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The public and their difficulties

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Abdul Hassib Rahimi

<I>[From 1:20 to 2:00PM] Speakers; Miss Ghotay and Miss Shabnam</I> <B>Summary:</B> <I>[From Guldara district of Kabul province][Pashto]:</I> We are suffering numerous difficulties as a result of none-existence of school, clinic, and improved-street in our area. It is only one school existing here which it takes our children one hour to get to that school. I call on the government to draw attentions to resolve our problems and help our children learn knowledge and to create immunity by establishing clinics to us. <I>[Kart-e Naw area of Kabul city][Pashto]:</I> We are increasingly disturbed of city line buses in our area, such that the buses most often cause traffic jam creating numerous difficulties to us. I request from u to discuss our problem with the Millie Bus Enterprise to resolve this problem. <I>[Pashto]:</I> The trucks are used to load sand, brick and cements on. Sometimes, when they drive on rugged roads, they create heaps of difficulties to the public. <I>[Shirin Agha from Didana area of Kabul city][Dari]:</I> The street connecting Didana to Darlaman area of Kabul city, is pretty rugged creating numerous troubles to the public. I call on the Kabul municipality to take immediate actions to improve the street. <I>[Hamidullah][Pashto]</I> I am a driver. We, drivers, are fed up with the way the traffic policemen treat us. They are used to behave toward us to such a way that even they sound like animals. As we pay them money, they don’t disturb us. Otherwise, they create several difficulties to us. It would be very nice of you to reflect my sound to the responsible authorities . <I>[Wali Ahmad from Qala Wazir area of Kabul city][The received letter read by Shabnam]:</I> They have complained about rugged roads in there area. <I>[The orator]</I> as I speculate, this is a general problem in Kabul. <I>[Pashto];</I> The Kabul municipality doesn’t work to keep Kabul clean. The members of the Kabul municipality need to take very urgent steps to improve the environment in Kabul, since it is their responsibility. Kabul is our city and is termed as the intellectual mother of the public. If it is dirty, then all its residents may be suffering heaps of difficulties.

The government should realise its responsibility toward its nation

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Translated by Abdul Hassib Editorial

Some days ago, the presidential spokesman said that private sectors import oil with a very low quality, which police have seized some tankers of mixed-oil with water. He also said that the government was very concerned of upraise of oil price in the markets which this problem was discussed in periodic session of the ministers’ council as well. He added that the Afghan president, afterwards, recommended the ministry of commerce to make actions to control import of oil. At the same time, we heard the ministry of commerce pledge to be importing oil by next month and present it to bazaar with a lower price. It came at a time when the oil prices have raised at least 40% in the markets. The key factor contributing role in upraise of price in the markets should be seen as enforcement of free economic markets’ policy, through which all the governmental enterprises were closed and the government’s economic was debilitated. Neither the capitalists establish companies, nor is the government able to import materials and offer it to markets. This is why the markets have been captured by some limit circles of entrepreneurs, whom taking the chance, want to sack the nation’s blood up and increase their capitals times three. We believe that these structures, through restricting the necessities, are making efforts to bring poverty and troubles to war-afflicted nation of Afghanistan. For this reason, the fault policy of free economic bazaar appears to have been inflicting damages to the nation. As we know, winter is getting started in a very near future. If prices are expensive in summer, then it would likely be increasing times ten in the winter, which this may cause several poor people die as a result of cold weather and lack of foodstuff to them. We hope the Afghan government may take decisive steps to resolve this difficulty.

News Bulletin

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Abdul Hassib Rahimi

<I>[From 3:00 to 3:05PM]</I> <B>Summary:</B> <U>2 policemen killed:</U> As a result of a suicide attack in Kunduz at least 2 policemen were killed and 5 others were injured. However, Zabiullah Mujahid, the spokesman for the Taliban and government opponents in northern Afghanistan said that at least 12 policemen were killed and two of their cars were destroyed in this attack. <U>4 people killed in Paktika:</U> At least 2 policemen and 2 innocent people were killed and 10 others injured in a suicide attack in Yahya Khil district of Paktika province., it has been said that the Yahya Khil district police chief was killed in this attack as well. <U>15 followers of the Taliban killed:</U> 15 members of the Taliban including Mullah Matin, a well-known commander of the Taliban who had hand in kidnapping the Korean citizens, security officials say, were killed in an ANA-NATO joint military operation in Ghazni province. <U>Britain complains about Chinese weapon in Afghanistan:</U> The British government says that Chinese guns are sent to the Taliban in Afghanistan. The Beijing authorities have pledged to would review this case.

The Public and Their Difficulties

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Abdul Hassib Rahimi

<I>[From 1:10 to 2:00PM] Speakers: Miss Ghotay and Miss Shabnam</I> <B>Summary;</B> <I>[Gulab][Pashto]:</I> Kuchi people are suffering numerous problems as a result of lack of residential regions, such that they install their tents, in wherever, on state-owned lands, while the other people are stopping them with a very bad manner. We call on the Afghan government to draw a bit further attention to rid Kuchi people of their difficulties. <I>[Najeeba from Parwan-e Sih area of Kabul city][The received letter read by Shabnam][Dari]:</I> There were, they say, heaps of trashes around roads in this area. They complain about a lack of attention of the Kabul municipality alike, to such a way that they have blamed it (the Kabul municipality) of not-cleaning the city. They also said that the Kabul municipality doesn’t appear to know whether or not there was an area called Parwan-e Sih (3rd) around Kabul city. <I>[Dawlat from Kabul province][Dari]:</I> I just came from Badakhshan. We are used to travel to Tajikistan by crossing Shir Khan Border for some commercial purposes. The Tajikistan consulate office doesn’t issue visa to us creating numerous difficulties to us. I request from u to discuss our problem with the responsible authorities so that they facilitate the way for our business. <I>[Abdul Hamid from Bagrami district of Kabul city][Pashto]:</I> We are lacking clean water in our area, so such an extent that even there is no resource for us to obtain clean water. We call on the government to dig some wells and make us rescued of the problem. <I>[Mirwais from Kolola Poshta area of Kabul city][Dari]:</I> We are living in Kolola Poshta apartment-buildings. There are lots of trashes. The Kabul municipality on the other hand doesn’t tend to make the area clean. We call on them to make actions to resolve our problems. <I>[Omar Rahimi from Lowgar province][Dari]:</I> We are going to shopping in Mandavi Market of Kabul. The shopkeepers treat us with a very bad manner putting the price twice as much as the original is, on the materials we need to purchase. <I>[Abdul Ahad Tanha][Pashto]:</I> It is unfair of the public to give u prank calls. It is a program running for an hour to reflect the problems of the public, but this program doesn’t exist to be chased with rubbish. We call on our people not to do so, and not keep the telephone lines busy so that the other people could easily establish to u. <I>[Jamil from Khair Khana area of Kabul city][Dari]:</I> I applied to collect a bachelor’s certificate to the ministry of educations three months ago, but I have been unable to get it so far. The members of this ministry create numerous difficulties to us in this regard. We call on the responsible dignities to make efforts to help the students get their bachelor’s certificate easily.

Blackmailing and kidnapping, new tools of pressure of the Taliban

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stanikzai

The people of Afghanistan have been exposed to invasion and aggression of powerful and superpowers, emperors, dictators and ignorant groups but Afghans have always resisted against them by with empty hands and their hearts full of faiths but despite the fact that the peaceful countries of the world and the enemies of instability have comprehended this problem of them once again they want to allow the Afghan people in the hawks of terrorism, international mafia and small and big groups and then they watch from their stages. The late existing concerns and the insecure situation in the country that each moment Afghans sacrifice for that in most parts of the country and the increase of drugs as cancer, kidnapping, administrative corruption, eruption of different kinds of crimes, unemployment, poverty, stretch of the hands of murders to those places where security is guaranteed 100% and the late warning of the Taliban that they will kidnap the nationals of those countries which have forces stationed in Afghanistan. Our statesmen and the internal and foreign security officials may not take the warnings of the Taliban for granted but the late kidnapping case of the South Korea nationals and other kidnapping cases showed that till the Taliban did not want there is no power to help and release the hostages and they [the Taliban ] in addition to the exchange of their prisoners also took blackmails and still they issue warnings. The access of the Taliban to these cheap tools and having more power in this respect not only they created disorder among the supporters of the Afghan government but they enjoyed political recognition and were supposed to be one side of the Afghan crisis. The direct dealing of South Korea expanded the political spheres of the Taliban. Therefore, the security organs of Afghanistan and NATO should be keen to the warning of the Taliban and they should handle the security of Afghans and foreign nationals because they proved that they can secure the situation as they could it during the elections and now, if they don’t maintain security questions will be raised about their honesty in their jobs.

News Bulletin

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Abdul Hassib Rahimi

<I>[From 2:00 to 2:10PM]:</I> <B>Summary:</B> <U>2 policemen killed:</U> As a result of landmine explosion at least 2 policemen, security officials say, were killed and 3 others were wounded in Gereshk district of Helmand province. The Helmand governor said that a police car hit a landmine which resulted in death of 2 policemen including the criminal director of Gereshk police department, and injury of 3 others. He called the Taliban and government opponents responsible for the attack. However, Zaibullah Mujahid, the spokesman for the Taliban said that the car which used to hit the mine was visually destroyed and all the policemen were killed in it. But he didn’t comment about exact casualties of police in this incident. <U>4 opposition members killed:</U> Security officials claimed to have killed at least 4 opposition members and wounded three others of them in an armed-conflict to them in Ghormash district of Badghis province. The Ghormash district police chief told the Killid over the telephone that enemies with a 100-militants group attacked on a police checkpoint here in this district, which the brave policemen stood up against them killing at least 4 members of the Taliban and injuring three others. He also said that one policeman was wounded as well. However, the Taliban and government opponents have not commented in this regard so far. <U>Three would-be suicide bombers arrested:</U> At least three would-be suicide bombers, security officials claim, were arrested when they were supposed to carry out a suicide attack, together on a NATO convoy in Kandahar city. The Kandahar provincial police chief, Sayyed Aqa Saqeb, said that the would-be suicide bombers were ridding on a car ready to attack on a NATO convoy, when the police came up to them and by discovering the aim, police were able to arrest them. He also said that they were residents of Uruzgan, Zheray, and Panjwayi. According to another news report, 7 policemen were arrested in charge of bribing in Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province. <U>Hezb-e Islami members detained:</U> Security officials claim to have seized at least three members of Hezb-e Islami-e Hekmatyar in Balkh province. Sardar Mohammad the Balkh provincial police chief said that a very well-known member of this party include the arrested men as well. He also said that they sent the three arrested men to the Balkh Security department for interrogations.

Eruption of disagreement between senior government officials

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stanikzai

While the first vice president demanded for the crop spraying of the poppy farms, another high rank government official reasoned that this will impact the environment of subsistence and rejected the method. Humyun Hamidzada the spokesman of the president in his weekly press conference told the journalists that basic methods should be searched in combat against drugs that the farmers don’t desire to cultivate poppy but the government have always stressed that the farmers should not be given any privileges for abandoning poppy cultivation. On the other hand Mr. Hamidzada said that crop spraying is the final solution, most government senior officials think. He said. Mr. Ahmad Zia Masood the first vice president said that the combat of Britain against drugs in Afghanistan has failed completely. The first vice president asked that the combat against drugs in Afghanistan should be revised and he stressed on the method of crop spraying and usage more violent forces against the phenomenon. Afghanistan by producing 8200 ton of opium in the current year, it present the 93% of the drugs of the world. With an constant increase of drugs in Afghanistan within the past five years, he phenomenon has changed to a serious concern to the government of Mr. Karzai and the international community as well. The situation has caused recently the government of Mr. Karzai to demand for the interfere of the foreign forces in combat against the poppy cultivation in Afghanistan. Zmarai Bashari the spokesman of the ministry of interior said that next year they will ask the international community to assist the Afghan police in combat against drugs. He said that the Afghan police is not capable of fighting with the international terrorism and drugs in a parallel time. Pointing out to the murder of 500 police within the past five months he said that combat against drugs and terrorism requires deployment of more forces in the southern provinces of the country. The percentage of production of drugs is higher in those regions where the Taliban are mostly powerful there and they finance their violent policies with the amounts make from poppy. According to the report of UN the troubled province of Helmand specifies the 43% of drugs of the entire country while 13 other provinces have been declared non-poppy provinces. Meanwhile the UN has also called on the international community to assist the Afghan government in combat against drugs. Meanwhile concerns also exist that if a serious combat is conducted against drugs and drug production is declined at once the poor Afghan society that depends on poppy economy will b faced with a humanitarian crisis. In the last week Mr. Karzai signed a decree according to which most authorities of the ministry of interior will be transferred to a newly organized organ called “local organs” which mostly will consider the problems in the provinces.

The negative outcomes

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Translated by Abdul Hassib Editorial

The British dignities have recently said that the Chinese weapons are utilised by the Taliban in their fight against the Afghan government, throughout Afghanistan. According to latest news reports, the British authorities have noticed the Chinese officials that the Taliban use those weapons made of China in their operations in Afghanistan, and that the weapons are fetched/transmitted to the Taliban via Iran. This is not the first time the English dignities have talked about close or “would-be” relations between Iran and the Taliban in Afghanistan. However, previously the NATO leaders in Afghanistan said that the Taliban receive some Iranian weapons in the country. The Iranian government has been used to hold close fraternal relations to the Afghan government. As the Iranian state board say, maintaining security in Afghanistan benefits expansion of security in Iran as well. Meanwhile, several projects of reconstruction have been funded by Iranian government over the past six years in Afghanistan. On the other hand, the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, has constantly described Iran-Afghan relations fraternal and good. The Iranian government has, however, denied/rejected their relations to the Taliban, but the English and US authorities are increasingly concerned in this regard. It is very early to adjudicate in this regard, but if there is a relation between the Taliban and Iran, then, as a new challenge it would be threatening the regional security.

The right of fighting

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Atif MOhmandzai

Fighting against narcotic in Afghanistan changed to unsolvable puzzle that didn’t have any succession in the past over several years and it is increasing day to day. Lots of assistances have been taken place by international community for the eradication of poppy but didn’t have any positive result. England have been assisted and invested in this regard a lot and Afghanistan government as well established a ministry by the name of counter against narcotic in order that this ministry could assist in eradication of narcotic in assistance of world countries especially Britain, but by passing every year trafficking and cultivation of narcotic increases in Afghanistan. After five years assistances, now Afghan government and assistor countries understood that their effort unsuccessful in this regard and didn’t have any achievement for Afghanistan. Mr. Karzai, president of Islamic republic of Afghanistan, called international community responsible for this unsuccessfulness. Some countries such United states of America believes there is not any other way except crop-spraying through sky and all efforts have been failed. This request have expressed in the past years too, but faced to appose of Afghan government. This years Afghan government didn’t accept as well and minister councils rejected this statement too and stated that it has negative effect on the. Crop-spraying effect human, animals and as well as on planets, therefore, such acting is not fruitful and must prevent from that. But have to accept that narcotic mafia succeeded on Afghan government and as well on assistor countries. Therefore clash against narcotic needs on serious plan and action. All the efforts and assistances in this regard were useless and it is increased instead decreasing. If this process continue so and Afghanistan and international community can’t take an action, and Afghanistan will move to fall. It is necessary Afghan government and international community serious act and reach to an serious agreement and to solve this problem.

News Bulletin

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Abdul Hassib Rahimi

<B>Summary</B> <U>Criminal director of Gereshk killed:</U> The Criminal director for Gereshk police department, along with his driver was killed and 3 others injured in a landmine explosion in this district. The Gereshk district chief said that the car belonging to the criminal director used to hit a landmine on his way from his (governor’s) office to the police department. <U>ISAF: The Taliban can’t stop us by suicide attack:</U> The ISAF troops stationed in Afghanistan said in a statement they issued that the Taliban by carrying out suicide attack can never lead to their (ISAF) failure in Afghanistan, and that they forcibly would be operating to uproot the Taliban. It is said in the statement that most casualties were brought to civilians in suicide attacks. <U>Evaluation session held:</U> Following the demonstration of the capitalists in Herat against insecurity and their warning to the government, an evaluation session, by participation of economic commission of the lower house and some economic analysts, for the first time, was held in Herat to review the problems of the capitalists right there. <U>20 Taliban killed:</U> According to a statement issued by NATO troops, at least 20 members of the Taliban were killed in their conflict to NATO-ANA soldiers in Shah Wali Kot district of Kandahar province. The report adds that the conflict took place after that the Taliban attack on a NATO convoy in this district. An Afghan soldier, the report said, was killed in this incident as well.

One police arrested in charge of robbing one vehicle

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Atif Mohmandzai

One 08 division soldier arrested along with his two friends yesterday by deductive forces of Kabul in charge of robbing one car from 9th security police checkpoint. Ali Shah Paktyawal, chef of criminal department provincial police headquarter of Kabul province told Roz News agency, Mohammad Younis known as Ajmal who robbed one vehicle four days ago in coordination of Najeeb from Salang district by using special key and they arrested in Yaka Tot area, Kabul city. Mr. Paktyawal stated the accused policeman confessed on the rob of 11 vehicles other as well during the investigation. Wazir Mohammad, owner of the mentioned robbed corolla vehicle told Roz news agency, i wet Salang district four days ago along with my family for participation in a wedding party of one of our relatives. we have parked the vehicle behind the gate of the house, that day morning the robber robbed my vehicle with a special key of this vehicle which was lost some before. The source says, Najeeb is under investigation and the case is under assessment. It comes in a time that last week one another robber arrested in Kabul-Lugar highway by police forces in charge of robbing corolla vehicle.

Man beheads his sister

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stanikzai

A man called Ahmad who had killed his wife and small child in Peshawar, he beheaded his 35 year old sister on Sunday in the center of Parwan province but he was arrested by police. Gen. Mohammad Salem Ehsass the provincial police chief of Parwan told Pajhwok news agency that Ahmad a resident of Tawakh village of Aunaba district of Panjsher murdered his sister Parigul. According to the provincial police chief Parigul used to live separately from Ahmad and he beheaded his sister in her house by a knife in the old city of Charikar. The provincial police chief of Parwan province said that Ahmad escaped after he murdered his sister but he was captured by the security forces of the province while he was washing his hands smeared with blood in a garden. According to the information of Mr. Ehsass, Ahmad had murdered his wife and a small child in a camp of immigrants in Peshawar with knife.

Poverty in its last stages in the country

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stanikzai

A new report of the independent commission of human rights of Afghanistan expresses that 60% of the residents of this country live in poverty. Poverty has increased remarkably that patients in most Afghan families scream out but they can not afford to take their patients to hospitals for treatment. Insecurity and constant suicide attacks and explosion of mines on the highways, armed attacks on the convoys by the oppositions and military ground operations conducted by foreign forces and air bombardments that in most cases civilians and innocent people are killed, have all washed the hopes of people away. According to the reports half of the population of the country does not access to drinking water and standard health services, various kinds of diseases have increased throughout the country as the result of continued civil war, poverty, usage and generalization of drugs in the country are all the factors of the problems of Afghanistan. Most of the children of the country are deprived on elementary education. According to the report of the independent commission of human rights of Afghanistan 60% of Afghans are jobless. These [60%] Afghans mange live with less than a Dollar and 37% of people do not access to enough food. The remained 3% Afghans are those who work in high government posts or they have NGOs and private companies or they work in foreign institutions or embassies. Some of them are involved in drug business. They have good life and they think that all people are prosperous, if this situation continues the result will be such a catastrophe that its tolerance will be so difficult.

Three armed robbers killed in Herat

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Atif Mohmandzai

Three robbers were killed and wounded during attack on security police checkpoint last night in Adraskan district of Herat province. Colonel Abdul Raouf Ahmadi, deputy of provincial police headquarter of Herat province told Roz news agency, the police clashed with robbers when they attacked on security checkpoint of Sherzad village of the mentioned district. He stated after the clash our forces could arrest two wounded robbers along with three weapons and one of the other was killed. Mriwais, 25 years old student of Herat university objected from the security condition and stated, the illegal armed men are strengthened in these lasts that even attack on police and security checkpoints. He says, security condition of Herat province is reducing day to day and pave the ground of people’s anxiety. He criticized on central officials and stated that they haven’t acted yet for solution of this difficulty. According to him, kidnapping, terror and armed robbing in Herat province are the issues that increases as days goes by.

Six people killed as the result of family hostilities

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stanikzai

Six people including two children were killed as the result of an armed conflict in Herat and Ghur provinces. The security organs of both of the provinces while confirmed the news, termed personal hostilities as the factors of these events. As the result of a conflict in Orine region of Shindand district of Herat province three people were killed. Mohammad Shafiq Fazli the provincial police chief of Herat confirming the news said that personal hostilities were the main factors of these events in Herat. Mr. Fazli told 8-e Sobh reporter that when the security forces were sent to the place of conflict, the element of the conflicts had escaped and their weapons were seized from them. According to a separate report as the result of explosion of a grenade in house three persons including two children were killed in Pasawand district of Ghur province. Shah Jahan Noori the provincial police chief of Ghur province said that, personal hostility was the main factor of the late killings and he said that two persons have been arrested in this respect and he added that the two persons had entered the province from Helmand to carry out the actions.

Police contemporaneous don’t have ability of poppy eradication and apposition members

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Atif Mohmandzai

Government has demanded from the foreign troops in the country in order to cleanup the Taliban from the area for effacement of poppy cultivation. Representatives of united nation in counter against narcotic affair also expressed such statement in the report which told this organization. Zamarayi Bashari, spokesman of Afghan ministry of interior affair stated that police of counter against narcotic don’t have the ability in order to eradication poppy cultivation in insecure areas and as well as fight with armed insurgents. He stated 50 policemen of counter against narcotic have been killed in the current year during eradication of poppy field in insecure provinces, therefore, Afghan ministry of interior affair has demanded from international coalition forces in order to cleanup armed men role in insecure provinces for eradication of poppy field.

Foreign security companies are involve in the kidnap and rob

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Atif Mohmandzai

Chef of criminal department provincial police headquarter of Kabul province, accused foreign security companies in kidnapping and robbing. General Ali Shah Paktyawal, who was invited yesterday to interior security commission of lower house, stated people are working in these companies who are involved in crimes. Paktyawal as well involved foreign workers of these companies in crimes and stated, all kidnaps and robbing which have been carried out these companies are directly involved and we have evidence and documents in this regard. He demanded from the representatives that foreign security companies must come in the frame of law in order to decrease such crimes. According to the information of Paktyawal, there are 81 companies inside of the country that 45 of them have temporary registered and they have received licence from AISA support from investigation administration. According to his information, these companies totally have 11000 arms in their disposal. According to his information, these 81 companies have different offices in different points of Kabul city, we can’t assess them and most of them don’t let us. He has added, these companies must answer that in who’s permission they have imported these weapons? Interior security commission of lower house in addition Paktyawal, Moner Mangal deputy of interior ministry and Nazar Shah chef of national security department of Kabul province as well invited according to the objections of the traders and the increase of crimes. But Moner Mangal stated one working role has been prepared regarding the activities of security companies and will dispatch next week for ratification to ministers council. According to the information of Mangal, this ministry had 78 kidnap incidents during this year that 72 of them discovered 60 of them under discovery and 142 men, seven women and 9 children have been arrested who are involved in these kidnappings and 35 accused people are disappeared. But he didn’t say whether foreign security companies are involved in these cases or not? Zalmai Mujadid, chef of interior security commission of lower house, stated that kidnappers have gotten influential inside security organs. In today’s session, the representatives criticized regarding security condition across the country and accused the number of security commander of the districts in insecurities but didn’t name anyone. Security deputy didn’t call these accusation baseless and stated that such officials will be discharged. Accepted that apposition members are strengthened in the borders. But stated 17 operations are continuing in different parts of the country for the prevention of these threats. The representatives criticized on military operations of security forces too and stated that security forces leave the area after the operation and civilians are coming under teasing by apposition members. Security deputy accepted this and stated that will be struggled for the solution of this difficulty.

Ghazni officials claim the dead of 4 Taliban members

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Atif MOhmandzai

Security officials of Ghazni province yesterday claimed the dead of four Taliban members including their two commanders as a result of cleanup operation in Qara Bagh district of that province. Colonel Ali Shah Ahmadzai, security commander of Ghazni province told Pajhwok Afghan news agency that these two commanders by the names of Mullah Mateen and Mullah Khori were killed as a result of clearnup operation which launched today morning. He stated this operation launched when 2:00 last night the clash between the Taliban and security forces took place in Gawomishak and Sher areas. Ahmadzai, today morning told Pajhwok Afghan news agency in these two clashes, 12 Taliban members were killed and 16 other were wounded. Ahmadzai stated that cleanup operation ended at 3:00 afternoon and totally as a result of this operation 16 apposition members were killed and 16 other were wounded. He stated that three Pakistanis and two Arabs are as well included among the killed people. He also stated that there was not casualty to national police and army. From other hand, Qari Yousif Ahmadi, the Taliban spokesman however confirmed the dead of their seven men in the clashes and operations but stated that they don’t know any commander by the name of Mullah Mateen and Mullah Khori. He told Pajhwok Afghan news agency, all the killed Taliban members are local residents of Ghazni province. he claimed the inflict of heavy casualties in yesterday night clashes to security forces but didn’t express the exact number.

Suicide attack on security commander of Yahya Khel district

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Atif Mohmandzai

As a result of suicide attack which carried out yesterday at 5:30pm in bazaar of Yahya Khel district of Paktya province, security commander of the mentioned province killed and one of his bodyguards was wounded. General Sardar Mohammad Jaji, security commander of Paktika province meanwhile confirming this incident says that 10 civilians were wounded in this attack as well. Dr. Akram Akhpalwak, governor of Paktika province says that the suicide bomber was on feet and exploded himself in the bazaar that as a result 1 policeman killed and two other were wounded. Zabihullah Mojahid, who introduces himself the Taliban spokesman got the responsibility of this attack and says as a result of this attack six policemen were killed including security commander of the mentioned district. It comes in a time that several days ago as a result of one suicide attack in Barmal district of this province, two ANA soldiers were died and 10 civilians were wounded including one policeman.

Suicide attack in Kunduz province

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Atif MOhmandzai

As a result of suicide attack in Kunduz in north of Afghanistan, two policemen were killed and three other were wounded. Ayoub Salangi, security commander of Kunduz province stated when police officials wanted to inspect one suspected buggy, the bomb blasted which was already placed in that. Mr. Salangi stated police forces demanded from the buggy rider to handover himself, but prevented and exploded the bomb with himself, as a result he killed along with two policemen. This incident carried out at 10:00am, in 3 Darak area beside Kunduz-Baghlan highway. No one have gotten the responsibility of this incident yet. Suicide attacks of apposition members, most of them carry out in southern and eastern provinces of the country. One suicide attack carried out one month ago in front of municipality building as well, as a result one of the worker for national security department killed and 15 other were wounded.

we will negotiate in the case if foreign troops out

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Atif Mohmandzai

Qatb-o Din Halal, deputy of Gul Boddin Hakmatyar, leader of Hazb-E Islami announced that in the case if foreign troops leave the country than we will negotiate with the government. He expressed this statement yesterday. He pointed during his speech that Joint Afghan and Pakistan peace Jirga didn’t have any positive result. According to him, there were not real representatives in the Jirga and it is necessary representatives of apposite group as well sit and find the solution. Afghanistan people never accept leadership of the foreigners and if Hamid Karzai, president of Islamic republic of Afghanistan want to negotiate, than must announce the program of the leave of foreign troops from Afghanistan.

Kandahar national security department arrested four Pakistanis

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Atif Mohmandzai

Afghan national security department announced that four Pakistanis officials were arrested in Kandahar province by their personals. Chef of Kandahar national security department told medias, these people were arrested in Khowaja area of Kandahar province, they are trained in using planting landmine, suicide attacks, explosives vests and etc in Quetta Pakistan. He stated that the arrested men confessed on their crime and added that have responsibility teaching destructives for insurgents. He stated that four Afghan were arrested in charge of cooperating with them as well.

Ustad Nasir Ahmad Nawidi, a member of Institute of Political Studies IPS and a political expert in a special interview with Islah-e Milli

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stanikzai

• I think that Afghanistan will be the margin of cold war • The presence of foreign forces has complicated the situation in Afghanistan • Most factors of the failure of the administration of Karzai is lack of social undertaking Islah-e Milli: considering the present situation in the country and in the region, how do you evaluate the future of the region? Nawidi: in the name of Allah; generally, when we talk about this region, Afghanistan, central Asian countries, Pakistan, India, Iran and China all are included and naturally these countries are relevant one to another and in my opinion this situation in this region is more complicated than any other time. What has caused to complicate the situation in the region? firstly the presence of Al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters that they were recognized as mujahideen during the former Soviet Union invasion but now they are called as terrorists and Al-Qaeda, the policies of the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan and Pakistan that each one has its own needs as expansionists and in fact Afghanistan is the field of a kin of secret war among these countries as well as the presence of foreign forces here and NATO have complicated the situation and the internal situation of Afghanistan and thirty years of war in Afghanistan has caused that this nation loses reality being as a nation so that it has separated to many groups therefore based on some of these internal and some regional factors and the international as well, the future of this region is not clear and possibly not only a series of wars and unrest will be continued in this region but they may be expanded to other places such as Iran and Pakistan. Islah-E Milli: sometimes ago the regional security jirga was held among Afghanistan and Pakistan, in your opinion, to what extension the jirga could represent the nations of Afghanistan and Pakistan and secondly, what could be the compacts of its results in the present situation in the region and especially both of the countries? Nawidi: I prefer not to talk about the legitimacy of this jirga and that to what extend it was in accordance to the Afghan customs why? Previously there have been discussions about it, there are serious problems in this regard and a number of questions have raised about it among them the question raises that between what hostile sides the jirga was held? Who was the third side? And then, what were the results. These are the unanswered questions and I don’t want to talk more about them. But what was important was the results and outcomes of this jirga, anyhow, meeting, understanding and dialog are useful and as much they are expanded the much are useful but if sincerity lies in it and if such an atmosphere is presented that later the results of the jirga could be implemented. I think that what were discussed in the jirga were not bad but those topics which were discussed and how much are they implemental is important and it has less chance of being implemented but the most important outcomes of the jirga were that currently the relations between the two countries were improved temporarily and both countries gained some advantages from that e. g. Afghanistan proved that the jirga which was determined a year ago was held finally despite the fact that Pakistan was not interested in it, Mr. Karzai got an opportunity to address that people of beyond the border and the Durand line and he shared his wishes and opinions with them. Pakistan also maintained something, the most important was that before that jirga Pakistan was considered as an interfering country in domestic affairs of Afghanistan but after the jirga in fact Pakistan also introduced itself as a victim of terrorism and joined the so-called combat against the terrorism. Other thing, as Afghanistan claimed that terrorists come from Pakistan, Mr. Musharraf also confirmed it that the oppositions of the government of Mr. Karzai receive assistances from beyond the borders. Islah-e Milli: as you mentioned before, the tribal regions may be more concentrated, as sometimes ago, American senators and the government spokespersons of America spoke of direct operations in these regions, in your opinion despite the apparent reactions of Pakistan, to what extensions will the threats be practical and if such attacks take place what will be the stance of the government of Mr. Musharraf? Nawidi: the administration of Mr. Bush is in its last months and naturally new elections will take place next year and the administration of Bush does not have much chance of prolongation, they want to present some achievements from a war in the name of war against terrorism to the nation of America and the international community as well, because practically, America has been defeat in war against terrorism and they could not prove whatever they claimed in Afghanistan and in Iraq. So that they concentrate on the arrest of some Taliban and Al-Qaeda members dead or alive and they show them as a success in combat against terrorism. Such as most of their intelligence sources acknowledge that the Al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders are hidden in tribal regions so that they want to focus on these regions and if Pakistan agrees or it doesn’t agree military operations will be conduced there. But what has apparently been said to the media as opposing to the comments of American officials, they are all for settling the public and the reactions of people. Otherwise Musharraf agrees with the strategy of America that is the reason that Musharraf has always been appreciated and he enjoys support of America even America seeks to prolong the age of the life of Musharraf by bringing Mrs. Bhutto beside him. Islah-e Milli: Recently Mr. Ahmadinezhad had a travel to Kabul which took place immediately after the end of the regional peace jirga, in your opinion, what was the message of Mr. Ahmadinezhad to countries of the region and how do you evaluate the impacts of travel of Ahmadinezhad in the relations of Afghanistan, Iran and America? Nawidi: in my personal opinion, the travel of Mr. Ahmadinezhad was only a ceremonial travel and did not have any significance. We Afghans should sorrowfully accept that as the result of three decades of wars our country has changed to a field of testing power and a laboratory of different politic experiments and this has caused that we should not have a unit and constant unity. Naturally, after the holding of the regional peace jirga which was a tool of making both of the countries to get close one to another, there raised some worries in the government circles and some pressures on Mr. Karzai because there are certain people who think that friendship with Pakistan means hostility with Iran and on the other hand the holding of the regional security jirga can also be a cause of worry for Iran so that Mr. Karzai invited Mr. Ahmadinezhad soon after the end of the jirga to perform that closing to Pakistan does not mean getting cool with Iran and what were presented with Mr. Ahmadinehad were topics related to some agreements without any specific strategic importance. Islah-e Milli: after the travel of Ahmadinezhad to Kabul, Karzai and Ahmadinezhad traveled to central Asia and participated in the assembly of Shanghai organization, in your opinion, what is the importance of the travel and participation of Mr. Karzai in Shanghai assembly? Nawidi: naturally, the Shanghai conference is an important regional conference especially when it is leading to become more political after each session, military practices of China and Russia during the summit of Shanghai and the comments of Putin after the summit of Shanghai related to the work of start of Russian jet fighters remains from the cold war, these all show that Shanghai organization is eager to limit the advance of America in the region. especially the regions which are traditionally the regions of influence of Russia and China and they are the regions of central and south of Asia. I think that the conference of Shanghai with its importance had a clear message to Mr. Karzai and that was that Afghanistan locates in the influence site of Shanghai conference and that the problems of Afghanistan will be the cause of problems to all the member countries of Shanghai and this in my opinion mentions the cold war era that Afghanistan will be at the margins of a new cold war that one side is America and the other is the conference of Shanghai especially China and Russia and this is not only important to Afghanistan but also to its international supporters. As far as the Shanghai member countries look at Afghanistan with most concerns especially the presence of foreign forces in the country and they term it as a threat for themselves it is not simple. Islah-e Milli: if we return back to internal issues of Afghanistan, in your opinion, what are the causes that the Karzai’s administration is faced with challenges in respect of security, drug smuggling and attracting the support of people? Nawidi: as I mentioned about it before, Afghanistan is in a complicated situation after the Sep 11 attacks and each failure can have its internal, external and regional factors, in my opinion the most important factor to the administration of Mr. Karzai is lack of existence of a social commitment, no social commitment has gathered together all those who share power with Karzai in order to oblige them to work for the prosperity and development of the country. As you acknowledge, today in the world, one sort of commerce is prevailed, in today’s world if a weak government is supported by big powers, the commercial opportunities are only prepared and opened for a small number of people and especially those who are inside and those who are involved in this political game from inside, Mr. Karzai, his cabinet and the teams who are working for them are involved in this political game. They mostly think about themselves and about their future how to make it. And that how they can advantages of this situation so that I think lack of such a political and social commitment is the main factor of the present situation. the second factor is that Mr. Karzai could not get a success and this may also be oozing from the lack of a social commitment because he could not overcome the administrative corruptions and the worse that no work was done in respect of nation-building. In fact nation-building should have been considered as a priority but it did and the process of rehabilitation was also very slow and it automatically paved grounds for corruptions. The existence of armed oppositions against the Karzai’s administration is of great importance, the presence of foreign forces with their own objectives and that they have come for the implementation of their long-term policies. E. g. I want to mention about the SENLIS a French institution and opened its offices in Afghanistan and it always said it as reality that poppy is definitely cultivated in Afghanistan and that instead the drugs are smuggled by the international mafia, there are secret hands behind the trade so that why shouldn’t we but it from the farmers legally and why shouldn’t it be used legally such as the UN annually needs a big quantity of drugs for its subordinate offices but this organization “SENLIS” was faced with the opposition of America and NATO and its offices were closed in Afghanistan and its activities were stopped without presenting any reasonable pretexts. So that we can say that there are secret hands behind the trade. They want to prolong the situation and neither war with terrorism will succeed nor combat against drugs. Islah-e Milli: recently, a new political issue has been presented inside the country and that’s that formation of oppositions in the name of Allied National Front ANF, in your opinion, to what extends can this from have a role in the critical politics and war-torn Afghanistan and how do you predict the future of this front? Nawidi: when we apparently look at this formation and names of those who had roles in the events of the two-three past decades we can hope that they should have an active role in the present and future situation of Afghanistan but what is the cause of despairing is still the lack of a social commitment because the deficiency which exists in the administration of Mr. Kariza it also exits in the ANF what has gathered the members of the front together is their own individual interests and their worries that may they will be marginalized and isolated from the developments of the country, these factors made them to give hands one to another and form the front. I think that if the front remains longer, it will definitely have roles but if it is not exposed to differences and disintegrated and I doubt about the role of this front to be in favour of Afghans because those who present in the front are those who had roles in the beginning and during the Sep 11 events so that they have been kicked out of the political scene and in order to make themselves important they initiated the front.

One ANA soldier has beheaded in Paktya

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Atif Mohmandzai

Dead body of one Afghan national Army soldier found in Paktya province. ANA soldiers found the dead of the soldier in Zarmali area of Paktya province and stated that this soldier gone to his house in a holiday. It is said the mentioned killed ANA soldier was in 205 Thunder military corps and he got out of his vehicle while going to his house and beheaded. The Taliban fired rocket on Paktya military corps The Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mojahid says that last night at 10:00pm they fired nine rockets on ANA camp which is the hugest camp in Paktya province, as a result that ANA soldiers suffered heavy casualties. Afghan national defence ministry stated meanwhile confirming this incident last night 8 rockets fired on 203 Thunder military corps which all of them crushed in the various of the corps. He stated as a result of these rockets attack there was not any financial and body casualty.

Government mafia and mafia governing

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stanikzai

Mafia is one of the words that by the entrance of other words in the geography of political literature, it has a multi-literal and presiding usage for a specific goal. Presently the mafia of drugs, mafia of weapons, mafia of power, mafia of university entry examination, mafia of human and newly the mafia of land are like political tools in the hands of rulers in order bring pressures on specific circles and in fact they follow a policy to ease themselves from their responsibility and blame the others when they fail. Mr. Yusuf Pashtun the minister of urban development and housing accused some of the cabinet ministers, senior government officials, MPs and former Jihadi commanders that they are continuing grabbing [occupying] hundreds of acres of land and other landed government and private properties. The comments and confess of Mr. Pashtun are interested by people from many aspects, firstly that mafia in different features in the objective of illegally taking advantages of power and politics has have influenced into the regime and this is sorrowfully a bitter internal fact in the government. There are certain documents that former king Zahir’s family also cruelly grabbed government and private lands and landed properties such as few days ago a letter of the residents of Karez-e Mir who claimed that their lands were occupied by the family of former king Zahir was published by Cheragh that Mr. Pashtun should include the letter into the existing documents. On the other hand, the existence of mafia and using it as tools under different names and addresses has become an opportunity to escape from realities. If the international community frays Afghanistan for the crazily increase of poppy production, then mafia is the supporter of the government officials including the president because behind this simple word, the biggest sins, treacheries and carelessness are hidden. The people of the world who also were the witness and victims of the Achilles of mafia so that they term it as a pretext to excuse our rulers and they prevent any measures to be taken for their recognition [mafia leaders] that definitely Mr. Pashtun may prepared their list of names. So that the new front against the government is the very mafia that it can not mention about foreign interferences and fighting activities of Taliban. This new front recruit soldiers among the ministers and even higher than the ministers as Mr. Pashtun claimed, so that we should look forward that when the government mafia will issue its specific ID cards and when will it celebrate its victory?

Harsh and unprecedented response of house of people against Americans

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stanikzai

The house of people of the parliament of Afghanistan harshly condemned the action of American military as they termed the action as hostility and infidelity printing the creed of Islam on footballs and they interpreted the action as a great insulting to Islamic values. The American forces threw footballs in a remote village of the south-eastern province of Khost that the flag of Saudi Arabia and the creed of Islam was printed on them. Satar Khawasi the second secretary of the lower house while he could not control his emotions in an angry and loud voice addressed Americans and said “if you don’t stop your hostility and infidelity and awful actions then wait for the outcomes of what you do!”. The American forces after the objection of Khost province said that they wanted to abuse the Afghan children but they did not know that this will harm the religious feelings of people. The lower house of Afghanistan discussed the issue of printing the creed of Islam on the footballs. Noorzia Atmar one of the representatives frayed other house members of delaying the issue for a long time and she asked that why didn’t the house reacted against this issue earlier. Mr. Khawasi thus said that if the people of Afghanistan once stand against such actions then neither the international community nor the Afghan government will stop them. In the recent years and especially after the Sep 11 events the Islamic values have always been insulted by western countries that resulted harsh reactions of the Muslim countries.

August specifies most civilian casualties

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stanikzia

168 civilians were killed as the result of suicide attacks, armed conflicts between foreign-Afghan forces and the Taliban, NATO bombardments and road-side bombings in August of the current year. Even though, these are the official statistics of civilians deaths and sources say that the real casualties number is much higher than this one. The independent commission of human rights reports that the civilians casualties has increased 16,6% comparing to July in July 144 civilians were killed. According to the report of independent commission of human rights, two third of the civilians casualties was as the result of attacks and bombardments of NATO and coalition forces led by America. Thus M. Farid Hamidi a member of the independent commission of human rights said that another reason of the civilians casualties was that the Taliban used civilians as shields. The commission accused both conflicted sides [Afghan, NATO and coalition forces] of not considering the lives of civilians during clashes. Constant conflicts, blockade of the conflicted regions have complicated the access to exact number of the civilians casualties. According to official statistics of the UN 750 civilians have been killed during the past 9 months and it shows an increase of 20% comparing to the last year. Within a new effort the human rights commission has deployed an independent fact finding delegate about civilians casualties to research. Mr. Hamidi said that the commission has asked both sides to help in the process of researches about the main and exact statistics of civilian casualties. According to another report 85.000 people have been made to leave their residences mostly in the southern conflicted regions. The UN has always asked the conflicted sides to observe the international norms of war in respect of civilians.

Para Olympic sportsmen will take part in Beijing 2008 competitions

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satanikzai

It is determined that the Para Olympic sportsmen of Afghanistan will take part in the competitions which will be hold in China. In this respect, Haji A. Rahman Mohammadi the president of Para Olympic of Afghanistan traveled to China to have a look at the place where the competitions take place. In an interview with Cheragh Sports Mr. Mohammadi said that he travels by the invitation of the directors of competitions and to have a look at the site where the competitions would take place. He said that Atlantic and weight-lifting sportsmen will take part in the competitions. In an answer to a question Mr. Mohammadi said that as the result of lack of budget only in these two fields Afghans sportsmen will take part because the annual budget of the national Olympic federation is $ 2 million that 24 sports federations including foreign travels use the money.

300 households displace from Badghis and Ghur to Herat

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stanikzai

More than 300 households have been displaced from Badghis and Ghur to Herat. It is said that the households were displaced as the result of insecurity and economical poverty from their villages in Badghis and Ghur. A representative of the provincial council of Badghis told 8-e Sobh that poverty and insecurity have caused the displacement of people from Badghis and Ghur and that it seems that Herat is also not capable of accepting more households as displaced families. He called on the government to evaluate the issue exactly. The officials of Herat, Ghur and Badghis provinces expressed concerns about the immigration of people to Herat.

Security commander of Grishk district killed

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Atif Mohmandzai

As a result of landmine blast in Helmand province, security commander of Grishk district of that province was killed. Abdul Manaf, chef of Grishk district says in this blast one school was killed and three other were wounded as well. According to him, Amanullah security commander of Grishk district was visiting security checkpoints in Parchawo area when his vehicle crushed with a remote-controlled mine. Faqir Mohammad Askaryar, chef of provincial police headquarter of Helmand province announced this explosion a suicide attack. Qari Yousif Ahmadi, the Taliban spokesman got the responsibility of this incident, and stated 19 other were killed along with commander Amanullah.

Custom incomes in ports of Afghanistan decreased

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stanikzai

A two day conference of the evaluation of economical situation of western zone in Herat ended. Sayed MOstafa Kazemi the president of the economical commission of the lower house said that they have achieved success in the conference. Khanjan Alokozai the deputy of the international commercial chamber of Afghanistan also termed the security situation of Herat businessmen to be of great concerns at the end of the conference. He said that within past ten days there have 15 cases of insecurity for the businessmen of Herat. He demanded the government to pay attention to the security of businessmen. He said that for many times different institutions assured the businessmen of a better security situation.

To eliminate poppy, crop spraying is not an apt method

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stanikzai

Recently, Ahamad Zia Masood the second vice president published his viewpoints about the elimination of poppy in an interview with Sunday Telegraph that the poppy farms should be sprayed from air. The viewpoints of the first vice president were encountered with various reactions and clearly the views of Ahmad Zia Masood were rejected. The comments of Mr. Masood are expressed in a time when few days ago a guidance gathering was held in which governors and provincial police chiefs participated in, Mr. Hamid Karzai frankly said in to the gathering that the main factor of the increase of poppy in Afghanistan is the international mafia. Mr. Karzai clearly said that if the international community really wants to eliminate poppy cultivation and drug production in Afghanistan then it should remove all the existing disagreements between the member countries of the international community and that they should coordinate their activities Mr. Karzia thus said that the money which is gained from poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, less part of the money which is about $ 700-800 million remain in Afghanistan and the rest large amounts of money is collected in the international banks. In those regions where are controlled by us are non-poppy regions but those regions where the foreign forces are stationed the poppy cultivation is increased year by year. Asadullah Wafa the governor of Helmand said in the conference that, another agriculture item in Helmand is cotton, if the Afghan government and the international community purchase the cotton from farmers of Helmand they will never cultivate poppy. Meanwhile Mr. Hamidzada the spokesman of the president once again emphasized in the previous stance of the government and said that the Afghan government is against crop spraying of poppy farms. The cabinet of the government of Mr. Karzai also backed the stance of our president. We appreciate the stance of Mr. Karzai and the cabinet.

The Taliban claimed the dead of foreign troops in Zabul province

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Atif Mohmandzai

The Taliban claimed the attack on foreign troops in Zabul province. the Taliban spokesman Qari Yousif Ahmadi, told medias as a result of this attack one tank and five foreign soldiers were killed. Bur chef of Mezani district Ahmadullah Ahmadi says the Taliban attacked on the foreigners in this district, but there was not any casualty to foreign troops. He said only one tank destroyed in this attack. It comes in a time that the Taliban claimed the capture of 2 security checkpoints in Dai Chopan district of this province but governmental officials don’t accept and stated there was not any incident in this district.

Probable changes; a fresh energy to “half-a-died” body of the government

Jamal Aram

Translated by Abdul Hassib

The public have recently been used to collect some propaganda saying that the Afghan president has decided to bring some changes within the government formation. It is said that this change may comprehend the whole provinces, local administrations, and totally the cabinet formation. It begs the question to such a way that whether the new changes were able to give a new energy to “half-a-died” body of the government or not. Following Karzai’s return from his trip to the USA and before the Regional peace Jirga was held, media talked that the president would likely bring changes in cabinet formation after the Jirga. This came after that the lower house returned their recess and got started with insisting over their outlet on firing of Spanta. Even this topic used to be discussed in the National assembly as well, the members of this council said that Karzai indirectly promised them to might have destined their demand in the regard of Spanta’s firing from the foreign affairs ministry. On the other hand, media were propagating as if Spanta would resign and withdrawal the ministry. Now that several weeks spent of Jirga termination, news reports about changes in local and central government formation could be heard from the media. The first flash of the changes is felt within statements of the Jawzjan governor’s spokesman, through whom, Joma Khan Hamdard proclaimed to would have not been doing as a governor in Jawzjan any longer. Joma Khan offered apathy to his post at a time when three months ago there was a bloody demonstration in Jawzjan, in which several people were killed, and the public claimed that the Jawzjan governor ordered security men to open fire on them. The Jawzjan governor has, however, rejected the claim as if the public were dissatisfied of his activity, and called the factor which fomented the demonstration as political reason. The political analysts believed that the reason of demonstration should be seen as disruption of Dostom-Hamdard close relations. As the Jawzjan governor resignation was approved by the president, Jawzjan may need a new governor, which this is seen as the inception of changes within Karzai’s administration. The important topic to the public is the answer to the question that what Karzai may most often destine for the changes. Will he assign his puppets, or new officials would be hired to work for? Karzai has been used to place people based on his choice to high ranks of the government over the past six years, to such a way that those people who had done nothing with his previous post, he was assigned to the other [high rank] post.

Freedom and economic based on markets

Fahimi Naim

Translated by Abdul Hassib

Freedom is one of those best values of human being. Human being have always quested freedom within any era. Accidentally human being within their efforts to get freedom, even had lost their freedom or their freedom were bounded in different shapes. Previously, human being used to be deprived of the most ordinary emancipations. Slavery is the clear example of aggression of freedom within the humanity history. On that time, people were even in control of others such that they were sold like properties between powerful structures of the society. Negative emancipation was the prior demand of a guy. By demanding negative emancipations, the public meant to get rid of slavery. And the positive freedom means that people may reach to further [improved] stages of life. The slavery system had, however, been fired away from the earth, but still people lose their emancipation under the amble of numerous economic and political systems in country. Nowadays, freedom is the greatest ambition, for which the public try to reach, to such an extent that they wish to have positive emancipations, a step ahead from negative one. The nation-government economic relations and upper than it for the international surface, should be seen as a general fact in the world. At the moment, governments and the nations, by using socialism and liberalism ideologies have made two types of economic system dominated in communities. The ambition to emancipation’s certainty inside the nations and governments, in a light of state economic system, holds different phases/situations. Freedom is most often enforced to those societies with economic markets. Free economic markets, as an alternative to state control, is able to create safe/immune opportunities to the public and to keep their freedom safe. The government is the absolute magistrate in those societies where economic systems are made of nation, together with the government, especially in those socialist systems, the government is possessor of tools of public materials of production. The free economic system can pave the way to political independent, in wherever society it governs on, since any outlet, to opposing the state’s official programs, are mostly enforced by economic support of the public. The population of free economic bazaars are ready to fund any economic activities so that they gain more advantages in the societies where free economic bazaar speak loudly from. On the other hand, any of those groups opposing the government, without to be marginalised, can continue operating within the free economic markets in such societies, while in governmental economic markets, opposition groups even are not allowed to operate to providing means of life to them.

Friendship bridge; commercial improvements

Emal Hashor

Translated by Abdul Hassib

Last week, Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, together, with his Tajikistani counterpart, opened the Friendship Bridge on Amo River. Carlos Coterz the US commerce minister took part to the opening ceremony of the bridge as well. This bridge, cost 37 million USD, funded by the USA, was constructed by a Turkish Construction Company which has 650m length and 12m width, and is capable to pave the way to driving of 1000 trucks a day. Generally this bridge has four important values: <B>Commercial improvements:</B> Afghan-Tajikistan commercial relations would improve by the bridge, just as in the same way the regional commercial relations may develop alike. The Friendship Bridge connects meddle Asia to south one facilitating the ground to them to get access to the markets in any country around. Meddle Asia is reach of electricity and oil which the South Asia need it very hard. On the other hand, the South Asia countries can easily export their commercial means to Meddle Asia by crossing this bridge. Before the bridge is constructed, commercial means were transmitted from Tajikistan to Afghanistan and from Afghanistan to Tajikistan by boats on River, which was very difficult. For this reason, Afghanistan-Tajikistan commercial relations hardly ever improved previous. Previously 50 trucks were driving on Afghanistan-Tajikistan highway each day, while the bridge led it to mount to 1000 trucks per day. <B>Reinforcement of Afghanistan’s transit values</B> This bridge meant to have added to transit values of Afghanistan. Afghanistan itself, can reach to Meddle Asia markets very easily, and on the other hand, by using the bridge, it is pretty able to provide its necessities from Pakistan and Karachi. <B>Easiest way to trafficking narcotics;</B> Afghanistan-Tajikistan joint border is the easiest path to smuggle narcotics to abroad, while the Friendship Bridge was built on the polls as well. This creates the concern whether narcotics trafficking would not increase, which it may replace the sound commercial relation to the relation based on trafficking of narcotics. Previously, smugglers could easily pass the Tajikistan border, which Friendship Bridge facilitated this way to them further. <B>Safety to the US strategic advantages:</B> The Friendship Bridge, inherently, the US said, was built to improve commercial relations between Afghanistan and Tajikistan, but course of time may show that this bridge benefit the US strategic advantages as well. Sometimes ago, the deputy of the US foreign affairs ministry said that this Bridge may open a new phase of commercial relations between the regional countries. However, the USA, by using the bridge, can supply weapons to its army and it would likely be sharing itself to economic advantages of the Asian countries.

Traffic disturb the public and the public disturb traffic

Ahmad Farzan

Translated by Abdul Hassib

The Kandahar residents complain about bad behaviours of traffic toward them, saying that the traffic police stop cars and motorcycles and ask them for money on Road Crosses around the city. Noor Mohammad, a shopkeeper in Sardar Madad Khan Road Cross of Kandahar city, said that,” traffic policemen are used to stand in front of my shop and stop cars asking them for licence and other documentaries. I have ever seen that traffic collected [illegal] money from those cars, whose driver had no licence or some other problems. However, the traffic dignities, by rejecting the claims of the public, say that they were asking the cars for licences and other documentaries for some security reasons. Mohammad Nabi, a member of the Kandahar department of traffic said that,” The traffic police have decided to ban roaming of those cars which don’t hold official documentaries or licence around the city. Kandahar is one of the big provinces of Afghanistan, in which vehicles have recently increased, while the roads are narrow. This is why sometimes it leads to traffic problems (traffic jam is mostly discussed). Some residents of the Kandahar city accuse the drivers of not-abiding by traffic roles saying that even sometimes small children are driving, most of whom don’t hold driving licence as well in the city. Hassan Khan, a shopkeeper in Kandahar city, told Killid magazine that,” most drivers are driving very fast. Children sometimes are driving, which by not-knowing traffic roles, they create threats either to their own life or to others. Confirming the claim, the Kandahar traffic department say that they have started to stop this situation. Mohammad Nabi, a member the traffic department said that,” Nowadays, less children drive inside the city, we are trying to stop them at all. He blamed the elders of the family for the case of handing cars over to their children. Analysts believe that if traffic roles were observed in the country, then traffic incidents might reduce. By the checking the licences, traffic mean to respect to laws more and more. However, if they collect money from the public, then it is unfair. The traffic need to make the drivers pay fine for their violations, instead to collect illegal money from them (drivers).

What do youth say and want?

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Translated by Abdul Hassib

<I>Roya Jan says:</I> From my attitude, existence of a ministry under only a name of youths or women [ministry] is not necessary. However, they need to spare no efforts to draw strategies for improvement of youths. If there was a ministry, but didn’t properly work, then it wont yield significant results. There were several organs operating to uproot narcotics, but little has been achieved in this regard. <I>Asadullah Barikzai comments</I> I condemn extinguishing of the youth affairs department by the lower house. The lower house might have reviewed the activities of the department and offered some feedbacks to it, but not to extinguish it. Sometimes ago, the ministry of information and culture announced to have received large money to improve its department of youths affairs, but now which this department is close, then it should beg the question such that where all these appropriate money went off. <I>Dawa Jan Khosti says</I> The youths affair department of the information and culture, from my view, was an extra formation, since this department has never offered services to youths, and there is another organ called ministry of labour and social affairs exist to create job opportunity to the youths, so what is the necessity of youths department to exist. <I>Mina Ahadi:</I> The government need to pay attention to youths. It needs to forcibly try to concentrate on improving the talents of the youths. Youths are in an urgent need of knowledge and educations so that they may be able to play a good role in their society. <I>Zabiullah Paktiawal</I> I don’t know whether to talk on achievements or failures of the youth department in frame of the ministry of information and culture. If we speak for benefits, then it is very necessary to have such a department, from whose existence youths profit. However, if we talk on insufficiency of the department, then it is very clear that the youths department has achieved nothing over the past two or three years. <I>Mezhgan Jan</I> Firing youths department from the formation of the ministry of information and culture, is something unfair the lower house carried out, since the youths need such a department to obtain all their necessities in the society. The government need to know that youths are future-makers of Afghanistan, for this reason it needs to pay heaps of attention to improve them.

Are foreigner companies factors of insecurity?

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Translated by Abdul Hassib Editorial

The criminal director of the Kabul provincial police department, speaking at the lower house, accused some foreigner companies of kidnapping, looting and committing other crimes in the society. Ali Shah Paktiawal, told security commission of the lower house that,” The foreigner companies have direct hands in kidnapping and robbery cases happened so far in the country. According to reports, there are at least 81 security companies, 45 of which are registered holding 11000 guns throughout Afghanistan, which, from whichever side we review, it should be seen as a great challenge to security. The Afghan government, on the other hand, has never investigated to disclose/determine the identities of the members of these companies. For this reason, it is correct if we claim that several kidnappers, murderers and robbers are operating in frame-work of these private security companies. By a hint to responsibilities of the interior affairs ministry, it might have drafted bills to the security companies and hired some confident people to them. By the way, the interior affairs ministry, by taking the opportunity, need to take immediate actions to draw laws to security companies and stop them from illegal operating in the country.

News Bulletin

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Abdul Hassib Rahimi

<I>[From1:00 to 1:05PM]</I> <B>Summary:</B> <U>3 British soldiers killed:</U> BBC quoted the Afghan defence ministry as saying that at least 3 British soldiers were killed and two others of them along with their interpreter were injured in a military operation in Helmand province. <U>Head of Afghan party survived:</U> The head of the Afghan party survived from an explosion of a remotely-detonated mine [IED] device in Paktika province. The security officials say that, Mohammad Rahim, the head of Paktika provincial council was ridding to that car which used to hit the mine as well, but no one was injured or killed in this incident. Mohammad Darwesh, the spokesman for the Paktika governor said that the attack appeared to has been conducted by the Taliban and government opponent s. However, no group has claimed responsibility for carrying out the attack so far. <U>Germany: Germany soldiers are in Afghanistan until ANA could maintain security:</U> The France press has recently said that it received a genuine document in which the Germany government approved not to take its soldiers out of Afghanistan until the Afghan army become able to maintain security on their own. [The orator] Germany has been training the Afghan national police, and assisting the Afghan government in numerous fields over the past five years.

The Public and Their Difficulties

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Abdul Hassib Rahimi

<I>[From 1:20 to 2:00PM] Speakers: Miss Ghotay and Miss Shabnam</I> <B>Summary</B> <I>[Abdul Ahad Tanha from Kart-e Naw area of Kabul city][Pashto]:</I> The Afghan youths, as a result of unemployment inside the country, are forced to seek refuge/migrate in neighbouring countries. If the Afghan youths were able to find jobs in the country, they would have never been wandered to foreign countries, and will never get used to narcotics and to create other problems to the country. We call on the Afghan government to draw a bit further attention to create job opportunity for youths and rid them of their current difficulties. <I>[Habibullah from Arzan Qimat area of Kabul city][Dari]:</I> We are increasingly suffering a lack of electricity in our area. I request from u to discuss our problem with the ministry of energy and power and make them informed of our problem. <I>[Ajmal Zazai from Khair Khana area of Kabul city][The received letter read by Miss Ghotay][Pashto]:</I> We are living in Sira Mina apartment-buildings. On the one hand, we are lacking safe and clean water in our area, and on the other hand, the electricity comes available at 11:00PM and goes back off at 12:00PM. It is available just for an hour, so it doesn’t solve even a part of our necessities. <I>[Shafiq from Didana area of Kabul city][Dari]:</I> The general road of this area is very rugged creating numerous difficulties to the public. The Kabul municipality has never been used to pay any attention to improve this road. <I>[Mohammad Haroon from Lawgar province][Dari]:</I> Our main problem is lack of water. We call on the Afghan government to take some actions to dig wells and make us rescued of our difficulty. <I>[Kart-e Naw area][Pashto]:</I> The doctors in Musa Wardak Private Hospital are used to write their prescriptions by those characters which just their own pharmacy know them and that is it. It implies to say that doctor don’t write the complete name of the drug in the prescriptions. For this reason, the other drug stores hardly know what is written in the prescription. <I>[Hassibullah from Qarabagh district of Kabul city][Dari]:</I> There is a lack of professional teachers in high schools in our area. Can u please make sure to discuss our problem with the ministry of educations? <I>[Jamshed from Ahmad Shah Baba Mina area of Kabul city][Dari]:</I> You are calling Ahmad Shah Baba area as “Arzan Qimat”. It is quit wrong. On the other hand, you promise to the public that you would discuss their problems with the government officials, but I have hardly heard u to invite some of the Afghan government official to ask them for a removal of the problems of the public.

News Bulletin

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Abdul Hassib Rahimi

<I>[From 3:00 to 3:05 PM] Speaker: Shogofa Dastgeer</I> <B>Summary</B> <U>50 Taliban killed:</U> As a result of a conflict between ANA, NATO and the Taliban and government opponents, at least 50 opposition members, security official say, were killed in Shah Wali Kot district of Kandahar province. A statement issued by NATO troops says that no losses were brought to Afghan and foreign troops in this conflict which used to go on for at least 12 hours. <U>Lower house members: closing markets the easiest rout of counter-narcotics:</U> members of the Afghan lower house has said that if the narcotic markets were closed inside and outside Afghanistan, then the farmer would likely stop cultivating narcotics. This came at a time when the head of counter-narcotics department of the UN has recently recommended NATO to take further part in counter-narcotic in Afghanistan, since, as she says, narcotics cultivation will reinforce the Taliban gradually. The UN called Afghanistan the biggest producer of narcotics this year again.

New MRRD programme to promote entrepreneurship in Afghanistan

Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development

Mohammad Ehsan Zia, Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan gave a presentation about a new MRRD initiative at a seminar on the review of economic situation in the western provinces of the country - initiated by the National Economy Commission of the National Assembly of Afghanistan. Afghanistan Rural Enterprise Development Programme (AREDP) is intended to jumpstart private sector growth in rural Afghanistan by closing the gap over a 10 year time period. By focusing on selected “Champion Products” in the strategic sub-sectors of the economy, and the country’s comparative advantage, the programme aims to reduce reliance on imports of mass consumption goods at the same time as supporting the value-added to export items. The aim of the programme is to harness the potential of the private sector for inclusive economic growth, sustainable rural employment and income generation, said MRRD Minister. “[the] Government’s intervention in these sectors will be to strengthen the private sector through top-down (induced) and bottom-up (demand-driven) approaches. The main programme components include: Enterprise-facilitation; policy-based lending to communities and enterprises; providing support, incubation, and hand-holding services to businesses.” The Afghanistan Rural Enterprise Development Programme (AREDP) will build on the experiences of MRRD’s current 5 key national development programmes and in particular on the success of the National Area Based Development Programme (NABDP) and the National Solidarity Programme (NSP) by reinforcing the sub-national governance structures that have been introduced through these two programmes. The Community Development Councils (CDCs) will be used as a point of community entry and a source for the identification of potential income generation activity-focused common interest groups. As the programme progresses, a cadre of business development consultants will be positioned within the umbrella of the District Development Assemblies (DDAs) for the provision of long term community-based business support. The projected programme costs over the 10-year period come to a total of $568 million. In return, by conservative estimates the programme outputs at the end of the 10-year period will consist of close to 1 million newly created enterprises in the private sector providing sustainable employment for more than 2 million people in rural areas of Afghanistan, and contributing a net 2 billion Dollars in total returns to the national economy. Alongside these direct outcomes, at the end of this period the programme will have built-up financial structures that are currently lacking in the rural areas of Afghanistan, reduced reliance on foreign imports and poppy cultivation, and connected rural areas to national, regional and global markets, thereby contributing to the creation of a stable, prosperous and entrepreneurial society in Afghanistan.

Safety of two formerly detained Afghan journalists still an issue according to IFJ

International Federation of Journalists

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) continues to express deep concern for the welfare of two Afghan journalists who were recently released from varying periods of detention by security officials. The IFJ believes that both are still under government surveillance and have been facing repeated threats. According to IFJ associate, the Afghan Independent Journalists’ Association (AIJA), Tawab Niazi, a freelance journalist and Kamran Mir Hazar, the chief editor of independent news website www.kabulpress.org, are still fearful of their lives despite being released from detention almost a month ago. “From these examples it is obvious that press freedom is still a far reality in Afghanistan,” said Jacqui Park, IFJ’s Director for the Asia-Pacific. Tawab Niazi was released on August 17 after being sentenced to a year’s imprisonment for allegedly being in contact with representatives of the Taliban. The AIJA has learnt that during his detention all of his possessions were seized and he was threatened with re-arrest if he reported on his jail experience. Since his release, his movements have been restricted to his home for fear of his personal safety. Similar confinement has been experienced by Mir Hazar. He and his wife have been living at the Internews office compound since his release earlier this month. Mir Hazar has been interrogated twice this year by the Afghanistan National Security Directorate (ANSD) after posting articles that were critical of government activity. The AIJA can report that during his imprisonment he was questioned about his work and was told he had no right to criticise the government and would be arrested again if he continued to do so. He has reportedly had to curtail the material posted on his website as price for his freedom. Visitors to the kabulpress.com website are greeted with the announcement that it has stopped publishing because of censorship (see the English language website at: http://kabulpress.org/my/en/. “Let it be known that the unfounded harassment of media workers is internationally recorded and opposed. Despite the growth of the industry, there is an unrelenting infringement on the rights of journalists and writers to publish freely,” Park said.

IFJ condemns beating of Afghan reporter covering Taliban-Korean hostage crisis

International Federation of Journalists

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned the attack on an Afghani television reporter who was covering the Taliban-Korean hostage crisis in Ghazni province on August 28. According to IFJ associate the Afghanistan Independent Journalists Association (AIJA), Ariana TV reporter Qasim Rahimi was assaulted by security officials on his way to where the negotiation talks concerning the release of 19 Korean hostages by the Taliban were being held. Rahimi reports the security officials stopped his taxi, beat him and confiscated his equipment without any explanation or justification. However Ariana TV news manager Abdul Qadir Merzaai later said the equipment had been retrieved with the help of central and provincial police. “As well as a physical attack on a journalist going about his daily work, such violence holds back media freedom and the public’s right to information,” IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said. “The Korean hostage crisis is an important issue which has received global attention. It is a disgrace that Afghan security officials would disrupt the public’s access to vital information,” Park said. Delegates representing the Taliban and Korea were in discussions in a bid to release the 19 remaining Korean Christian volunteers. The hostages have now been released and have returned to South Korea. The group was abducted in July this year by Taliban members with the intention of forcing a prisoner-hostage exchange. During the 42-day ordeal, two male hostages were killed by the Taliban and two females were earlier released. The IFJ strongly rejects the violence directed at journalists who attempt to carry out vital work in rebuilding Afghani society, and supports the AIJA’s call to urge the Karzai government to ensure safety and protection for journalists working in Afghanistan.

Senlis Council Press Release - Britain and Drugs

Senlis Council

<B>Eight in ten in the UK support Poppy for Medicine initiative in Afghanistan Absence of grass roots support for the US led counter-narcotics policies 74% oppose promised US chemical spraying in Afghanistan</B> The Senlis Council on Tuesday urged British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to initiate “Poppy for Medicine” pilot projects in Afghanistan after a nationwide survey revealed that 8 in 10 in the UK support the initiative. At present, the current counter-narcotics policy of forced poppy crop eradication has been a dramatic failure. According to the latest U.N survey, opium cultivation for heroin in Helmand was up by 48% from 2006, with overall poppy cultivation levels at an all-time high for the second successive year. The UN report also noted the growing link between opium cultivation and the Taliban insurgency indicating a growing financial relationship between opium farmers and Taliban in southern Afghanistan. Forced poppy crop eradication has put British troops at risk, because the Taliban have been able to gain increasing support from angry farmers who have seen their livelihoods destroyed by the international community. Helmand farmers in particular live in extreme poverty with no crop other than opium poppy viable for them. The survey was conducted in the four NATO countries with troops fighting in southern Afghanistan – the UK, the US, Canada and the Netherlands – during the second half of August. The findings showed that there is no majority public support for forced crop eradication. Instead, there is a widespread belief that government leaders should support the implementation of pilot Poppy for Medicine projects in Afghanistan in the next planting season this autumn. “A sense of urgency is required, this is grim reading for the governments involved.” said Norine MacDonald QC, President and Lead Field Researcher of The Senlis Council. “The survey reveals in the strongest possible terms that these countries have lost their mandate for pursuing these US-led policies. In fact, more than eight out of ten support Poppy for Medicine and the implementation of a pilot projects.” Poppy for Medicine projects would see village-cultivated poppy transformed into morphine tablets in the rural communities by bringing the important added value of the transformation of poppy into medicine at the local level. Farmers would be given the financial incentive necessary to sever ties with the insurgency, while the current world shortage of these pain-relieving medicines would be addressed. There is a global shortage of pain killing medicines. Just six wealthy countries, including the United States and Canada, use more than 80% of the world’s supplies of morphine medicines, the developing countries that account for more than 80% of the world’s population use just 5%. 80% of those polled stated they would be willing to use Afghan Fair Trade morphine. “Prime Minister Brown has to regain grass roots support for his Afghanistan counter narcotics by adopting the Poppy for Medicine scheme,” said MacDonald. “The British people have recognised that the current counter-narcotics policies in Afghanistan are failing and having a detrimental impact upon Britain’s mission in the country. <B>Pilot projects essential in next planting season</B> 73% of those polled believe that Prime Minister Brown should personally endorse Poppy for Medicine pilot projects. “We urge Prime Minister Brown to implement our request to run Poppy for Medicine pilot projects in the next planting season,” said MacDonald. “It is vital that we develop a positive economic relationship with the local population and cut their growing financial ties to the Taliban insurgency. By integrating the Afghan farmers into a legal economy through poppy for medicine projects, we give locals a financial incentive to sever ties with the Taliban, and develop a positive economic relationship with the Karzai government and the NATO troops operating in Helmand.” <B>UK against chemical spraying of Afghan crops</B> The survey of 1,000 in the UK, conducted by ORB on behalf of The Senlis Council, also found that 74% of Brits would oppose the chemical spraying of farmers’ poppy crop - a programme the US has been promising for the next planting season. Chemical spraying was undertaken by the US in Colombia and proven to be wholly ineffective. As well as merely displacing illicit coca cultivation to more remote areas, the aerial spraying led to starvation and displacement of entire farming communities, while posing severe health risks to both humans and the environment. “Chemical spraying would not only be catastrophic for the agricultural community of Afghanistan, it would turn them against British troops in Helmand,” said Paul Burton, Head of Policy. “Our research on the ground in Afghanistan clearly shows that chemical spraying would trigger a dramatic increase in hostility against the NATO troops and the Karzai government in Afghanistan. Chemical spraying would light a political fire under the Karzai government and the British troops operating in Helmand.” Just 42% of Brits polled opposed the current counter-narcotics policy of forced poppy crop eradication, which has driven farmers to turn to the Taliban for the protection of their livelihoods, putting British troops at greater risk. “Prime Minister Brown now has to decide between continuing his support for failed US-led counter-narcotics policies or assuring that Brits troops are fighting in a supportive environment in southern Afghanistan,” said Burton. “The time has come to retire bankrupt policies,” said MacDonald. “The public is calling for a dramatic change of direction.”

Balkh Dairy Plant Inaugurated and Handed Over to the Balkh Livestock Development Union (BLDU)

Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Balkh Livestock Development Union (BLDU), Land O’ Lakes of USA and Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) held a ceremony on 26 August 2007 to inaugurate the newly built Balkh Dairy Plant in Shirabad village of Dehdadi district. The new equipment and building are funded by USAID, in collaboration with Balkh Livestock Development Union and FAO. The dairy plant was officially opened by Prof. Rashiq, representing H.E Obaidullah Ramin, Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock. The ceremony was attended by the representatives of the Governor from the Balkh Province, Deputy Mission Director of USAID, Land O’ Lakes Delegates from Minnesota, Government officials, Members of Balkh Livestock Development Union (BLDU), and the FAO staffs. On the occasion, the plant properties were handed over to the (BLDU), after signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the BLDU and Land O’Lakes. The plant can process 5000 litres of milk per day into pasteurized milk, yoghurt, cream, butter, buttermilk and other dairy products. With the opening of this new facility, 450 farmers are able to sell their raw milk to the dairy plant, and Mazar consumers can get safe and hygienic dairy products. The dairy plant has generated employment opportunity and has contributed in reducing of imported dairy products from abroad. The BLDU was established in 16 June 2007, with joint efforts of FAO, MAIL and dairy farmers in Balkh Province. The BLDU consist of four cooperative societies. Both BLDU and the cooperative societies are registered under Department of Cooperatives of MAIL Under the Afghanistan Integrated Dairy Development Project, FAO is working in Balkh, Kunduz, Kabul, Wardak and Logar provinces. FAO dairy programme has worked with the farmers and MAIL, to set up three dairy schemes, in Mazar, Kabul and Kunduz. A 6000 litres per shift (of 8 hours) milk processing plant has been recently commissioned in Guzergah, Kabul. In Kunduz, FAO is in the process of upgrading the existing facility, to improve safe and hygienic dairy products to meet the local need of the Kunduz consumers. Currently, three unions (Kabul, Kunduz and Mazar) collect and process around 8000 litres of milk everyday, which gives back Afs 112,000 ($ 2250) per day back to the rural farmers.

Andkhoy to Khan Charbagh Road Inauguration

Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development

HE Mohammad Asif Rahimi Deputy Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development together with Faryab Governer, UNOPS representative, EC representative and elders of the Faryab Province will inaugurate The Andkhoi to Khan Cahrbagh Road. The 10.225km road is connecting Andkhoi to Khan CHarbagh District of Faryab Province. With the inauguration of this road the transportation problem of 6000 resident along the road will be solved. The road is constructed by National Rural Access Programme (NRAP) of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development and Ministry of Public Works of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan with the financial support from European Commission.

Tom Koenigs' statement on release of Korean hostages

Tom Koenigs

Last night’s final release of South Korean hostages from Taliban captivity is clearly very welcome news. I hope that the Koreans will quickly be reunited with their families and that everything possible will be done to help them recover from this terrifying ordeal. My thoughts are with all of them, and in particular with the family and friends of the hostages who were murdered. To those Taliban who were responsible for this crime I say shame on you. What gain can there be from bringing harm upon innocent civilians? What honor is there in kidnapping and mistreating women, and so many of them? This campaign of abductions and murders must stop. The Taliban, as one of the parties to the current conflict, must recognize its responsibility to protect civilians from harm. I call too for the immediate release of those people still being held, which include Afghans and a citizen of Germany.

Reforming Afghanistan’s Police

International Crisis Group

Insecurity will worsen, and democracy can fail in insurgency-ridden Afghanistan if the police are not reformed and depoliticised. <I>Reforming Afghanistan’s Police</I>, the latest International Crisis Group report, examines the worsening violence in a key country, whose police were overlooked in early stages of the international intervention in favour of building the army. Today they too often are a source of fear, rather than community protection. Instead of increasing coercive power and force size with poorly trained recruits, the government and its partners need to focus on increased accountability, ethnic representation and professionalism. Freeing the force from politics and building institutional integrity is vital. “Rather than acting as a service to citizens, the police operate more as a coercive tool of the governing elites”, says Joanna Nathan, Crisis Group’s Senior Analyst on Afghanistan. “Rooting out corruption and ensuring operational autonomy – with oversight – are critical to Afghanistan’s security”. Although the Afghan National Police (ANP) has made some progress since the fall of the Taliban in 2001, return on invested human and financial capital is modest. President Karzai’s government still lacks political will to tackle a culture of impunity and end political interference in appointments and operations. Professionalising the service through pay and rank reform is an uphill battle. The challenges of a growing insurgency are pushing quick fixes to the fore. Institution building is further hampered by problems associated with the expanding illegal drugs trade. Conflicting visions of police reform also undermine progress. The main motivation of foreign capitals has been to quash the insurgency, which has led to an understandable but short-sighted emphasis on quantity over quality and blurred the distinction between the military and the police. Kabul and its partners need to acknowledge that different security arms of the state have different roles; building a legitimate, accountable police institution must be seen as part of the wider process of democratisation, rather than simply a short-term security task. The reform process should include appointment of a police commissioner with operational autonomy and civilian review bodies. Donor countries must commit to the International Police Coordination Board (IPCB) to develop and implement a strategy that includes conditioning funding on measurable progress. “There will be real security in Afghanistan only when people trust the police”, says South Asia Project Director Samina Ahmed. “That trust can only be fostered if the police enforce – and abide by – the rule of law”.

Disastrous 2007 opium figures confirm complete failure of counter-narcotics policy in Afghanistan

Senlis Council

Figures released today by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) show an alarming 34% increase of opium production in Afghanistan this year, despite stepped-up counter-narcotics efforts. With 193,000 hectares under opium cultivation, Afghanistan now accounts for 93% of illegal opium production in the world. Opium cultivation directly employs 3.3 million Afghans – an astonishing increase of 14 percent compared to 2006. The international community, with the US at the helm of counter-narcotics efforts in Afghanistan, is spending millions of dollars on flawed strategies. Poppy crop eradication was reinforced this year but in the current environment of rural poverty and lack of sustainable alternatives, eradication has proved wholly ineffective. <B>Crop eradication does not address the economic nature of the Afghan opium crisis</B> The Afghan opium crisis is a problem of economic development. Farmers are cultivating opium poppy because there are no profitable alternatives to fall back on. In such an environment, crop eradication puts the future of Afghanistan and the entire region in jeopardy. “US-led efforts to destroy poppy crops are at odds with counter-insurgency and development efforts,” said Emmanuel Reinert, Executive Director of The Senlis Council. “The counter-narcotics strategies implemented by the international community have not only failed to curb opium cultivation in Afghanistan, they have even aggravated the security and development situation.” With the opium crisis left unresolved, NATO-ISAF’s mission is further at risk. Reinert adds: “Just as in 2006, crop eradication efforts have fuelled resentment and have pitted impoverished local communities against the ISAF soldiers, who are trying their best to win the hearts and minds of the local population. At the same time, the Taliban have skilfully exploited this situation to their advantage.” The UN Report confirms that opium production is increasingly concentrated in Taliban-controlled areas. Chemical eradication, planned for next season, will only make these matters worse. “We need to overhaul current counter-narcotics strategies and seriously prioritize development,” adds Mr. Reinert. <B>Poppy for Medicine – the short-term economic alternative to crop eradication</B> Opium is the raw material for morphine and other essential medicines. To start tackling the economic nature of the Afghan opium crisis, The Senlis Council presented in June of this year a village-based “Poppy for Medicine” model whose crux is the production of painkilling medicines. Contrary to crop eradication, Poppy for Medicine is an economic development tool which would represent a comprehensive counter-narcotics measure. It would allow farming communities to produce morphine locally, bringing the added value to the villages and therefore providing rural communities with viable economic opportunities. This alternative system would trigger alternative livelihood programmes, foster rural development and would generate much-needed economic diversification. <B>Afghan morphine to meet unmet needs for painkilling medicines</B> Millions of people, particularly cancer and HIV/AIDS sufferers, live and die in unnecessary pain because their needs for essential morphine medicines are not being met. While a few countries, together representing less than 20% of the world’s population, accounted for more than 95% of the total morphine consumption in 2005, the remaining 80% of the world’s population had a combined morphine consumption representing less than 5% of the global total. The Poppy for Medicine initiative would address these huge unmet needs for painkilling medicines. The Senlis Council calls upon the international community to implement a scientific Poppy for Medicine pilot project in the next planting season, that is October and November 2007. “The alarming UN figures of 2007 should be reason enough to try a different approach, tailored to the realities of Afghanistan in terms of security and development,” says Emmanuel Reinert.

Afghanistan and the Crisis of Lack of Management

Qayemi

<I>The author isn’t very pessimistic, but the current state of the country takes away any kind of optimism from any human. We will look at the situation of the country:</I> Some armed Kuchis attacked Behsud district and fought with the people of different villages to capture the pastures. Four people were killed and 6 disappeared as a result of this attack. During this attack some 80 kms of land was captured by the Kuchis. People of the area who are disarmed don’t have the power to resist them. The most interesting thing is that the government, instead of taking any practical action or condemning the attack, called on both sides to be patient. In Ghazni province, 23 Koreans were abducted (it is not clear what were they doing without coordinating with the government in this huge number). Two of them have been killed as a warning. The government announced that the area [where the hostages are being held] is under siege by security forces, but the corpses of the killed hostages were thrown outside the area encircled by governmental forces. In Herat province, the governor of Farsi district was killed with his four bodyguards. This means that opposition forces have spread to the west of the country as well. Suicide attacks have reached the most remote areas of the country, such as Badakhshan. The president reacted against the National Front with very serious words, although in the past his slogan was that politics don’t solve people’s problems. He has established the Democratic Party. We should think about the next elections and gathering people’s votes! On the other hand, for different reasons poverty has reached its highest point, and the price of food is rising. Even the price of some materials has increased two-fold. Despite presenting very long slogans against the plantation and trafficking of drugs, and spending tens or hundreds millions of dollars (they are content with installing a few signboards on the streets) not even the graph of planting and trafficking the drug came down. Rather it is going upwards, according to the announcement of United Nations. 92% of the opium of the whole world is produced in Afghanistan, and 60% of it is produced only in Helmand. Administrative corruption has reached a peak, and people (like Kabul Press) who want to reveal corruption, are detained by the order of citadel sitters in the National Security Department and are accused of spying. In such conditions, the few people who decided to invest in the country are escaping one by one. People move to secure areas as the government has no control in the south of the country. The swathe of unemployed and incomeless people increases each day in the cities. In terms of education, according to figures released by the minister of education, 180 schools were set on fire during the past year, 360 schools were closed, 8 teachers were killed, fifty teachers were injured and 100,000 students were prevented from studying. The parliament of the country, which is the only point of pressure on the government, has lost its specific role, the interpellation/objection of the ministers. The Senate is also unauthorized/deauthorised and artificial, such that their faces became unbearable for the people when they appear on the media. The biggest action that they took recently was the request to release the Korean hostages and offering a message of condolence on the death of the Father of the Nation. $60,000 dollar salaries are paid to foreign advisors but we haven’t seen even a very tiny piece of practical advice that they have given. Regarding the billions of dollars of embezzlement that occurred in recent years, no one is detained and those who are detained are released by the mediation of outstanding and national personalities and they return to their jobs without shame. And the last thing, on the mind of each individual in the country, is this: how did the Taliban fall when they controlled about 90% of the country, but today some 100,000 domestic and foreign forces are not able to do this? In such a situation, can’t we say that Afghanistan’s current problem is not crisis of security but that the problem is lack of management, and that the thing we need the most is a sound management? The duty of a journalist is presenting the facts, people should judge.

Arj Editorial

Abdul Qadir Saroush

Iran’s president’s trip has been on peoples’ tongues for the past few months, but the president traveled to Afghanistan at a time when Afghanistan’s president [had just] returned from his trip to America and a message-full visit with President Bush in Camp David. The fact that the Iranian president travelled to Afghanistan in such conditions and that he promised brotherly cooperation provokes a discussion. Iran is one of the countries that has a very long border with Afghanistan and has long-term relations with Afghanistan (that are filled with ups and downs). It is natural that every country establishes its relations based on some benefits and expects some benefit from any relation. Iran has always organized its relations with Afghanistan based on its own profits in different times. During the Jihad, Iran was one of the most important sources of exporting arms to Afghanistan. The process of exporting weapons continued even after the Russians left Afghanistan during the civil war between the Jihadi parties. Some of Jihadi parties were supported by Pakistan, and some others by Iran […]. In fact, Iran’s relations with Afghanistan have always changed. The reason for this was the fast-changing political conditions and administrations in Afghanistan. After the fall of the Taliban and the establishment of a more organized and humanitarian government in comparison to any other government in the past, Iran’s relations with Afghanistan had several dimensions. We can call this relation multilateral. Firstly, Iran, besides other countries who supported Afghanistan financially, paid $560 million to Afghanistan. Iran’s aid mostly includes highways and similar projects. Secondly, in recent months Iran has been accused of providing weapons for anti-governmental groups. Afghan spy agencies have mentioned that they captured Iranian-made weapons in Nimroz, Helmand, Farah and Herat and that this shows Iranian support for these groups. The Iranian government has rejected these claims many times and said that peace in Afghanistan is in Iran’s profit too. But how much of this can be true? One of the reasons that justify Iran’s interference in Afghanistan is Iran’s atomic energy dispute with the international community. It is said that Iran’s government has decided to keep the international community busy in Afghanistan so that political pressure on Iran will decrease. However, this pressure increased day by day and confronts Iran with more difficulties. The thing which is very important for us is the dispute of Iran with the international community and its effects on Afghanistan. The Iranian President’s trip to Afghanistan after President Karzai’s trip to the US is an effort by the Iranian President to release himself from isolation, to which Iran is drawn closer each day. Ahmadinejad’s trips to some neighboring countries were in fact diplomatic parades that Iran organized to counter the international community, especially the US. Afghanistan always wants friendly relationships with all its neighboring countries, but the relationships should be based on two-sided respect.

Herat Local News

Herat TV

<I>Broadcast on 26th August at 8pm Presenter: Ajmal</I> * The foundation-stone of a water channel was laid by Mohammad Ismael, water and energy minister, today in Pashtun Zarghon district, this project is being implemented from the water and energy ministry’s budget. Once this project is completed, the irrigation problems of farmers of the area will be solved. * People’s representatives from Adraskan district paid a visit to Dr Mohammad Homayun Azizi, Herat provincial council’s president. In the meeting the representatives of people talked about their local problems, and asked that he take serious steps about eight of their people who were killed some time ago along the border with Iran. Responding to them, Dr Azizi promised to share their problems with the relevant governmental administrations. * India’s consul in Herat visited Herat Mayor, Mohammad Rafiq Mojaddadi: the consul promised to continue their aid to Herat; he added that the Indian government fully supports the democratic process in Afghanistan. In response, Herat’s mayor thanked him for his kind cooperation. * A training seminar that was held in Herat’s police station ended today: some 31 attorneys and the personnel of Herat Police station’s ‘Fighting Crime’ directorship participated in this seminar. * Problems of transportation unions of the fifteen districts were discussed in a meeting between the union’s representatives and the provincial council; they also talked about the better arrangement of the cars taking passengers to the districts. * Jihadi commanders of Golran district declared their support of the disarmament program: General Sayyedi, the chief of the DIAG program in Herat thanked the people of the area, and encouraged them to collect guns from irresponsible armed groups. He promised the people that he would cooperate in solving their local problems.

Herat-Tor Ghundi highway asphalting begins

Killid Radio

The asphalting work on the Herat-Tor Ghundi highway that connects Herat with Turkmenistan was inaugurated today. <I>Abad Rahan-e Pars</I>, an Iranian construction company, won this project/contract and will implement it. This highway is about 123 kms and will be completed in about two years. $29,500,000 is the cost of this project which comes from the budget of the Ministry of Public Profits. The highway was asphalted the first time by the Soviet Union in 1960.

Herat Local News

<I>Broadcast on 3rd September at 8pm</I> * Ehsan Zia, minister of rural rehabilitation and development, who came to Herat yesterday, inaugurated six projects that were completed in Herat in Injil and Gozara districts. These projects include water supply, electricity and building schools. * The Union of the country’s mayors will soon be established in Herat. The request for establishing such a union was given by Herat’s mayor on his trip to Kabul some time ago. Herat will be the host of the mayors of the country. Herat’s mayor said that the purpose of establishing this union was to exchange experience and to expand reconstruction projects to all cities of the country. * The president and members of the lower house national economy commission came to Herat today. Mustafa Kazemi, the head of the commission, said that the purpose of the trip to Herat was to discuss the problems of Herat’s businessmen, to find appropriate solutions for them and to hold a two-day conference on business and its expansion. * The Chief of province’s health at the ministry of public health visited Herat’s governor, Sayyed Hussein Anwari. He said that they will soon open Herat’s Burns Hospital which has been built through USAID funding. About $700,000 has been spent to build it. The equipment for the center will be provided by France. * People from Obeh district have handed over some weapons to the DIAG program and announced their support of this program. * Members of Herat sanatorium demonstrated today in front of Herat Governor’s office due to a lack of attention paid to them. The president of the sanatorium said that they had no funds. In the past 2% of Herat’s customs income was given to the sanatorium, but it isn’t given anymore. Herat’s governor appointed a delegation to consider the issue.

Herat Local News

Killid Radio

<I>Broadcast at 12pm on 3rd September 2007</I> * In a clash between police and robbers, a robber was killed and two others injured in Adraskan district last night. * We have heard many times that Iran’s government is supplying missiles to the government opposition, but the government has always presented Iran as a friendly country. However, people say that Iran has expanded its ominous shadow. Officials in Farah detained the security director of Farah police station on accusations of spying for Iran. He was brought to Kabul for further investigation. Bolqais Roshan, Farah Provincial Council’s assistant, also confirmed that Iran interferes in the neighboring provinces. * Mayor of Mehri High School (Girl’s School) was elected yesterday: this action was confirmed by Herat’s mayor, Mohammad Rafiq Mujaddidi, and Maryam Amin was elected by the students as the school mayor. She said that the purpose of this process is to help in cleaning the school. […] * Oil officials in Herat informed that the prices of oil will soon decrease, because they are going to import some oil and sell it at a low price. This is being done by the order of the president.