LANDI KOTAL: Exports to Afghanistan via Torkham border resumed on Thursday when the protesting clearing agents ended their strike after successful negotiations with the relevant government officials. Nearly 1,200 registered clearing agents had suspended clearing of all types of goods to Afghanistan on Tuesday at Torkham when the customs officials started clearing of fresh fruits and vegetables at the newly-established National Logistic Cell terminal in Jamrud. The clearing agents accused the customs department and NLC…
Posts published in “Day: February 5, 2016”
The writer is a retired air-vice marshal, former ambassador and a security and political analyst. Last Monday Iowa set the direction of how the US might shape out in the next four years. In its caucus to determine the leading presidential nominees to replace President Obama, the choices it threw up included Ted Cruz, a moderate Republican – more Democratic on issues like immigration, but hawkish on Syria; and Bernie Sanders of the Democratic Party,…
KABUL — The Afghan army, struggling to defeat a resilient Taliban, has begun enlisting men as old as 40 to replenish a force thinned by casualties, defections and attrition. The decision to raise the age limit for recruits to 40 from 35 was quietly made last month in response to pressure from the U.S.-led coalition, said Brig. Gen. Dawlat Waziri, chief spokesman for the Afghan Defense Ministry. “There was concern among our international friends, and…
The Electoral Commissions’ Selection Committee alleged that some elements have infiltrated the Presidential Palace and are hindering electoral reforms. Members of the committee called on President Ashraf Ghani to issue a decree on electoral reforms soon. It has been a month since the Electoral Commissions Selection Committee stopped its activities. Naeem Ayubzada, a member of the committee, said if the government does not pay attention the ground will be paved for some opportunists to hijack…
United States Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter has said his country is firm on financing the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and that they will consider a billion-dollar package in the Pentagon’s budget for the next year. Carter said the Afghan security forces are now equipped with different types of aircraft and that they will be used on the battlefields. He said their budget contains an element for the Afhan security forces. “Remember, that is…
Embattled Afghan troops have appealed for reinforcements in Sangin district amid reports that government forces have lost control of the key strategic town. Soldiers who are apparently under Taliban siege have said that they are running out of food and ammunition and are unable to break the siege and clear the area of militants. Dozens of troops are reportedly still under siege and no one is addressing the problem, a number of troops fighting Taliban…
The First Vice President Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum rejected reports suggesting his intention to step down from the government of national unity. Admitting shortcomings that often lead to tensions with the government leaders, Gen. Dostum raised questions regarding the reports, saying “How it would be possible to distance from the government that we put efforts into for its establishment?” The First Vice President was speaking during a gathering organized by the Youth Congress of Hezb-e-Junbish…
ISLAMABAD: The chief of Afghanistan’s spy agency met his Pakistani counterpart here on Thursday in what is being described as a first step towards bridging the trust gap between the two intelligence agencies and exploring the prospects of cooperation in fighting terrorism. The meeting of the head of Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security, Masoud Andrabi with Inter-Services Intelligence director general Lt Gen Rizwan Akhtar was the first high-level engagement between the two agencies since Afghan…
BEIJING — China’s president, Xi Jinping, has already grasped more power more quickly than his two recent predecessors, and he has shown a taste for audacious decisions and a loathing for dissent. But a new push to praise him as China’s “core” leader, a term resonant with the formidable stature once held by Deng Xiaoping, suggests that his steely quest for dominance is not over. As Mr. Xi confronts economic challenges and prepares to pick…
ISLAMABAD: Mehdi Honardoost, Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan has said that Iran can supply cheapest gas and electricity to Pakistan while Pakistan was working with Iran on some projects to import electricity. He said that Iran was ready to give more facilities to Pakistan for materialisation of gas pipeline project. He said Iran has 15 neighbours and it preferred to strengthen trade and economic relations with Pakistan as both countries are one nation. According to…
Republican and Democratic presidential candidates should be able to agree on one stark foreign policy reality: The tide hasn’t turned in the war against the Islamic State. In the 18 months that the United States has been working to “degrade and ultimately destroy” the group, it has grown to become a global force that can strike targets in Europe, Asia, Africa and America. The self-declared “caliphate” that in June 2014 was localized in Iraq and…