Eye on the News [email protected] Truthful, Factual and Unbiased Vol:X Issue No:201 Price: Afs.15 www.afghanistantimes.af www.facebook.com/ afghanistantimes www.twitter.com/ afghanistantimes SATURDAY. FEBRUARY 20. 2016 -Hoot 01, 1394 HS Yo ur Yo ur ad ad he re he re 0778894038 0778894038 ISLAMABAD: The Senate was informed on Thursday that at present 1.55 million registered Afghan Refugees are residing in Pakistan. Minis- ter for States and Frontier Region Abdul Qadir Baloch told the House during the question hours, that the Prime Minister recently extended the legal stay of registered Afghan refugees till 30th of June this year. How- ever, there is also a proposal for extension of these refugees for till the end of next year. The Minister said since 2002, 3.9 million Afghan refugees have been repatriated to their homeland. Replying to a supple- By Ali M. Latifi and Shashank Bengali mentary, he said Pakistan has commitment with the international com- munity to repatriate Afghan Refugees with dignity and honour. He said As military and political setbacks sition to negotiations. Meanwhile, of its longtime leader, Mullah Mo- regarded as solidly in government the guns, it’s us who have fought the issue of repatriation has repeatedly been taken up with the Afghan mount, Afghanistan’s embattled the Taliban has papered over a lead- hammed Omar, and gained strength hands. “Right now, they are think- for more than 20 years,’” Massoud government but it has expressed inability to provide necessary facilities president, Ashraf Ghani, has in- ership crisis following the death in northern and southern areas once ing: ‘We have the territory, we have said of the Taliban. .. See P2 and incentives for return of Refugees to their homeland. —INP sisted the time is right to seek di- rect peace talks with resurgent Taliban militants. Now an influential figure in Ghani’s government has blasted the Pentagon to cut salaries of 'Ghost' soldiers peace strategy as a “waste of time” President orders given the Taliban’s successes and assistance for The Pentagon is set to cut salaries the government’s weakness, and of 'ghost' soldiers in Afghanistan, said the four-nation effort – which IDPs in U.S officials said. includes the United States, China US officials hoped that by the and Pakistan – is doomed to fail. Nangarhar, end of this year the problem will “What do the Taliban stand to Baghlan be resolved and that salaries of gain at this time from negotiating only actual Afghan troops will be with the government?” said Ahmad KABUL: President Ashraf paid. Zia Massoud, who holds the title Ghani directed the officials con- "Afghanistan is important to of Ghani’s special representative cerned to provide urgent assis- us because it intersects with our tance to internally displaced per- vital national interests," said Colo- for reform and good governance. nel Stephen Michael, the Deputy In an interview at his office in sons (IDPs) in eastern Nangar- Director of the Pakistan/ Afghani- Kabul, Massoud said the confi- har and northern Baghlan prov- stan Coordination Cell of the US dence expressed by Ghani and inces. Office of the Chairman of the Joint Abdullah Abdullah, chief executive During a video conference Chiefs of Staff. in Afghanistan’s unity govern- with military and civil officials He added that they will ensure ment, does not reflect political and from eastern and southeastern that nothing will happen in Afghan- military realities. Citing U.S. mili- zones, President Ghani was up- istan to threaten the U.S's inter- tary figures, the U.S. Special In- dated about recent developments ests. spector for Afghanistan Recon- in the creation of reserve forces However, the Ministry of struction, a watchdog, reported last in the 201st and 203rd military Defense (MoD) rejects the exist- month that the Afghan government crops and security situation in ence of 'ghost' soldiers in the Af- controls just 72% of the country’s the zones, a statement from the ghan National Army (ANA) ranks. 407 districts, believed to be the Presidential Palace said. "There are no ghost soldiers in Then the acting defence min- the MoD and we have taken a lowest figure in years. Taliban in- ister, the interior minister, the number of important steps in this surgents have continued fighting acting National Directorate of Se- regard," said Dawlat Waziri, government forces through a curity (NDSinfo-icon) chief and spokesman for the MoD. bloody winter, defying the usual the Independent Directorate of Afghan security forces spend lull in violence that comes in Af- Local Governance (IDLG) head $5 billion USD annually and a large ghanistan’s colder months and presented their suggestions re- part of the amount is paid by the prompting U.S. military officials garding the security situation, United States. to reconsider reducing the U.S. the statement added. Chairman of the subcommit- troop presence later this year as The president praised offi- tee on oversight and investigations the White House had planned. The cials of the military corps and of the US house committee on four nations involved in the peace thanked security forces for de- armed services, Vicky Hartzler, effort have held multiple meetings feating Talibaninfo-icon and said that Afghan security forces do – the next is scheduled for Feb. 23 Daesh insurgents in their prov- not have sufficient fighter aircrafts in Kabul – but have not yet invit- inces. He also ordered that the and helicopters. She said that air- craft are important to provide sup- ed Taliban representatives. Ghani displaced families who left their port to forces on the ground. Tolo has failed to win support for talks homes due to atrocities of ter- either from the public or among rorists in some districts of Nan- top officials; the country’s spy garhar, should be provided with 3 HELD FOR chief recently resigned over oppo- urgent assistance. Senior TRANSFERRING Mangal seeks tribal elders support WEAPONS, NDS official for TAPI, border security BULLETS TO dead in LASHKARGH: Boarders and NANGRAHAR Tribal Affairs Minister Gulab Khost Mangal on Friday arrived in south- KABUL: National Directorate of ern Helmand province to seek the Security (NDSinfo-icon) person- supporter of tribal elders for the nel have arrested a group of three explosion terrorists in capital Kabul who KABUL: Outgoing Commander of The meeting took place in Shuhada of Pakistani Security security of Turkmenistan, Afghan- transferred weapons and bullets to KHOST CITY: A senior official of istaninfo-icon, Pakistaninfo-icon Resolute Support Mission and US which both dignitaries reviewed the Forces, General John F. Campbell other terrorists for insurgent ac- the National Directorate of Secu- Forces in Afghanistaninfo-icon, ongoing Afghan reconciliation pro- also laid a floral wreath at the Yad- Indian (TAPI) gas pipeline and tivities. A statement from the spy- rity (NDSinfo-icon) was killed in country’s borders. service said on Friday the individ- General John F. Campbell paid a cess and discussed the way for- gar-e-Shuhada. Earlier the US Sen- a magnetic bomb explosion in east- farewell call to General Raheel ward. Gen. Sharif particularly ate Armed Services Committee Mangal said work over the uals had been arrested in the limits ern Khost province on Friday, an 1,735 kilometres long gas pipeline of 19th municipality district. Sharif, chief of the Pakistani armed thanked outgoing Commander approved the nomination of Gen- official said. forces, at General Headquarter Resolute Support Mission for his eral Nicholson unanimously dur- had been started in Turkmenistan Among the detainees were, Malak Wishing anonymity, the secu- and would be launched soon in Din from Sarobi district, Syed Rawalpindi, Inter-Public Service efforts towards stability in Af- ing a Congressional hearing on Af- Mohammad and Syed Fahim from rity official told Pajhwok Afghan Relations (ISPR) has said on. ghanistan. To pay tributes to the ghanistan where the outgoing com- Afghanistan. He said the purpose News that Ismail was traveling in of his visit to Helmand was to talk Bagrami districts. The individuals mander Gen John Campbell testi- were carrying three Makarov pis- his car on the city’s ring road when fied before the Senators. In his to the local elders for the security the attached magnetic bomb ex- of the vital pipeline. tols, and bullets of Kalashnikov in testimony last week, General a car when held by the personnel ploded. Answering to a question the Mangal said Dishu, Khanshin Nicholson said he would review of NDS. During the investigations Deputy Governor Abdul Wa- the plan to cut US troop level by minister said Pakistani forces have and Garamsir were the districts the detainees have confessed that hid Patan confirmed the incident violated the Durand Lineinfo-icon situated on the Durand Line with nearly half by the start of next year. they were shifting the bullets and but did not go into the details of Gen Nicholson is currently the and moved inside Afghan territory Pakistan. He said he would talk to pistols to Nangrahar for insurgent the explosion. in different provinces, including the tribal elders of these areas to US Army commander of NATO- activities, the statement said. Mohammad Aslam, an eye info-icon land forces. He has Helmand. ensure the protection of TAPI gas witness, said the explosion took He said it was known to ev- pipeline. served in multiple capacities in- place in a car and one person on cluding chief of staff operations for eryone that war was not solution Few months back, TAPI coun- board was killed. There was no to issues, adding that participation tries finally inked the implantation the International Security Assis- immidate claim of responsibility tance Force (ISAFinfo-icon) and of people and their involvement accord of the projects and the con- for the attack.