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Taliban Who Want Peace Face Threats: Faizi
May 10, 2012
KABUL - Taliban who are willing to negotiate with the Afghan government are facing serious threats from other Taliban, Afghanistan's Presidential spokesman Aimal Faizi said Wednesday.
Most Taliban commanders who have talked about negotiating with the Afghan government have either been detained or killed, President Hamid ...
No Talks with Al Qaeda: WH
May 09, 2012
WASHINGTON - The White House has ruled out holding any negotiations with the Al Qaeda network, asserting that disrupting, dismantling and defeating it is the number one priority of the Obama administration.
"Because of his focus on a specific mission in Afghanistan, it has been this president's policy and this administration's policy that the number-one priority of our mission in Afghanistan is to disrupt, dismantle and ultimately defeat al Qaeda."
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters: "The ...
Clinton Vows to Pursue Terrorists in Pakistan
May 09, 2012
NEW DELHI - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday said her country would go after terrorists in Pakistan if they posed a threat to America, Afghanistan or their allies in the region.
At a joint press conference with Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna after their meeting on the last day of her three-day visit to ...
Civilian Deaths Make U.S. Pact ‘Meaningless': Karzai
May 09, 2012
KABUL - Afghan President Hamid Karzai said the recent deaths of Afghan civilians inflicted by NATO forces may render the strategic pact signed last week with the US "meaningless" if Afghans do not feel safe.
Dozens of Afghan civilians have been killed in NATO airstrikes in as many as four provinces over the last four days, according to senior ...
Ashton Vows Support for Afghanistan
May 09, 2012
KABUL - A top European Union (EU) envoy on Wednesday said the bloc's economy remained strong and promised it would continue supporting turmoil-hit nations -- from Afghanistan to Libya.
EU's Foreign Affairs Chief Catherine Ashton said that despite the bad press being received by the bloc's economy, its economic performance ...
Hollande to Carry Through on Afghanistan Exit Promise
May 09, 2012
PARIS - New French President François Hollande is losing no time in keeping at least one of his campaign promises. He'll announce France's early exit from Afghanistan at the NATO summit in Chicago later this month.
Manuel Valls, Mr Hollande's communications director, confirmed that France would use the summit to "announce the withdrawal of its ...
Ambitious Uplift Strategy Mapped out for Tokyo Conference
May 09, 2012
KABUL - Afghanistan would present a development proposal budget for 22 programs, which needs $8 billion yearly over a decade, at the forthcoming Tokyo donors' conference.
At the international conference in Japan this July, officials from the international community will deliberate the funding mechanism for ...
ANSF Ready for Taliban Offensive: MoI
May 08, 2012
KABUL - The Ministry of Interior (MoI) on Monday condemned the Taliban's propaganda to spread fear and mistrust and vowed to defeat militants who continued to rely on rudimentary weapons.
About the rebel spring offensive codenamed Operation Al Farooq, the ministry said Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) were ready to face any challenge from the militant movement.
"The Afghan National Police is stronger now than ever before in our nation's history. We are ready to stand against foreign mercenaries to protect Afghans' lives and property and the country's territorial ...
Chicago to Reaffirm NATO’s Post-2014 Afghan Engagement
May 08, 2012
KABUL – NATO will reaffirm its commitment to the post-transition Afghanistan in its summit in Chicago later this month - the largest ever meeting of the alliance in which Afghanistan is expected to be one of the key topics of discussion, a NATO spokesman said Monday.
"NATO is clearly committed to supporting Afghanistan beyond ...
Zawahiri is in Pakistan: Clinton
May 08, 2012
ISLAMABAD – Currently on a three-day visit to India, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told a town-hall meeting in Kolkata said: "There are several significant leaders still on the run. Zawahiri, who inherited the leadership from bin Laden is somewhere, we believe, in Pakistan."
On the other hand, Pakistani Foreign Minister, Hina Rabbani Khar, on ...
UN to Consider Afghan Govt. Priorities: Kubis
May 07, 2012
KABUL - United Nations' agencies working in Afghanistan would consider the Afghan government's priorities in carrying out their activities, a senior diplomat promised on Sunday.
Addressing a consultative meeting, the UN secretary-general's special representative acknowledged the world body previously performed its activities without the cooperation and consultation with the Afghan government.
"But from now on, the UN will perform its activities keeping in view Afghan government priorities," Jan Kubis said, hailing the ...
New Commission to Protect Taliban Who Wish to Negotiate
May 07, 2012
KABUL - Members of the Taliban who want to negotiate with the Afghan government will be protected by a newly-formed commission between Kabul, Washington and Islamabad, Afghanistan government officials said Sunday.
The joint commission will coordinate the talks as well as protect ...
Ghani Assails Ministries for Incompetence, Graft
May 07, 2012
PUL-I-ALAM - Security Transition Commission Chairman Dr. Ashraf Ghazni Ahmadzai on Sunday accused some ministries of incompetence and doing little to resolve people's problems.
During a visit to central Logar province, The ex-finance minister held talks with local officials, including district chiefs, members of ...
Etisalat Organizes Poetry Competition in Nangarhar
May 07, 2012
KABUL – As part of its on-going corporate social responsibility drive, Etisalat Afghanistan, the fastest growing cellular operator in Afghanistan in collaboration with Directorate of Information & Culture, Nangarhar has organized the Women for Peace Poetry competition in Jalalabad.
Nangarhar is famous for its historical background in poetry and has ...
Senate Okays Afghan-India Strategic Deal
May 07, 2012
KABUL - The Senate on Sunday approved a strategic partnership agreement between Afghanistan and India, saying the accord was in the best interests of both nations.
President Hamid Karzai and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh signed the agreement, which outlines Indian help in Afghanistan's ...
MTN Foundation Planted 8,000 Plants
May 07, 2012
KABUL - MTN Foundation decided to take part in keeping green Kabul & major cities of Afghanistan therefore planted more than 8,000 plants in public places among Afghanistan in coordination with related municipality.
Plantation not only makes a city beautiful but also helps making the ...
Iran Voices Concerns over Afghan-US Agreement
May 07, 2012
KABUL - Iran is concerned the Afghanistan-US long-term agreement may lead to more insecurity and instability the region, Press TV reported Sunday.
Criticizing the agreement's lack of detail about what the nature of the US presence in Afghanistan will be after 2013, Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast ...
Defeating Al Qaeda within Reach: Obama
May 07, 2012
WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama on Saturday said that the goal of defeating Al Qaeda and denying it the chance to rebuild was within reach.
"We have broken Al Qaeda's momentum. We've built strong Afghan security forces," Obama said in his weekly address to the ...
Absentee MPs to Face Disciplinary Action
May 07, 2012
KABUL - For the first time, the Wolesi Jirga would start taking disciplinary action next month against absentee lawmakers in line with the house internal procedures, an official said on Sunday.
A lack of quorum remains a challenge to the lower house taking important decisions since the ...
Panetta Wants Karzai Admin to Curb Graft
May 06, 2012
WASHINGTON - The security transition in Afghanistan is on the right track, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said on Saturday, praising Afghan soldiers for bringing a measure of security to the country.
"We are on the right course. We have made significant progress. We are making transition. Our troops are doing a great job. The Afghan troops are doing a great job. The country is more secure," Panetta said in an interview.
He said: "To make this work we're going to have to continue to ensure the Afghan army grows and does a good job. We're going to have to ensure that governance is there, Afghan governance is ...
Closing Schools Only Benefits Enemies: Karzai
May 06, 2012
KABUL - Afghan President Hamid Karzai has warned the Taliban against forcing schools to close in Afghanistan saying it only harmed the country's people, not the "foreigners".
Karzai in a radio address that the education of children was the way ...
WJ Administrative Board Comes Under Fire
May 06, 2012
KABUL - Several members of the Wolesi Jirga accused the house administrative board of having weak management but the board hit back, saying MPs inattention had left the assembly inefficient.
Last week, the house decided to debate the forthcoming Chicago Summit and Tokyo conference -- which would discuss funding Afghan security ...
MPs Criticize US Pact for Regime Restriction
May 06, 2012
KABUL – Members of Wolesi Jirga Saturday criticised a provision within the US-Afghan long-term agreement which does not allow Afghanistan to change its system of government.
The strategic pact, is valid until 2024, was broadly welcomed by both Afghan and international officials last week, seen as a major ...
Karzai Meets Pakistan Investors in Kabul
May 06, 2012
KABUL - President Karzai met with some investors of Pakistan during which among others the head of Hajweri Group of Pakistan was also present.
This group is engaged in construction spheres in Afghanistan. This group is already engaged in construction of Science Faculty in Nangarhar, a kidney medical centre and in Kabul the Allama Iqbal arts ...
Not and Can’t Be Nominated for Prez Poll: Karzai
May 05, 2012
KABUL - President Hamid Karzai dismissed calls for Afghanistan to change its political system to a Federal regime, saying the long-term agreement with the US was signed on the condition that the current centralized system of government be respected.
Karzai said at a press conference in Kabul on Thursday, the day after the long-term pact was signed, that several US congressmen had called for the country's regime to change its structure.
"Some US congressman started intervening in Afghanistan several ...
Enduring Strategic Partnership Agreement between the Islamic Republic Of Afghanistan and the United States of America
May 05, 2012
This Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ("Afghanistan") and the United States of America ("United States") have partnered closely since 2001 to respond to threat to international peace and security and help the Afghan people chart a secure, democratic, and prosperous future. As a result, Afghanistan is now on a
Hazara Killers Need to Be Brought to Justice: Alan Johnson
May 05, 2012
LONDON - Government of Pakistan must make sure safety of Hazaras in Quetta and those involved in the killing of Hazaras must be brought to justice, says former Home Secretary and MP Hull Alan Johnson here while addressing to Hazaras protestors in front of Pakistan Embassy London. I'm here to express my solidarity with Hazaras who face ethnic cleansing in Baluchistan and underlined the government of Pakistan to ...
Hazaras Rally in Kabul Protesting on Quetta Target-Killings
May 05, 2012
Hundreds of people rallied in Afghan capital Kabul on Friday, condemning the target-killing of Hazaras in Quetta, the capital city of Balochistan province of Pakistan. Denouncing terrorism, the demonstrators called the international community to take the seiuos notice of this human
UN, Canada Support Free Afghan Media
May 05, 2012
KABUL - The UN and Canada on Thursday commended the work of Afghan media, acknowledging its dedication and professionalism throughout the country, as well as personal risks taken during difficult years of conflict.
Media freedom was at the heart of a healthy society that believed in debate to involve the public ...
Besieged Afghan Media Appeals to Karzai for Protection
May 05, 2012
Kabul - Afghanistan's media representatives are appealing to the government to protect the rights of journalists who are facing a growing number of violent threats in what they see as an undeclared campaign against media freedom. War and an atmosphere of impunity make Afghanistan one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a ...
Neighbors’ Concerns Addressed: Spanta
May 05, 2012
KABUL - Despite the injustices that neighboring countries committed against Afghanistan over the past three decades, the government in Kabul had considered their concerns in the just-concluded strategic deal with the US, the national security advisor said on Thursday.
Speaking at an international conference on the outlook of Afghan ...
Obama Lauds New Era in US-Afghan Relationship
May 03, 2012
BAGRAM – U.S. President Barack Obama, speaking to a US television audience from Bagram Air Base, said he had travelled to Afghanistan to herald a new era in the relationship between the US and Afghanistan, ''a future in which war ends, and a new chapter begins''.
Mr. Obama's address, during an unannounced visit to sign a strategic partnership agreement with President Hamid Karzai that sets the terms for relations after the departure of US troops in 2014, was a chance for him to make an election-year case that he is winding down a costly and increasingly unpopular war.
''My fellow Americans,'' he said, speaking against a backdrop of ...
US-Afghanistan Accord, No Threat to Neighbors
May 03, 2012
KABUL - The United States will not seek permanent military bases in Afghanistan, an issue of grave concern to regional countries, under the strategic deal that Presidents Barack Obama and Hamid Karzai signed late on Tuesday night. Respecting Afghanistan's national sovereignty, the long-awaited ...
Croker Assuages Regional Concerns
May 03, 2012
KABUL - US Ambassador Ryan Croker on Wednesday allayed fears that Afghan soil would be used for offensive action against neighboring countries and stressed the just-concluded strategic deal was not against any nation.
Speaking to the media after the signing of the historic Afghan-US ...
Afghanistan Cannot Sacrifice itself for Foreign Interests: MPs
May 03, 2012
KABUL - Afghanistan's parliamentarians broadly welcomed the signing of the Afghan-US strategic agreement Wednesday, but warned that Afghanistan would not sacrifice itself for the interests of other countries.
Members of Parliament stressed that Afghanistan is an independent ...