WASHINGTON: The United States has ‘absolutely no intention’ of diminishing its relationship with Pakistan in any way, says the US State Department. At the Tuesday news briefing, the department’s spokesman refused to criticise Pakistan for saying that it would look for other options if a deal for buying eight F-16 fighter jets from the United States fails. “These are sovereign decisions that nations make with respect to their defence needs, and it’s up to Pakistan…
Posts published in “Day: May 5, 2016”
The author is an Electrical Engineer and is working in a private organisation in the energy sector. On April 19, 2016, the Taliban carried out one of its most deadly attacks in Kabul, claiming the lives of 64 innocent people. The attack, an extension of the on-going intense battle in Kunduz, came a week after the Taliban announced its own Spring Offensive called Operation Omari or OpOmari in honour of the late Mullah Omar, calling…
The writer is a PhD scholar and works at the IPRI It is not the present but the past that mars Pakistan-Afghanistan relationship. The baggage of 1980s and 1990s Pakistani policies has not allowed it to create a favourable environment in Afghanistan. On the other side, there are several misperceptions as well as concerns, which do not allow Afghanistan to deepen its relationship with Pakistan in particular, and with other neighbouring countries in general. For…
By TAIMOOR SHAH and MUJIB MASHAL KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — It is spring that determines how a year turns out, according to an Afghan proverb. And if the Helmand poppy fields this spring are any indication, the Taliban will have a very good year. As the opium harvest winds down across Helmand Province, Afghanistan’s largest in territory and poppy cultivation, farmers and officials are reporting high yields. The skies were generous with heavy rainfall, and the…
The Afghan intelligence operatives foiled attack plots by the notorious Haqqani terrorist network in Kabul city, the National Directorate of Security (NDS) said. According to a statement by NDS, a group of 3 suspects were arrested in connection to the attack plots. The statement further added that the suspects were involved in plotting and coordinating the attacks in crowded parts of the city. No further details were given regarding the exact location where the suspects…
A number of military officials in Helmand province said on Wednesday that despite a surge in violence in Helmand province, President Ashraf Ghani has still to give the orders for a large scale offensive operation against the Taliban. But provincial governor Hayatullah Hayat says plans are underway to launch a wide scale operation across the province. “Our planning is underway, and soon, this week, our operations will be conducted and all the people support security…
ISLAMABAD: A recent visit by Taliban representatives to Pakistan may not have yielded any breakthrough towards the start of Afghan peace dialogue, but left Pakistani officials hopeful about prospects of talks. “The Taliban did not say no,… they are now introspecting and reassessing the situation,” a senior official said in a background discussion on the Taliban visit. A three-member delegation from Taliban’s political office in Qatar comprising Shahabuddin Dilawar, Jan Muhammad Madni and Mullah Abbas…
ISLAMABAD: The Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan (HIA) led by Engineer Gulbuddin Hekmatyar on Wednesday hinted at “signing a peace deal in days” with the government as both sides have made “substantial progress” in negotiations, the HIA sources privy to the on-going talks said. The HIA, the second largest resistance group in Afghanistan, will declare a ceasefire as the group formally inks an agreement in Kabul, the sources told The Express Tribune from Kabul. Over the past few…
KHYBER AGENCY – The security forces and civil administration officials on Wednesday asked the Khyber Agency tribesmen to expel Afghan citizens from their areas as most of them were involved in terror activities to sabotage peace in Pakistan. This was stated by Swat Scouts Commandant Colonel Naeemullah and assistant political agent of Jamrud Saiful Islam while speaking to a joint Jirga of Shalmani, Mulagori and Kokikhel elders held at Swat Scouts camp in Jamrud Pump…
The writer is a freelance columnist It did not come as a surprise that President Putin has decided not to come to Pakistan for the time being. The Russian mission in Islamabad had already indicated that performing the inauguration of the $2 billion North-South gas pipeline project was ‘not enough substance’ for the trip.Obviously, the President of Russia has better things to do than coming all the way to Pakistan to cut a ribbon. Misplaced…
The writer is a member of staff. THE F-16s issue is back and along with it, memories of betrayals past. The recent refusal of Congress to sanction funds from the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) programme to help pay a large part of the cost of buying eight new F-16 fighter planes has stoked memories of the late 1980s. But it would be a mistake to miss the important lessons that the moment carries for us.…