Page 2 | NATIONAL Afghanistan’s peace negotiations validate U.S. withdrawal Page 3 | ECONOMY Taliban — the rise, Representatives of the government of Afghanistan and the Taliban ADB Pledges $100mn to retreat and resurgence movement have begun formal direct peace negotiations. The two ... Afghanistan to Counter of jihadists COVID-19 Impacts Page 2 | NATIONAL Kabul Herat Nangarhar Balkh 28 / 12 31 / 18 34 / 20 30 / 16 Your Gateway to Afghanistan & the Region Tuesday, September 22, 2020 Issue No. 838 www.heartofasia.af 10 afs McMaster warns Afghan peace talks will fail, leave U.S. vulnerable UNAMA Concern security forces continue to bear the about ‘Intensity’ of brunt of this fight.” Instead, McMaster called for a Civilian Casualties reinforcement in the partnership in Afghanistan between the US military and its The United Nations Assistance Mission allies around the world, saying in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on a statement that plans to withdraw US troops Sunday said they are concern over from places like Germany and increasing number of civilian casualties, Afghanistan are “mistakes.” urging parties to “take immediate” Instead, McMaster called for a actions to avoid innocent people dying. reinforcement in the partnership “As we celebrate International Peace between the US military and its Day, a reminder of the toll war is taking allies around the world, saying on Afghanistan’s civilians,” said UNAMA that plans to withdraw US troops in a tweet. “We’re concerned by high from places like Germany and numbers of civilian casualties & urge parties to take immediate measures Afghanistan are “mistakes.” to protect them, and create conducive “They’re consistent with, I think, atmosphere for Doha peace talks.” this sentiment that you see really According to UNMAN’s assessment, across both political parties for civilian casualties indicate the intensity retrenchment or withdrawal from of conflict in Afghanistan, saying at least complex problem sets overseas,” 20 killed and 39 wounded, including he said. women and children, on Saturday’s McMaster was hired as Trump’s attack. President Donald Trump’s former In an interview that aired Sunday month with the Afghan government second national security adviser “Civilian casualty numbers, a key national security adviser H.R. on CBS’ “60 Minutes,” McMaster and the Taliban. during the turbulent days that indicator of conflict’s intensity, ... P2 McMaster on Sunday said the discussed a need to avoid “He, in effect, is partnering with followed the resignation of his withdrawal of US troops from places abandoning allies through the hasty the Taliban against, in many predecessor, Michael Flynn, over his like Afghanistan and Germany withdrawal of US troops. McMaster, ways, the Afghan government,” contact with Moscow’s ambassador are “mistakes” from a long-term a retired Army lieutenant general he said. “I think that it’s an unwise to the US during the transition. national security perspective and who served in combat roles in Iraq policy. And I think what we require In the CBS Interview, McMaster said called for a sustained commitment and Afghanistan, said that Trump in Afghanistan is a sustained he has no desire to involve himself to assisting the Afghan government has made too many concessions commitment to help the Afghan in some of the palace intrigue that and its security forces. in his peace talks that began this government and help the Afghan has engulfed much of ... U.S. Embassy P3 Stresses on Tajikistan and Pakistan targeting Indians working Permanent Ceasefire Afghanistan to in Afghanistan create a joint in Afghanistan: Delhi During a meeting with Afghan Foreign security commission Pakistan has been targeting Minister Hanif Atmar, United States Acting Foreign Minister Muhammad Indian professionals working in Ambassador to Kabul Ross Wilson Hanif Atmar met on Friday with the Afghanistan in a variety of ways, stressed the need for permanent Secretary of the Security Council of and several Indians working on ceasefire and violence reduction in the Tajikistan Nasrullo Mahmudzoda. development projects have been country. During the meeting, the foreign minister attacked and kidnapped over the The Foreign Ministry said in a press of the neighboring country praised past 12 years, the government release the meeting took place on Tajikistan’s support for Afghanistan’s informed Parliament on Monday. Monday morning. positions in the peace process and Since September last year, Pakistan According to the statement, the two negotiations with the Taliban, Acting has also attempted to designate four sides during the meeting discussed Foreign Ministry reports. Indian nationals, who had previously the start of peace talks, progress in In this regard, he called for cooperation worked in Afghanistan, as terrorists the peace process, the provision of between the two countries in the fight under the UN Security Council a comprehensive ceasefire, and the against terrorism, drug trafficking, and Resolution 1267, minister of state a variety of ways. Several Indians The last of seven Indian engineers establishment of a mechanism to border security. for external affairs V Muraleedharan working in Afghanistan on various who were kidnapped in Afghanistan monitor the reduction of violence. Secretary of the Security ... P3 said in a written reply to a question development projects have been in May 2018 were recently released They also discussed opportunities for in the Lok Sabha. attacked and kidnapped over the before the Afghan government and expanding tripartite relations between “However, the 1267 Sanctions past 12 years. the Taliban launched intra-Afghan Afghanistan, the United States, and Committee, based on its internal “With the assistance of [the] negotiations in Qatar this month. Central Asian countries as part of a procedures, has not approved the government of Afghanistan, India Muraleedharan said as a result of regional mobilization for the peace request,” the minister said. has been able to secure [the] release the Indian government’s efforts, process in Afghanistan, the statement In his response to the same question, of many Indians from captivity. there is “enhanced concern in added. Muraleedharan said: “Pakistan has In addition, [the] Indian embassy the international community at On the other hand, U.S. diplomat been targeting Indian professionals and its consulates have also been terrorism emanating from Pakistan, assured his country’s commitment ... P3 working in Afghanistan through attacked.” including the continuing ... P2 September 22, 2020 Heart of Asia NATIONAL TUESDAY 2 [email protected] fb/heart of asia twitter/@heartofasiapost Pakistan targeting... By Stanly Johny activities of internationally designated terrorist entities and individuals such as Jamaat-ud Dawa (JuD), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Taliban — the rise, retreat Jaish-e-Mohammad [and] Hizbul Mujahideen”. The world community strongly condemned the cross-border terror and resurgence of jihadists attack in Pulwama in February In the spring of 1996, the Taliban, who had taken 2019 and several countries have southern Afghanistan under their control, organised called on Pakistan to “not allow its a conference of their fighters, commanders and territory to be used for terrorism in mullahs in downtown Kandahar, the movement’s any manner”, he said. political and spiritual base. The city hosts one of “Many terrorist entities and the holiest shrines in the country — The Shrine of individuals who find shelter in the Cloak of the Prophet Mohammed, which keeps a Pakistan and are also engaged in robe that Afghans believe was worn by the Prophet. terrorism against India have been Next to the shrine is the tomb of King Ahmad Shah proscribed by the United Nations Durrani, the founder of modern Afghanistan. The (UN), the European Union and legend is that King Durrani, who ruled the country other countries,” he said, adding from 1747 to 1772, brought the cloak to Kandahar that JeM founder Masood Azhar from a conquest. Very rarely has it been shown to was sanctioned by the UN 1267 the public. Those who had assembled before an old Sanctions Committee in May last mosque in central Kandahar were clueless what they year. The Financial Action Task were going to see. Then Mullah Mohammed Omar Force (FATF), at its plenary in appeared on its roof, with the cloak in his hands. June 2018, notified Pakistan in He held it aloft before the cheering crowd, who soil. As part of the broader peace process, Taliban was against this background a group of madrassa the “grey list” due to “continuing named him ‘Amir ul-Momineen’, the commander of representatives and the Afghan government opened students (Talibs), with roots in Deobandi seminaries terror financing-related concerns, the faithful. formal talks earlier this month in the Qatari capital and support from different Deobandi factions in including with respect to the UN Omar appeared with the relic at a critical juncture Doha where both sides would be seeking to build Pakistan, came together to launch a new “reform” proscribed terrorist entities like of the Taliban’s history. The militants had not a consensus on how a post-American Afghanistan movement. Predominantly Pashtun, their declared LeT, JuD and Falah-e-Insaniyat reached Kabul yet. The rank and file were divided on should be. goals were: establish order, restore peace, disarm the Foundation”, he further said. whether the Taliban, consisting of mainly madrassa Civil war militias, enforce the Sharia code and unite people students, should take the war to the capitalwhere The roots of the Taliban go back to the Mujahideen under (their version of) Islam. They saw themselves the government of President Burhanuddin Rabbani movement against the Soviet troops in Afghanistan as God’s pure soldiers destined to fight against the UNAMA Concern... was already under attack by Hizb-e-Islami of in the 1980s. Many of the Taliban’s early leadership, corrupt war lords. They chose Omar, a young, locally are at a lower level than in recent Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, also known as the ‘Butcher including Omar, fought the Soviets with various influential preacher who lost one eye in the battle years,” the statement read.