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5-Year Plan to Better Electoral Process: IEC
June 18, 2012
KABUL - The Independent Election Commission (IEC) has enacted a five-year strategic plan to improve electoral administration and strengthen the electoral process, the panel said on Sunday.
After consulting various stakeholders, the IEC decided to formulate the long-term strategy to counter existing problems and challenges facing the electoral process.
"Having a strategic plan will prepare the ground for an organization to develop, guide its staff into a specific ...
Delhi Meeting to Focus on Investment in Afghanistan
June 18, 2012
KABUL - The day-long conference on Afghanistan, scheduled to be held in New Delhi later this month, would discuss international private-sector investment in the impoverished Central Asian country, a foreign ministry official said on Sunday.
India would host the meeting on June 28 to examine ways of boosting ...
US and CA Countries Transit Talk Unacceptable: Russia
June 18, 2012
KABUL - US has held transit talks with several Central Asian (CA) countries including Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan which angered the Russian officials, local media reported.
After Pakistan closed NATO transit route to Afghanistan in reaction to a deadly attack on a Pakistani check post near Afghan border which ...
Pakistan to Raise Scholarships for Afghan Students: Sadiq
June 18, 2012
KABUL - Pakistan's Ambassador to Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq said that Pakistan was according top priority to the development of education in Afghanistan as it could play significant role in promotion of harmony and peace in Afghanistan.
He said Pakistan had offered significant educational opportunities to ...
Afghanistan Aware of US-Taliban Talks: MoFA
June 18, 2012
KABUL - We are aware of all US efforts to support Afghanistan's peace process, a spokesman for Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Janan Musazai said Sunday.
Speaking at a press conference in Kabul, Mr Musazai added that Afghan government has prioritized peace negotiations and will continue its ...
Julia Gillard: Australia to Train ANSF after 2014
June 18, 2012
SYDNEY - Australia pledged to provide troops and resources in Afghanistan beyond a 2014 deadline to withdraw combat forces, a commitment that came as NATO's chief vowed the alliance would not leave a security vacuum in the country.
The announcement followed news of a joint political declaration ...
Social Sciences Academy Insults Hazaras: Mohaqiq
June 18, 2012
KABUL - A book recently published by the Academy of Sciences of Afghanistan is derogatory toward the Hazara community, a lawmaker alleged on Sunday.
A collection of research papers, Dairatul Maarif (Encyclopedia) was a plain insult to the various ethnic groups, People's Unity Party head, Haji Mohammad ...
Kabul Bank Up for Sale
June 17, 2012
KABUL - The country's largest private sector bank is being put up for sale at a time when $34.9 million of its loan mark-ups have been written off, senior officials announced on Saturday.
The Kabul Bank that the government took over after it came to the verge of collapse two years back as a result of issuing unauthorized loans has been renamed as New Kabul Bank. The bank's outstanding loans work out at $937.7 million.
Noorullah Delawari, the central bank governor, told reporters in Kabul ...
Muqbil Asks Ulema to Help Tackle Drug Menace
June 17, 2012
KABUL CITY - The Counternarcotics Ministry is trying to engage religious scholars and prayer leaders in tackling the growing menace of narcotics in Afghanistan, home to nearly a million drug addicts, officials on Saturday.
Addressing a two-day gathering, attended by hundreds of scholars and ...
Ties with Kabul more Vital than Accords: Russian Envoy
June 17, 2012
MAZAR-I-SHARIF - Moscow attaches more importance to its historical ties with Kabul than signing a strategic cooperation agreement, the Russian ambassador said on Saturday.
Andrei Avetisyan, who arrived in Mazar-i-Sharif, told a press that Russia should not be seen as ...
Iran Ready to Help Construction Projects: Salehi
June 17, 2012
TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi in a visit with President Hamid Karzai in Kabul voiced Tehran's readiness to help construction projects in Afghanistan.
Salehi also submitted the official invitation of President Mahmud Ahmadinejad to President Karzai to take part in the upcoming 16th ...
Rabbani: Foreign Conspiracy Destabilizes Afghanistan
June 17, 2012
KABUL - Several foreign countries are making conspiracies against Afghanistan in order to destabilize the country, Head of High Peace Council Salahuddin Rabbani said Saturday.
Speaking at a conference held by Afghan Women Network (AWN), Mr Rabbani cited the role of women very important in bringing peace and stability in Afghanistan adding that the enemies of Afghanistan are ...
“Heart of Asia” Conference
June 16, 2012
KABUL - Afghanistan is hosted the second "Heart of Asia" conference in Kabul, which aims to strengthen regional cooperation in fighting terrorism and implementing commitment made at the Istanbul summit.
The conference was officially opened on Friday by President Hamid Karzai, who said that attending countries have a major role to play in bringing stability to Afghanistan.
In a reference to Pakistan and Iran, Karzai stressed that Afghan partnership agreements with foreign nations would not undermine relations with neighboring countries but would only strengthen such ...
Long-Term Strategic Deal with Turkey on the Cards
June 16, 2012
KABUL - Afghanistan and Turkey have evinced a keen interest in signing a long-term strategic cooperation agreement aimed at taking bilateral ties to new heights, President Hamid Karzai's office said on Friday.
The agreement on entering the deal came during a meeting between Karzai and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmad Daud Oglo at the Presidential ...
Peace and Stability in Afghanistan Meant Peace in Pakistan: Khar
June 16, 2012
KABUL - Pakistan on Thursday reiterated its position on reopening a key supply route for Afghanistan-based foreign troops, asking NATO to tender a formal apology for last year's deadly raid.
After the killing of 24 Pakistani soldiers in the Mohmand tribal region in a cross-border airstrike by ISAF in November last year, Islamabad slapped a ban on supplies for NATO troops through its ...
President Promises Focus on Combating Graft
June 16, 2012
KABUL - President Hamid Karzai on Thursday promised that his administration would focus on ensuring good governance and combating administrative corruption over the next two years.
The president, whose tenure expires after two years, held out the pledge during a meeting with German ...
US Vows Not to Leave Afghanistan Alone
June 16, 2012
KABUL - The United States, pledging not to leave Afghanistan alone, on Thursday hoped the confidence-building measures (CBMs) adopted by the Heart of Asia Conference would lead to regional cooperation.
US Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns told the day-long gathering in Kabul that a new framework for regional cooperation would be ...
Draft Electoral Law Unveiled
June 14, 2012
KABUL - Under a draft electoral law, political parties would compete for a third of parliamentary seats in provinces, with independent candidates running for remaining two-thirds of berths, an official said on Wednesday.
The draft law, finalized by the Independent Election Commission ('IEC), had been submitted to the Ministry of Justice for vetting, spokesman for the poll panel Noor Mohammad Noor told a news conference in Kabul.
Over the past 10 years, presidential and parliamentary elections were ...
The Future of Region Depends on Afghanistan: Karzai
June 14, 2012
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KABUL - President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday met with Yerzhan Kazykhanov, Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan to discuss issues of mutual interest.
Mr. Yerzhan Kazykhanov said that Kazakhstan and Afghanistan have had diplomatic relations for twenty years and added that "we sincerely want to extend our relations with Afghanistan since Afghanistan is a ...
China is a Trust-Worthy Friend: Gen. Dostum
June 14, 2012
KABUL - Afghanistan National Front (ANF) leader, Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum, in a press statement on Wednesday, June 13, vehemently neglected the blames that he was responsible for creating hurdles in any sort of investment and work for unearthing the mineral resources in the North. He called them to be totally ...
China will Grant 150mln Yuan to Afghanistan: Yings
June 14, 2012
KABUL - Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister, Fu Yings, during his visit to Afghanistan on Wednesday said that China has been an active participant in Afghanistan economic reconstruction and hope to see, as early as possible, a peaceful, stable and independent Afghanistan that ...
Astana Ready for Investment in Afghan Mining Sector
June 14, 2012
KABUL - Afghanistan on Wednesday signed an agreement with Kazakhstan on regular political consultations, with Astana pledging to cooperate with Kabul in different spheres of life. After signing the accord with his Kazakh counterpart Yerzhan Kazykhanov, Foreign Minister Zalmai Rassoul said they had held fruitful ...
Taliban Behind Behsud Attacks: Khalili
June 13, 2012
KABUL – Second Vice president Mohammad Karim Khalili said that evidence indicates the Taliban militants are behind problems in Behsud district to sabotage the peace, security and development projects there.
In talks with a delegation of religious scholars of Wardak province and councils of mosques prayer leaders of west of Kabul, the vice president Khalili said the government will not allow the Taliban or any other terrorist outfits to disrupt law and order in the name of kuchis or ...
Karzai Demands Halt to All Airstrikes on Afghan Homes
June 13, 2012
KABUL - The new restrictions by NATO on the use of air power in Afghanistan have failed to mollify President Hamid Karzai, who demanded Tuesday that the coalition cease all bombings of Afghan homes, even by forces acting in self-defense.
"Even when they are under attack, they cannot use an airplane to bomb Afghan homes. Even when they're under attack," an emphatic ...
Dostum, Not Accused to Treason: Karzai
June 13, 2012
KABUL – President Hamid Karzai refused the accusation of Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum to national treason.
The president refused the accusation of Gen. Dostum to national treason by the Security Council while recently some reports broadcasted on Gen. Dostum's national treason.
A report presented by Ministry of Mines on interference of Gen. Dostum ...
Afghan Media Freedom under Threat: CPJ
June 13, 2012
KABUL - An international media watchdog on Tuesday said the nascent media industry in Afghanistan, working under political and economic pressure, was likely to face a momentous task once NATO-led forces left the country.
The Committee to Protect Journalist (CPJ) said that Afghan news outlets operated in a hostile environment and the absence of clear ...
Karzai to Rivals: Protect National Interest
June 13, 2012
KABUL - President Hamid Karzai, asserting his government's respect for democratic norms, on Tuesday asked his political opponents to avoid actions that harmed Afghanistan's national interest.
Governments around the globe had political foes who worked within the framework of different parties, Karzai told a news conference at the Presidential Palace in Kabul. However, he said opposition and ruling ...
US will Help Afghanistan as Long as it Needs Assistance
June 13, 2012
KABUL - US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton said Monday that her country will stand by Afghanistan as long as Afghans need assistance.
Speaking at a 'Women in Public Service Institute' inaugural ceremony she emphasized that US would help Afghanistan not only in security sector but also in development sector.
"We are prepared -- so long as the government and the people of Afghanistan wish to have our help -- not only to help on security, but ...
Cabinet Endorses Oil Deal with China
June 13, 2012
KABUL - Endorsing a deal with China on developing a small oil and gas field in northern Afghanistan, the Cabinet on Tuesday agreed to the creation of a joint working committee to explore energy deposits at the Amu River basin.
Last year, state-run China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) won the first oil deal in Afghanistan after signing a contract with the ...
Ahmad Zia Massoud, ANF Leader: Traitors are those Who Rigged the Election and Looted KB
June 12, 2012
KABUL - Afghanistan National Front (ANF) leader Ahmad Zia Massoud on Monday accused the government of seeking to perpetuate its rule through undemocratic means such as implicating political foes in "trumped-up cases".
Massoud told a press conference in Kabul, the office of Haji Mohammad Mohaqiq, ANF Leader and a member Wolesi Jirga, was attacked in Bamyan province at the government's behest and another leader of the front had ...
Stabilizing Afghanistan for the Long-Term – a View from Kazakhstan
June 12, 2012
KABUL – Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister, Yerzhan Kazykhanov, said that considerable effort has been invested in building up Afghan military and police forces to take responsibility for the security situation as international forces will leave in 2014, and Kazakhstan hope that they will manage to cope with their increased ...
Afghanistan Elected UN General Assembly VP
June 12, 2012
WASHINGTON - For the third time in five years, Afghanistan has been elected as vice-president for the upcoming United Nations (UN) General Assembly, reflecting the growing recognition of the country at the international level.
In the election held last week, Serbia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic, defeated Lithuanian Ambassador to UN Dalius Cekuolis. Serbia was elected president ...
Karzai, French DM Discuss Troop Pullout
June 12, 2012
KABUL - President Hamid Karzai on Monday directed the ministries of defense and interior to extend all possible assistance to France in the troop withdrawal process from central Kapisa province.
At a meeting with French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian at the Presidential Palace in Kabul, Karzai extended his heart-felt ...
UN Sacks LOTFA Officials over Mismanagement of Funds
June 12, 2012
KABUL - The United Nations fired three officials running its $1.4 billion Afghanistan police trust fund as the first step in what is expected to be a broader shake-up at the program currently facing an internal investigation of mismanagement, according to UN and Western officials.
Among those removed from their posts, Western officials said, were ...
Karzai’s Brother May Run for Afghan Presidency
June 12, 2012
KANDAHAR – President Hamid Karzai's elder brother, Abdul Qayum Karzai, is apparently planning to enter the race to be elected Afghanistan's next president. Speaking to RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan, Mahmud Karzai, another elder brother of the Afghan president, confirmed that Qayum Karzai was preparing to contest the next ...