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2nd Phase of Security Transition Begins
December, 03 2011
KABUL - The second phase of security transition from international troops to Afghan forces started in the central province of Parwan on Thursday, officials said.
All but two districts of Parwan are due for transition, which will also cover many parts of Sar-i-Pul province. Sayad and Behsud (Part 1), however, are not on the list of regions for the security transfer.
Parwan Governor Abdul Basir Salangi told a gathering they were ready for the switch, but one battalion each of the ...
India to Stress on Regional Role in Afghan Peace Process
December, 03 2011
NEW DELHI - Foreign minister SM Krishna will emphasize on the role of regional countries in ensuring peace in Afghanistan at the Bonn conference next week, notwithstanding the absence of important neighbors like Iran and Uzbekistan from the international meet meant to discuss the future of Afghanistan as force drawdown plans start to take ...
Afghan Security Situation Improving: US
December, 03 2011
WASHINGTON - The United States has welcomed the announcement of the Afghan government regarding the second phase of security transition, noting this is reflective of the improving situation in the country.
"We welcome the announcement. This is the second tranche of areas that are beginning to transition to an Afghan security lead," a State Department spokesman told reporters on Wednesday. ...
Afghanistan Faces $4bln Defense Funding Shortfall
December, 03 2011
KABUL - Afghanistan's security forces face a four billion dollar funding shortfall after 2014 - when they are supposed to take over the main responsibility for fighting the insurgency.
According to the Guardian, this raises questions about whether Kabul will have the resources to keep the Taliban at ...
Pakistan Vows Stiff Retaliation if Attacked again
December, 03 2011
ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON - Pakistani Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has warned that any future aggression will see the country responding 'with full force, regardless of the cost and consequences' as it emerged Friday that Pakistani officials, who were unaware of their soldiers being in the area, gave the green signal for the NATO ...
US Promises Aid to Bamyan Beyond 2014
December, 03 2011
BAMYAN CITY - Five welfare projects have been completed with financial support from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in the central province of Bamyan, officials said on ...
Officials Call for Strengthening Afghan Forces
December, 03 2011
ZARANJ - Officials in Nimroz, Badakhshan and Samangan provinces on Thursday said Afghan forces were ready for security transition but needed to be strengthened and equipped.
Some programs for improvement of security, good governance, convincing residents to support the government and providing job opportunities have been drawn up ahead of security handover, Deputy ...
Strategy on Afghanistan Unchanged: US
December, 01 2011
WASHINGTON - The United States on Tuesday asserted that there had been no change in its strategy for Afghanistan even though its relationship with Pakistan had hit a new low as a result of the NATO airstrike on border posts in the Mohmand tribal region.
"We have had a significant incident that took place, but this has not disrupted our overall strategy vis-a-vis Afghanistan, vis-a-vis Pakistan. We're still committed to working with both countries to build ...
Security Situation has Improved: MoD
December, 01 2011
KABUL - With insurgent attacks falling, improvement has been noticed in the security situation over the past three months, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced on Wednesday.
Rocket strikes, bomb blasts, suicide attacks and other insurgent-related activities had considerably decreased, MoD spokesman Zahir Azimi said, linking the improvement to 27 offensives currently ongoing across ...
Etisalat Launches M-Hawala Mobile Financial Services in Afghanistan
December, 01 2011
KABUL - Etisalat Afghanistan, the fastest growing cellular operator in Afghanistan today announced the launch of mHawala mobile financial services during a ceremony held in Kabul.
Etisalat Afghanistan is the first Mobile Network Operator in Afghanistan to offer this comprehensive range of Mobile Financial ...
Karzai Wants Peace Process to Continue
December, 01 2011
KABUL - President Hamid Karzai has asked peace negotiators to appoint an honest and influential person as their head and take forward the reconciliation process in line with the Loya Jirga's mechanism.
Karzai discussed with High Peace Council members recommendations and proposals outlined by participants of last month's Loya Jirga, a ...
2nd Phase of Transition Begins Today
December, 01 2011
KABUL CITY - The second phase of security transition from international troops to Afghan forces would be launched in at least one province on Thursday, a Ministry of Defense official said on Wednesday.
Security in Balkh, Daikundi, Takhar, Samangan, Kabul and Nimroz provinces and Jalalabad, Chaghcharan, Shiberghan, Faizabad, Ghazni, Maidan Shahr are Qala-i-Naw cities is to change hands in the second ...
Conference Boycott in Pakistan’s Favor: Gilani
December, 01 2011
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan said on Wednesday it would not reverse its decision on boycotting the 2nd Bonn Conference, slated for December 5, on Afghanistan's future.
Islamabad announced on Tuesday would not attend the important meeting in Germany as a mark of protest over ISAF airstrikes on border checkpoints that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.
The attack dealt a major blow to the already strained relations ...
USAID Grants to Help Afghans Use Mobile Money Services
December, 01 2011
KABUL - The USAID said on Wednesday it had signed innovation grants with three major Afghan mobile network operators to support the expansion of mobile money in the country.
The grants to Etisalat, MTN and Roshan M-Paisa will enable more than 100,000 Afghans to use mobile money to transfer funds to friends and family members, promote their businesses, receive salaries and pay ...
Pakistan to Boycott Bonn Conference
November, 30 2011
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan decided Tuesday to boycott a key international conference on Afghanistan next month, ramping up its protest over lethal cross-border NATO air strikes that have plunged US ties into deep crisis.
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting in Lahore, just days after Islamabad confirmed it was mulling its attendance in the German city of Bonn, where Pakistan's participation was considered vital.
"The cabinet has decided not to attend the Bonn meeting," a ...
World Powers Should Share $12bn Training Cost
November 30, 2011
KABUL - World powers must share the cost of training Afghan security forces once foreign troops leave in 2014 because the United States cannot be expected to continue paying about $12 billion a year, French ...
Karzai Urges Pakistan to Reconsider Bonn Boycott
November, 30 2011
KABUL - President Hamid Karzai telephoned Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday to urge him to reconsider a boycott of the Bonn conference over a deadly NATO strike, officials in both countries said. Karzai's deputy spokesman Siamak Herawi told AFP that Pakistan was an important participant in the conference aimed at bridging peace after ...
40,000 Trops to Leave Afghanistan by End of 2012
November, 30 2011
KABUL - A total of 40,000 troops will exit Afghanistan by the end of 2012.
The US will withdraw 33,000 troops by the end of next year, a third of the 101,000 American troops that were here during the peak of military presence in Afghanistan.
Other countries will also cut their troop numbers.
Many nations will keep some soldiers in the country to train and ...
Indian, Canadian Firms to Develop Hajigak Iron Mine
November, 30 2011
KABUL - Afghanistan has awarded the rights to develop four blocks at the Hajigak iron ore mine to a group of Indian firms and a Canadian company, the mines ministry said on Tuesday.
The rights of B, C and D blocks have been given to the AFISCO -- an Indian consortium of seven companies, led by the Steel Authority of ...
2nd Phase of Security Switch to Begin before Bonn Conference: Wardak
November, 30 2011
KABUL - The second phase of security transition from foreign troops to Afghan forces would be launched ahead of the Bonn Conference, the minister of defense said on Tuesday.
Balkh, Daikundi, Takhar, Samangan, Kabul and Nimroz provinces and Jalalabad, Chaghcharan, Shiberghan, Faizabad, Ghazni, Maidan Shahr, ...
IDLG Chief Opposes Forced Poppy Eradication
November, 30 2011
KABUL - Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) officials on Tuesday said forced eradication of poppies was prompting support to the Taliban among growers.
"The use of force to eradicate the crop cannot resolve the problem of opium production. A better way to fight the menace is arranging alternatives for farmers," IDLG Director General Abdul ...
Merkel ‘Very Sorry’ about Pak Boycott of Afghan Meet
November, 30 2011
BERLIN - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday she was "very sorry" about Pakistan's announced boycott of a Bonn conference next week on the future of Afghanistan and would try to convince it to attend.
Merkel said Germany would still "see what could be done to change" Islamabad's decision to bow out of the meeting in the ...
Fate of US Base Depends on Afghan Situation: Otunbayeva
November, 30 2011
BISHKEK - Kyrgyzstan's outgoing president says the decision on whether to allow the U.S. air base to remain in the country after its lease ends in 2014 depends on developments in nearby Afghanistan.
RozaOtunbayeva said Tuesday she favors turning the Manas base at the capital's main airport into a civilian aviation facility, but concedes ...
Impossible to Win War Militarily: Danish FM
November, 29 2011
COPENHAGEN – Danish Foreign Minister Villy Soevndal said for the first time late Sunday that it is impossible to win the ongoing war in Afghanistan by military means.
He made the comments in a public debate aired late Sunday on DR News, Denmark's public broadcaster, following his return Sunday after visiting Danish armed forces serving in Afghanistan.
"This war will not let itself be won militarily, and that is why ...
Karzai, Zardari to Discuss Bonn “Stabilizing Afghanistan without Pakistan would be very difficult”
November, 29 2011
KABUL - President Hamid Karzai will discuss with his Pakistani counterpart to discuss the role of his country at the Bonn conference scheduled for December 5.
According to media reports, Pakistan is reconsidering whether to attend the gathering following a lethal airstrike carried out by NATO that killed 25 Pakistani ...
Pakistan Steps up Rhetoric Over Lethal NATO Raid
November, 29 2011
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan vowed no more "business as usual" with the United States after Nato strikes killed 24 Pakistani soldiers, but stopped short on Monday of threatening to break the troubled alliance ...
Indian Group Awarded3 Blocks at Hajigak
November, 29 2011
KABUL - The Afghan government has awarded the rights to develop three blocks of the huge Hajigak iron ore concession in central Afghanistan to a consortium led by the Steel Authority of India, an official at the Ministry of Mines said on Monday. Policy director Abdul Jalil Jumriany said rights to a fourth block at ...
NATO Missile Shield Threatens Afghanistan Cooperation: Kremlin
November, 29 2011
MOSCOW - Russia may stop cooperating with NATO over Afghanistan if the alliance continues with a planned European missile shield, a senior Kremlin official said on Monday.
"If our (NATO) partners do not react to our concerns on missile defense ... we will have to link them with other matters," said Dmitry Rogozin, Russia's ambassador to NATO, at a strategic planning ...
Kabul Expects Long Term Aid Pledges
November, 29 2011
KABUL - The Afghan government expects a renewal of a strong long-term cooperation pledge from the international community at the 2nd Bonn Conference, officials said on Monday.
A government delegation is to leave for Germany this week to firm up the agenda for the conference, scheduled for Dec. 5. Comprised of ...
Pakistan Gives US 15 Days to Vacate Base
November, 28 2011
ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Sunday conveyed to her US counterpart Hillary Clinton Pakistan's "deep sense of rage" over a deadly ISAF airstrikes, hours after Washington was asked to vacate a military base in Balochistan.
Violation of international law and Pakistan's sovereignty, attacks like Saturday's air raid on a military outposts that left at least 25 soldiers dead in the Mohmand tribal region were "totally ...
Clinton, Panetta Monitoring Post-Raid Situation
November, 28 2011
WASHINGTON - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the Defense Secretary Leon Panetta are closely monitoring the situation in the region as its relationship with Pakistan hit a new bump with the killing of 26 Pakistani soldiers in a cross-border NATO airstrike. Indeed, the State Department and the Department of Defense issued an ...
Germany Backs Taliban Talks in Afghanistan
November, 28 2011
BERLIN - Germany's foreign and defense ministers called on Sunday for the Taliban to be included in Afghanistan peace talks, ahead of a major international conference for the war-ravaged country next month. Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle and Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper that negotiations with the ...
Afghan-US Agreement Not to Be Signed Before Bonn: MoFA
November, 28 2011
KABUL - Afghan-US strategic agreement will not be signed before the second Bonn conference on Afghanistan, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said on Sunday.
A spokesman for the MoFA, Janan Musazai, said that no exact dates have been fixed for the agreement to be signed, but that talks between Afghanistan and the United States on the recommendations of the ...
Japan Pledges $17m to Improve Food Safety
November 28, 2011
KABUL - Japan has promised $17 million to improve food safety in Kabul and Bamyan provinces. The money will be channeled through the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to improve irrigation in the two provinces, the Afghan Ministry of Energy and Water ...
ANSF to Take Lead in More Provinces: Karzai
November, 28 2011
KABUL - President Hamid Karzai on Saturday approved a second list of areas, home to half the nation's population, where Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) will soon start taking the lead from foreign troops. The handover, expected to begin by early next year, is the second ...