they conferred on the latest viewed as a proxy of Pakistan’s the proxies’ usual geographic alignment of trends that could be Corona call center - 166 developments in Afghanistan including the peace talks intelligence agency, the ISI. realms. There are approximately detrimental to Afghan security. in the country. Under the command of Yaqoob, five hundred fighters active Pakistan has historically been in Afghanistan’s Kunar and more than willing to work with It should be noted that Mohammad Haneef Atmar, the the mainstream Taliban’s Nangarhar provinces that are violent nonstate groups to current acting Minister of Afghanistan’s Foreign Affairs accommodating attitude loyal to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), influence the balance of power arrived in Tehran last week heading a high-ranking toward India is a direct threat to Pakistan’s ability to project an anti-India and pro-Kashmiri in Afghanistan. And the Haqqani delegation for an official two-day visit. strategic depth through the militant organization. Both Network will need new military Atmar held meetings with a number of Iranian officials and Taliban against India. The two JeM and LeT became closer objectives to reconstitute its the two sides discussed bilateral relations and regional factions’ divergent attitudes to the Haqqani Network and influence. and global issues and called for expansion of relations mean that Pakistan will likely the Taliban after the February These developments could between the two countries. view Haqqani’s influence within 26, 2019 Balakot strike by the complicate the US military the Taliban as critical to its Indian military, which resulted withdrawal from Afghanistan. What’s going on... interests. in Kashmiri militants seeking Given Pakistan’s efforts to get refuge further away from India. the United States to leave, it is is at least the possibility now that President Trump could Haqqani gained and maintained Both groups have shifted their unlikely that Pakistan’s proxies lose his re-election bid. Even beyond the dramatic medical, his position within the Taliban bases into Afghanistan. would directly attack coalition social and economic impact of the pandemic, there is a lot largely because of his skill With Pakistan disconnected forces for fear of provoking the going on now. at planning and executing from the mainstream Taliban, United States into a response The Russians and the Chinese are seeking to assert attacks. His power, and by the ISI may also turn to other or increased commitment. themselves as regional powers, though Beijing’s ambitions extension Pakistan’s influence in violent nonstate actors to Rather, they would likely attack may go further. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Afghanistan, are contingent on project influence in Afghanistan. soft targets in order to provoke is considering the possible annexation of territory in the the Taliban’s continued interest The increasing presence of an Afghan military response, West Bank. in carrying out complex military Kashmiri militants in Afghanistan, leading to a breakdown in The UK’s government is seeking to realise what it sees as operations. With the mainstream alongside a sidelined Haqqani intra-Afghan negotiations. In the benefits of Brexit and to rebrand its foreign policy under Taliban signaling a turn towards Network, provides an such circumstances, the United the banner of “Global Britain”. more conciliatory tactics such opportunity for precisely that. A States would be left with the For the next few months, all of these actors are going to as ceasefires, and Haqqani’s recent Afghan intelligence report, choice of continuing to back the have to factor into their plans the likely response of two fall from influence within the done in collaboration with Afghan government and freezing US administrations: the one that is there now, and another Taliban, the Haqqani Network’s US intelligence, suggests that troop withdrawals, or letting which may take over in January. power is increasingly tenuous. attacks in Kabul by the Taliban Afghanistan once again descend And a Biden administration will be much more likely to As the Yaqoob faction turns and the Haqqani Network, into a civil war and potentially call out Russia if the Afghan bounties story is ultimately towards diplomacy with India, alongside JeM and LeT, could become a base for militant revealed to be true. the Haqqani Network’s need for stature-boosting military be imminent. While the Taliban groups targeting the United operations and Pakistan’s desire are listed as co-sponsors of the States and its allies. Wolesi Jirga... to control the direction of the attack, the report suggests the Recognizing that further attacks be promoted to a ministry not a state ministry because state insurgency align. With some attacks will come alongside may not be at the behest of ministers and heads of the independent organs were not five thousand loyal fighters, a Haqqani Network military the mainstream Taliban will be answerable to the lower house. along with a sophisticated and offensive to capture several crucial to preventing escalation Ali Yar said all of members agreed on this decision and asked independent financing structure, towns along the border with in Afghanistan. Further violence the speaker to mention the matter in the house for voting. the Haqqani Network remains a Pakistan, and follow the release in Afghanistan may instead be a Speaker Mir Rahman Rahmani said on the basis of formidable threat in its own right. of Anas Haqqani, Sirajuddin’s result of the interminable conflict brother. This offensive alongside between India and Pakistan, and lawmakers’ decisions, the Minister of Martyrs and Disabled Even cut off from the broader should be referred to the house for a trust vote. Taliban organization, it remains Anas’ release implies that the the Haqqani Network’s incentives capable of significant damage. Haqqani Network is preparing for continued warfare. In the In addition to the Haqqani military operations to bolster its coming months, attributing Network’s incentives for standing within the Taliban. attacks accurately could prevent continued violence, the The Haqqani Network’s waning the United States and its partners revelation of joint Haqqani-JeM power, Pakistan’s concerns about from getting dragged back into India’s influence in Afghanistan, the war. Chief Editor : M. Hamid Hamdard training camps suggests that Reporters: Safiullah Nasary, Shafiq Amirzay, Jawad Temori & Hameedullah Hamidi Congress Unites... the most sensitive intelligence has been aware of the bounty the operational level in briefings as a member of the practice since earlier this year Graphic & Design: Arman Afghanistan? so-called Gang of Eight leaders but he and his deputies haven’t Phone: +93-202502100 - +93-777989696 The White House tried to defend in Congress, said she too hadn’t acted in response. itself over the weekend on both been informed and sent a letter “The administration’s disturbing Website: www.heartofasia.af counts, arguing that senior Monday requesting a briefing for silence and inaction endanger Email: [email protected] intelligence officials aren’t all members of the House soon. the lives of our troops and our convinced about the reliability Senate Minority Leader Chuck coalition partners,” she wrote. Address: Behind Rahman Baba High School of the reports and that they Schumer, D-N.Y., called for a White House press secretary - Opposite to 3rd District, never reached President briefing for all members of the Kayleigh McEnany said on Trump or Vice President Pence Senate. Monday that members of Kabul - Afghanistan personally. Pelosi cited reports in The New Congress have been invited to Print: Waygal Printing .Co - +93 - 202512626 House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, York Times and The Washington the White House to learn more who usually receives some of Post that suggested that Trump about the bounty allegations. June 30, 2020 WORLD TUESDAY Heart of Asia 4 [email protected] fb/heart of asia twitter/@heartofasiapost EU extends economic sanctions against Russia until January 31, 2021 The European Union has extended during which they concluded that sectoral economic sanctions full implementation of the Minsk against Russia imposed due to agreements has not yet been the situation in Ukraine for six achieved. months, until January 31, 2021, The European Union imposed the European Council said in a economic sanctions against 15 statement on Monday. Russian companies with broad “The Council today decided to state participation in the oil, renew the sanctions targeting banking and defense sectors at specific economic sectors of the the end of July 2014 over the Russian Federation for a further situation in Ukraine and Crimea’s six months, until 31 January 2021,” reunification with Russia. the statement reads. EU leaders Restrictions have been repeatedly made the political decision to expanded and prolonged. In extend sanctions at the summit on response, Moscow banned the June 17-18 in a videoconference import of a number of food format after a short discussion, products from EU countries.

A look at the world 6 months on, WHO Former French PM India slams Pakistan chief says COVID-19 is sentenced to prison for linking it to terror far from over over ‘fake jobs’ scandal attack The World Health Organization chief warned India has slammed Pakistan for claiming Monday that the COVID-19 crisis is “far from links between New Delhi and Monday’s over” and the worst is yet to come with 10 terrorist attack on the Karachi stock million cases now, and half a million deaths, exchange. saying that a divided world “is helping the “India rejects the absurd comments of the virus to spread.” Foreign Minister of Pakistan on the terrorist WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom attack in Karachi,” said India’s Ministry of Ghebreyesus told the organization’s thrice- External Affairs in a statement Monday. weekly press webinar that countries must “Pakistan cannot shift the blame on India address the problems the organization has A French court has found former prime for its domestic problems. Unlike Pakistan, identified, or there will be worse ones to minister François Fillon guilty of paying his India has no hesitation in condemning face. wife over €1 million in public funds for a “fake terrorism anywhere in the world, including “The virus still has a lot of room to move. job”. in Karachi,” said Anurag Srivastava, ministry We all want this to be over. We all want to Fillon was sentenced to five years in spokesperson. get on with our lives. But the hard reality is, prison - three of which can be served in WAYGAL Printing Co. the community. He will also have to pay a €375,000 fine and will be barred from running in elections for 10 years. His wife Penelope received a three-year suspended sentence, a €375,000 fine and a if You Can two-year election ban. �ink It, Their lawyers said they’ll appeal the sentence. Prosecutors had pointed to the lack of actual We Can ink it. evidence of her work, including the absence of declarations for any paid vacations or maternity leave. Her wages reached up to nine times France’s minimum salary. The judicial case was prompted by an investigation of a French satirical weekly, the this is not even close to being over,” he said. Canard Enchainé published in January 2017. Tedros was speaking after six months of the The paper alleged Fillon’s wife, Penelope, At least seven people were killed – including world experiencing the novel coronavirus had been his parliamentary assistant for 15 four attackers – when an attack by gunmen after it was first discovered in China. years—except there was no evidence she did on the Pakistani stock exchange building in “Six months ago, none of us could have any work. the southern port city of Karachi was foiled imagined how our world – and our lives – The case ruined Fillon’s 2017 presidential bid, on Monday. would be thrown into turmoil by this new at a time when he was widely tipped to result In a statement, outlawed Baloch militant virus. as the winner, paving the way for Emmanuel group the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) “The pandemic has brought out the best Macron’s election. claimed responsibility for the attack, the He did not even get through the first round of and the worst of humanity,” said Tedros. latest in a series targeting security forces the election in April 2017. Pandemic ‘speeding up’ and government installations. Fillon, 66-year-old, has insisted his wife For six months, the WHO and its partners The BLA has long sought the secession of earned the money honestly, saying “there is have worked to support all countries in not the slightest doubt” about the nature of the southwestern Balochistan province, responding to the virus. her wife’s collaboration. which they claim was forcibly incorporated Tedros said that although many countries During the trial, he also defended hiring his into Pakistan when it was founded in 1947. have made some progress globally, “the daughter Marie and son Charles as assistants Earlier today, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister pandemic is speeding up.” from 2005 to 2007. The salaries received are Shah Mahmood Qureshi alleged that the The world has seen “heartwarming acts estimated at over €117,000. attack has links with sleeper cells activated of resilience, inventiveness, solidarity, He was indicted in March 2017 for by India. and kindness,” he said, but it had also “embezzlement of public funds”, “Pakistan is opening the Kartarpur Corridor witnessed “concerning signs of stigma, “concealment and complicity in the abuse [with India] while India does not seem to misinformation, and the politicization of of corporate property” and “breach in stomach peace in Pakistan,” said Qureshi the pandemic.” reporting obligations to the HATVP (France’s in a statement. The WHO chief said that although a vaccine high authority for the transparency of civil He added, referring to recent border will be an essential long-term tool for servants.)” tensions with China: “India is being exposed Fillon had previously served as prime minister controlling COVID-19, there are priorities before the world, like it was exposed on the in Nicolas Sarkozy’s centre-right government that every country must focus on ... P2 issue of Ladakh with China.” between 2007 and 2012.