Home » Afghanistan
Barakzai Seeks Security Switch in Insecure Areas
October 31, 2011
KABUL - Members of Wolesi Jirga's Defense Commission on Sunday said the second phase of security transfer should focus on insecure provinces, believing public support was vital to making the project a success.
The process began on July 17 and is expected to be completed by the ...
Aiming Low at Istanbul Meeting on Afghanistan Security
October 31, 2011
KABUL - Western officials are not setting the bar very high for Afghan diplomats who will meet regional counterparts in Istanbul this week, the first of two conferences that will go a long way to shaping the future of international involvement in ...
277 Students Being Sent to Turkey for Higher Education
October 31, 2011
KABUL - More than 270 students and government servants would go to Turkey to continue higher studies in that country, Ministry of Higher Education officials said on Sunday.
Speaking at a ceremony in Kabul, the foreign relation department head at the ministry, Syed Shershah Sadat, said 199 of the 277 were students who secured good marks in last year's entry ...
‘Significant Risk’ Still Involved in Afghan Training Mission: Harper
October 31, 2011
KABUL - There is no way for Canadian military personnel to work in Afghanistan without "significant risks," Prime Minister Stephen Harper said today in the wake of the death of a soldier in Kabul.
When it announced that Canada would end its combat mission this year ...
WB to Rehabilitate Two Key Dams
October 31, 2011
KABUL - The Ministry of Water and Energy on Sunday signed an agreement with a private construction company for the reconstruction of Naghlu and Mahipar hydroelectric dams.
Funded by the World Bank, the project was estimated to cost $15 million (718 million afghanis) and would take 18 months to complete, ...
No Peace Talks Unless US Changes ‘Dual-Faced Policies’: Taliban
October 31, 2011
KARACHI - A Taliban spokesperson has said unequivocally that reconciliation dialogue cannot be held unless the United States abandons its "dual-faced policies" on Afghanistan.
"On the one hand, it talks about pursuing peace dialogue but on ...
Kabul Suicide Bomb Kills 13 Foreign Troops
October, 30 2011
KABUL - A suicide car bomber killed 13 foreign troops in Afghan Kabul on Saturday, the deadliest single ground attack in 10 years of war in Afghanistan."We can confirm that 13 International Security Assistance Force members have died," said a spokesman for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), giving no further details.
Earlier, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry said three civilians and a police officer had been killed in the attack.
Excluding helicopter crashes, it ...
1st Phase of Security Transition Reviewed
October, 30 2011
KABUL - The Security Transition Board on Saturday reviewed the first trash of transfer and decided to brief President Hamid Karzai a day later on the second phase of process, officials said. Chaired by Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, head of the transition commission, the meeting was attended by ministers of interior and defense, the ISAF commander and the NATO civilian representative in ...
Terror Group Busted in Kabul: NDS
October, 30 2011
A terrorist group, planning to attack the Gul Bahar Trade Centre and the National Directorate of Security (NDS) office, has been arrested by intelligence operatives in Kabul, an official said on Saturday. With the arrest, a huge terrorist bid had been prevented in the capital city, the NDS spokesman, Lutfullah Mashal, told a news ...
Sharp Drop in Afghans Returning from Pakistan: UN
October, 30 2011
KABUL - The number of Afghan refugees returning home from Pakistan fell by almost 60 percent this year, the United Nations' refugee agency said Saturday, reflecting the reluctance of many to return to the war-ravaged country where security concerns abound a decade after a U.S.-led invasion to oust the Taliban. The UNHCR said that 60,000 Afghans have returned so far this year ...
35 Poppy Growers Detained in Nimroz
October, 30 2011
ZARANJ - Security forces detained 35 farmers on the charge of cultivating the illicit poppy crop in their fields in southwestern Nimroz province, officials said on Saturday. The arrests were made in Khashrod district following repeated warnings to farmers against growing the banned plant, the district ...
Over 60,000 Refugees Return Home this Year
October, 30 2011
KABUL - More than 60,000 refugees have returned home under the UNHCR's voluntary return operation during the current so far, the UN agency said on Saturday. The returnees included 43,000 from Pakistan and over 17,000 from Iran, the UNHCR said, adding the Pakistan return figure was 59 percent ...
MPs Call for Probe into 2007 Baghlan Deaths
October, 30 2011
KABUL - Parliamentarians on Saturday renewed their call for an investigation into a 2007 suicide attack that killed a number of their colleagues in northeastern Baghlan province. Six lawmakers, all members of the Wolesi Jirga Finance Commission, their five security guards and 74 other people were killed in the suicide bombing four years ...
Karzai Wants 2nd Phase of Security Switch Enforced
October, 30 2011
KABUL : President Hamid Karzai on Saturday called for serious and practical measures for implementation of the second phase of security transition from foreign troops to their Afghan counterparts.The Security Transition Board on Saturday reviewed the first phase of transfer and decided to brief President Hamid Karzai a day later on the ...
Iranian Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 20 Years in Jail
October, 30 2011
>KABUL - The Criminal Justice Task Force (CJTF) said on Saturday its appeal court had sentenced an Iranian national to 20 years in prison for trafficking 90 kilograms of heroin into Afghanistan.
Arrested by local police in the Abresham area of Nimroz province, the convict had been transporting goods on his truck between Iran and ...
Pakistan Behind U.S. Goal of Afghan Peace: Ambassador
October, 30 2011
CHICAGO - The U.S. goal of peace in Afghanistan is firmly shared by Pakistan, but the two nations face hurdles that include anti-American sentiments in Pakistan, the country's ambassador in the United States ...
Karzai Wants Areas for Security Switch Finalized
October, 29 2011
KABUL - President Hamid Karzai asked security officials on Thursday to finalize provinces and districts for security transfer to local control as part of the second phase of the transition process.
A day earlier, the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) announced the 17 provinces where the second phase of security transition would take place.
At a conference with governors in Kabul, IDLG chief Abdul Khaliq Farahi said they were ready to take over the ...
Clinton Hails Turkey on Af-Pak Issue
October, 29 2011
ANKARA - As Turkey prepares for a full agenda of meetings at next Wednesday's conference on Afghanistan, one conference participant, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, praised Turkey's ability to communicate with the leaders of the Af-Pak region and welcomed its ...
90pc of US-Afghan Strategic Partnership Agreed to: Clinton
October 29, 2011
WASHINGTON - As much as 90 percent of the text of Strategic Partnership between the US and Afghanistan has been agreed upon, the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, told lawmakers on Thursday.
Testifying before a Congressional committee, Clinton said so far the ...
Afghanistan Needs A Strong Private-Sector Partnership: EU
October, 29 2011
KABUL - The EUROMINES Conference - "Investment Opportunities & the Economic Future of Afghanistan' held in Brussels in the presence of representatives from twenty countries and more then forty international companies. In addition, it was attended by high-level Afghan Government officials, Dr. Omar Zakhilwal, Minister of ...
Karzai Statement Taken Out of Context: Clinton
October, 29 2011
WASHINGTON - Coming out in defense of President Hamid Karzai, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said his recent statement that Afghanistan would side with Pakistan and not America was misunderstood and taken out of context. "It was taken out of context and misunderstood," Clinton said at a Congressional hearing when ...
Tajikistan-Afghanistan Power Transmission Line Officially Inaugurated
October, 29 2011
DUSHANBE - An official ceremony of inauguration of the 220 kV power transmission line from Sangtuda in Tajikistan to Pul-i Khumri in Afghanistan took place on October 27.
Tajik Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov, Afghan Vice President Mohammad Qasim Fahim, and Afghan Minister of Energy and Water Resources Mohammad ...
Afghan Children in Iran Deprived of Education
October, 29 2011
KABUL - Although Iran is providing valuable services to refugees, some of Afghan migrants claim their children remain deprived of education in the neighboring country. But Nasir Jehan Shahi, cultural attaché at the Iranian embassy in Kabul, told Pajhwok Afghan News that his country fully assisted Afghan ...
Norway Unfreezes Aid to Afghanistan Fund
October, 29 2011
KABUL - Norway on Thursday said it would restart contributions to the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF), nearly two months after it announced a freeze on aid over corruption.
The country will give up to 280 million kroner ($51.6 million) in aid to ARTF this year, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Like other contributors ...
Paktia Elders Back Strategic Pact with US
October, 29 2011
KABUL - Elders from southeastern Paktia province on Thursday supported the Afghan-US strategic pact and an upcoming Loya Jirga on the deal, the Presidential Palace said.
A consultative meeting between President Hamid Karzai and tribal elders and religious scholars from the province was held in the Presidency to discuss the agreement, the president's office said in a ...
Pakistan Irked Over Proposal for Setting Up ‘Regional Structure’ on Afghanistan
October, 29 2011
ISALAMBAD - Pakistan has expressed reservations over the proposed draft of the declaration of the upcoming Istanbul Conference on Afghanistan, which may complicate international efforts for evolving a consensus on the document. The conference, slated for November 2, is expected to discuss ...
EidulAdha to Be Celebrated on Nov. 6
October, 29 2011
KABUL - Eidul Adha will be celebrated in Afghanistan on November 6, a day ahead of the Arafat Day, when pilgrims stand in prayer in the plain of Arafat during the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
The Arafat Day and three Eid days would be closed public holidays, Ministry of Works and Social Affairs official Shah Sawar Sattari told ...
Karzai Condoles with Zardari Over Nusrat Bhutto’s Death
October, 29 2011
ISLAMABAD - President Hamid Karzai has condoled with his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari over the death of his mother-in-law Begum Nusrat Bhutto. During a phone call to Zardari late on Thursday, Karzai prayed to God to rest the former first lady's soul in eternal peace, said Farhatullah ...
Karzai to Announce Next Round of Security Transition
October, 27 2011
WASHINGTON - Afghan security forces will soon take control of security in 17 areas of Afghanistan, ahead of the complete withdrawal of foreign combat troops from the country by 2014.
A senior Afghan official said Wednesday that Afghan President Hamid Karzai will announce the second phase of the security transition at a conference in Turkey on November 2.
NATO plans to transfer full security control to Afghan forces by the end of 2014. The process began in July, and Afghan ...
EA, ACB to Promote Cricket in Afghanistan
October, 27 2011
KABUL - Etisalat Afghanistan (EA), a 100% owned subsidiary of Etisalat Telecommunications, UAE and Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Wednesday announced renewal of their partnership for the promotion and development of Cricket in Afghanistan. The ceremony held at Sareena Hotel, Kabul was attended by Shahzada Masood, Vice Chairman Afghanistan ...
India, China in Line for Afghan Mine, Oil Contracts
October, 27 2011
LA HULPE - Indian and Chinese bidders are front-runners to be awarded contracts for iron ore and oil projects in coming months, the country's mining minister said on Wednesday. The winner of the Hajigak iron ore project will be announced in early November, Minister of Mines Wahidullah Shahrani told Reuters on the ...
Loya Jirga Participants to Be Targeted: Taliban
October, 27 2011
KABUL - The Taliban on Wednesday warned Afghans against participating in an upcoming Loya Jirga on the proposed strategic cooperation pact with the United States. More than 2,000 government officials and tribal elders are scheduled to meet in mid-November in Kabul to discuss the pros and cons of the ...
Polish DM Visits Troops in Afghanistan
October, 27 2011
KABUL - Polish Minister of Defense Tomasz Siemoniak is visiting Polish troops stationed in the province of Ghazni, eastern Afghanistan. The minister is being accompanied by the head of the Polish National Security Bureau, General Stanisław Koziej. Minister Siemoniak is visiting the troops and overseeing a change in ...
Security in Hands of Afghans in 17 Provinces
October, 27 2011
KABUL - Afghan forces could soon take charge of security in all or parts of 17 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces – the second step in a transition that President Hamid Karzai hopes will leave his police and soldiers in control across the nation by the end of 2014, government officials said Wednesday. Karzai is to officially announce the new sites ...
Azimi Rejects Eikenberry’s Estimates as Too High
October, 27 2011
KABUL - The Defense Ministry spokesman on Wednesday said Afghan forces would need assistance from the international community even after the 2014 security switch, but their expenses would be less than what the former US ambassador has estimated. Former US ambassador Gen. Karl Eikenberry said a few days back if the ...