October 7, this year, marked 15 years of US invasion of Afghanistan and its – still ongoing – war on terror post 9/11 attacks. With little, or no, progress over the years, the situation on ground in Afghanistan remains bleak in terms of security and economy. And with the international media losing its interest in the country and its situation, Afghanistan has fallen into an abyss of insecurity, uncertainty and above all chronic corruption. SIGAR…
Posts published in “Day: December 15, 2016”
The transporter community of Pakistan and Afghanistan observed a wheel-jam strike on both sides of the Torkham border on Tuesday against what they said illicit taxes, charged by the authorities of both countries on the border. The strike resulted in a complete halt to the transportation of goods between the two countries as hundreds of long vehicles, loaded with various goods remained stationary for the day. The representatives of transporters were on the view that…
Artillery is consistently an Afghan Army success story. That’s because it’s devastatingly accurate, regularly destroying Taliban and Daesh targets as they unsuccessfully try to mass on district centers and other strategic locations. (File Photo by Spc. Andrew Baker combat camera) Nowhere is this more true than in Afghanistan’s eastern provinces, where Train, Advise, Assist Command – East works with the Afghan 201st Corps to put rounds downrange. From artillery to mortars to air support, the…
The Taliban militants suffered heavy casualties in an airstrike conducted in northern Balkh province of Afghanistan, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) said Wednesday. According to a statement by MoI “Today early morning, during an airstrike 21 armed Taliban were killed and some amount of light and heavy rounds of ammunitions destroyed as well.” The statement further added that the airstrike took place in Chamtal district but no further details were given. The Taliban militants group…
Reports have emerged regarding the possible return of a notorious commander of Hezb-e-Islami, Zardad, is returning to Kabul today. The issue became viral in social media shortly after scores of people gathered in the airport to welcome the notorious commander who is believed to be returning from London. Dozens of photographs purportedly showing the supporters of the notorious commander have been shared in the social media. There are mixed reactions regarding his return to Kabul…
RAWALPINDI: Commander Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan General John Nicholson called on Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday, an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said. Matters of mutual interest including regional security issues and border management mechanism along Pakistan-Afghanistan border were discussed. General John Nicholson lauded the achievements of Pakistan army in fight against terrorism and continued efforts for peace and stability in the region. https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/171858-Gen-Nicholson-lauds-Pak-Armys-achievements-in-fight-against-terrorism
The writer is a member of staff. IN remarks given at a conference in Islamabad, Sartaj Aziz is reported to have said that loans being taken under CPEC projects will be repaid at two per cent interest spread over 20 to 25 years. He is about one-quarter right. What Aziz is not telling us, unless his comments were not reported in full, is that more than two-thirds of the money committed for the ‘early harvest’…
TURBAT: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said the dream of Balochistan’s prosperity was being realized with completion of several development projects, ensuring “a new Pakistan in the making”. “A new and developed Balochistan means a new Pakistan, with an unprecedented progress never took place in history,” the prime minister said in his address at the inauguration of a 448-kilometre-long Sorab-Hoshab road, an important segment of western route of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The…
Karachi: Over 700 police personnel including 384 for the special protection unit set for the China- Pakistan Economic Corridor passed out from the Razzakabad police training centre on Wednesday. Speaking as the chief guest at the passing out parade held at the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Elite Police Training Centre Razzakabad, IGP AD Khowaja said 1,200 personnel had been recruited for the CPEC special protection unit. The IGP said the CPEC was of great significance for…
DAWN.COM | MOHAMMAD HUSSAIN KHAN | IMTIAZ ALI | HANIF SAMOON | UBAIDULLAH SHAIKH — A ‘low-intensity’ blast on Wednesday targeted a Chinese engineer’s vehicle near Rohri, police said. The engineer remained unhurt in the explosion. “Unknown accused attacked a Chinese engineer’s vehicle near Rohri. Rescue teams moved [to the location],” said a police statement. Deputy Superintendent Police (DSP) Rohri Masood Mahar said, “Today at 15:45 hours, in the jurisdiction of Patni police station, when…
US pledges $81 million for Kurram Tangi Dam: report in The Express Tribune, December 15th, 2016.
ISLAMABAD: The United States on Wednesday pledged to provide $81 million (over Rs8.5 billion) to the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) for the construction of first stage (Kaitu Weir) of the Kurram Tangi Dam project in North Waziristan Agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata). In this regard, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and Wapda signed an agreement at a ceremony. Federal Minister of Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif, US…