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Posts published in “Day: March 21, 2016

Rhetoric and national security: op-ed by S Sadia Kazmi in Pakistan Today, Mar 21, 2016

The writer is Senior Research Associate at the Strategic Vision Institute Islamabad Sometimes even the most well thought out and careful deliberations turn out to be the major faux pas as has been the case with the recently issued statement by Prime Minister’s senior aide Sartaj Aziz. The “confession” that Pakistan has been providing refuge to Taliban leadership. While Pakistan is quite actively playing the role of a facilitator in the Afghan peace process, demonstrating…

Afghanistan’s fog of talks: by K. Iqbal in the nation,March 21, 2016

The writer is a freelance columnist. Politico-military situation in Afghanistan is quite complex. As regards military balance of power, James R Clapper, the US director of national intelligence, recently warned that fighting in Afghanistan will be “more intense” this year than 2015 and that Afghans will continue to face “sustained attacks” by the Taliban in 2016. According to the Pentagon, the Taliban is capable of contesting and taking key terrains in Afghanistan and it poses…

Taliban infiltrated institutions, concedes Afghan official: The News, Mar21, 2016

PESHAWAR: A senior government functionary has conceded that their armed opponents had infiltrated different institutions, including security agencies and social networks, and they could easily reach their targets with the help of infiltrators. Ahmad Zia Masood, Special adviser to President Ashraf Ghani on good governance and brother of the late Afghan mujahideen leader Ahmad Shah Masood, told a gathering in Kabul that this was a serious issue and the government should pay immediate attention to…

End Of Military Operation In Badakhshan Raises Concerns: by Nematullah in Tolo News, Mar 20, 2016

A number of Badakhshan provincial council members and civil society activists on Sunday raised concerns over the end of military operations in the province and said the move would give militants a chance to regroup and strengthen their positions. They urged security forces to continue their operations against insurgents in the province. “If we don’t make use of this short opportunity, we will face a huge problem in the coming spring,” said Jawed Mojadedi, a…

Noor: Afghans need to know about closed-door discussions on peace process KHAAMA PRESS – Sun Mar 20 2016

The acting provincial governor of northern Balkh province Ata Mohammad Noor has called on the government of national unity to update the Afghan people regarding the behind the scenes discussions on Afghan peace process. In his opening remarks during a ceremony to mark Nowruz, start of the new Solar year, Noor said the Afghan people wants peace and stability in the country, noting the growing violence during the recent years. However, Noor said the Afghan…

Karzai questions US security pact in the wake of border violations by Pakistan KHAAMA PRESS – Sun Mar 20 2016

The former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has raised questions regarding the bilateral security agreement between Kabul and Washington in the wake of cross-border incursions by Pakistan. In a statement issued on the occasion of Nowruz, Afghanistan witnessed cross-border incursions by the Pakistani military during the last solar year as they boldly continue to their invasions on the Afghan soil. Karzai further added that the Pakistani military helicopters violated the Afghan air space in estern parts…

Pakistan-India dialogue: Foreign secretaries may meet in April By Kamran Yousaf in The Express Tribune, March 21st, 2016.

ISLAMABAD: The foreign secretaries of Pakistan and India are likely to meet in April to draw up a roadmap for a comprehensive bilateral dialogue the two nuclear-armed neighbours agreed to pursue last December. Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry and his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar were to meet in January but a terrorist attack on the Pathankot airbase led to the cancellation of the key talks. Since then, the two countries have been struggling to reschedule…

Who vandalised Shiv Temple in Manghopir?: by Veengas in Daily Times, March 21, 2016

The author is a freelance contributor to Daily Times and can be contacted at [email protected] Karachi: As we entered Manghopir, it was clearly evident that neither the area was sufficiently developed nor were its inhabitant enjoying a high standard of living. It is very interesting that the residents of Manghopir, despite following different creeds -Islam, Christianity and Hinduism, live together. So much so that even their churches, mosques, imam bargahs and temples are all located…

Exiled Tibetans elect leader as Dalai Lama steps back : report in The Gulf News, Mar 21, 2016

Dharamsala: Tens of thousands of exiled Tibetans voted on Sunday for a new leader tasked with sustaining their struggle for greater autonomy in their Chinese-ruled homeland as the Dalai Lama retreats from the political front line. While Tibetans from across the world were set to vote, those in the picturesque Indian hill town of Dharamsala where the Dalai Lama lives started lining up at booths at 9am (0330 GMT) to elect the next leader of…

ISIS loyalists suffer casualties after ambushing Afghan forces in Nangarhar KHAAMA PRESS – Sun Mar 20 2016

The loyalists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group suffered casualties after ambushing the Afghan security forces in eastern Nangarhar province. According to the local government officials, the incident took place late on Saturday afternoon in Batikot district. Provincial police spokesman Hazrat Hussain Mashriqwal confirmed that the ISIS loyalists the Afghan forces as they were patrolling in the area. He said the ambush triggered a gun battle that lasted for almost…