Afghan chaos growing Options

[Marine]

July 25, 2005 - Monday :: Welcome. Subscribe to receive newstories.

19 missiles defused, three suspects held in Zabul
By Abdul Samad Roohani
LASHKARGAH, July 24 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Nineteen missiles deployed for an attack on this city centre were defused and three suspects apprehended in the southern troubled province of Helmand on Sunday.

Helmand's deputy police chief Haji Mohammad Ayub, in an exclusive chat with this news agency, revealed they had received a tip-off that unidentified miscreants in Marja district had moved into position the missiles for targeting the provincial capital city.

Acting on the clue, security forces mounted an operation that resulted in deactivating the missiles and arrest of the three suspects. With an investigation in progress, Haji Ayub opined, it was too early to speculate on the identities of the men or their links to terrorist outfits.

In recent months, Zabul has witnessed a spate of violence including fatal attacks on provincial security personnel and the coalition forces stationed in the restive region, seen as a magnet for militants.

Translated & edited by Mudassir

http://www.pajhwak.com/en/news/viewStory.asp?lng=eng&id=4899

[Marine]

July 25, 2005 - Monday :: Welcome. Subscribe to receive newstories.

Four drug traffickers apprehended with 40kg of opium in Herat
By Ahmad Ehsan Sarwaryar
HERAT CITY, July 24 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Police in the western city of Herat last night arrested four armed drug traffickers on motorbikes, security officials said on Sunday.

Forty kilograms of opium were seized from the smugglers on the highway between Karakh district and Herat City, said police spokesman Abdul Rauf Ahmadi.

The police spokesman, who believed the traffickers wanted to smuggle the opium to Iran, claimed that a pistol and a satellite telephone set were also recovered from the outlaws.

He added most of the narcotics poured from neighbouring provinces into Herat, which borders Turkmenistan and Iran. He admitted an increase in the drug traffic, but hastened to add law-enforcers too had stepped up vigil.

Last week, police seized 100 kilograms of opium from a van on its way from Herat to the border town of Torghondai. The opium had been concealed in hidden cavities of the vehicle.

Ahmad Ehsan Sarwaryar


http://www.pajhwak.com/en/news/viewStory.asp?lng=eng&id=4918

[Marine]

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Islamabad announces $100m grant for Kabul; Pak-Afghan investment pact inked
By Daud Khattak

President Hamid Karzai and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz addressing a joint press conference in Kabul on Sunday.
KABUL, July 24 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Pakistan and Afghanistan Sunday singed an investment protection treaty, as Islamabad announced a grant of $100 million for Kabul as a gesture of goodwill and friendship between the neighbours.

At a joint media appearance following two hours of talks at the sprawling presidential palace here, visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Afghan leader Hamid Karzai said the two sides had reached an agreement on operating Kabul-Peshawar and Kabul-Quetta flights.

Without giving a clear timeframe for the commencement of these flights, Shaukat Aziz told media-people they had also agreed on laying a railway track linking Balochistan's town of Chaman with the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar.

Under the investment protection treaty, Aziz said, Pakistani and Afghan entrepreneurs would enjoy complete security of their capital poured into projects in both countries. In the main, the accord is aimed at boosting investor confidence and bilateral trade.

Before the two leaders spoke to journalists, the Joint Economic Commission (JEC) also wrapped up a meeting they billed as highly successful and result-oriented. The commission conferred on a number of trade issues including the Afghan Transit Trade.

With regard to the official-level negotiations preceding the media engagement, Karzai said he had discussed with the visiting dignitary two-way cooperation in diverse fields including the war on terror, refugee affairs, role of the Ummah, OIC, UN and transit trade issues. He profoundly lauded Aziz's economic vision acknowledged globally.

Describing his meeting with the Afghan president as comprehensive and fruitful, Shaukat Aziz observed the two countries had a 'common heritage' and 'shared destiny.' Afghanistan and Pakistan were partners in the war on terror to win peace for their peoples, he added.

Commenting on peace in the war-ravaged country, Shaukat argued a stable and strong Afghanistan was not only in the interest of its neighbours, it was equally important for the rest of the world as well.

In response to a question about increasing incidents of terrorism and attacks in Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai said the violence posed a threat to peace in both the countries. He likened Pakistan and Afghanistan to Siamese twins, contending harm to one country was bound to have debilitating effects on the other.

He regretted a lot of damage had been caused by the militant violence over the last three months. "We have discussed the issue in detail and agreed on how to build and develop confidence between the two countries."

Karzai went on to point out that his government had enacted laws safeguarding foreign investment. He acknowledged a lot of capital had been injected into Afghanistan by Pakistani investors and his government would welcome further investment not only from Pakistan but other neighbouring countries as well.

On the recent attacks in London, the Afghan president dispelled the impression that terrorism was linked to Islam. "Rather, it's Islam which is the victim of terrorism." The elements using Islam as a smokescreen for their criminal acts were extremists having no connection to the great religion, he continued.

"Those who are burning schools and killing religious scholars cannot be called Muslims," Karzai said, adding Afghanistan was the first victim of terrorism and aggression from the former Soviet Union.

Speaking on the issue, Shaukat Aziz said Islam being a religion of peace and harmony has no room for extremism. Muslims all over the world wanted to live in peace with other communities, he insisted.

On the scourge of terrorism, the Pakistani dignitary said: "We have shared objectives, sense of purpose and common destiny. People of both countries are peace-loving and their governments should jointly work against terrorists."

Asked if Pakistan was taking measures to seal its border to stop the entry of terrorists into Afghanistan, Aziz promised his country would do whatever it could to banish the threat. The border was manned by thousands of soldiers to ensure peace in Afghanistan, he concluded.

Edited by Mudassir

http://www.pajhwak.com/en/news/viewStory.asp?lng=eng&id=4926

[Marine]

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U-17 Afghan cricketers robbed of certain victory
By Pakhtun Sahar
ISLAMABAD, July 24 (Pajhwok Afghan News): A visiting Under-17 cricket squad from Afghanistan was robbed of a certain victory by a scuffle that erupted in dying moments of a high-scoring encounter against a Peshawar club on Saturday.

In the 30-over-aside match, the visitors were closing in on a comfortable triumph over the Nanakpura Club, whose players disputed a run taken by a middle-order Afghan batsman, with the controversy forcing an inconclusive end to the match.

As part of preparations for the Asian Games, the junior cricketers from the conflict-crippled country are currently playing a series of friendlies with different NWFP line-ups at the Gymkhana Cricket Ground, close to the Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar.

Chasing a formidable target of 202 runs for victory in the allotted 30 overs, the young Afghan cricketers took a flying start to their innings. Unfortunately for them, a noisy row was touched off by a controversial run that disrupted the proceedings in final stages of the thriller.

As a result of the wrangle, umpires declared the hotly-contested game as drawn, just when the Afghans were in sight of an easy win, needing 25 runs with several wickets in hand and a number of overs to go.

In a telephonic chat with Pajhwok Afghan News, coach of Under-17 cricketers Daulat Khan Ahmadzai played down the ugly episode, saying his boys were in a positive frame of mind for the rest of the matches.

"As that incident is now behind them, the Afghan youngsters are all poised for proving their mettle in the duels ahead," remarked Ahmadzai, who said the sport was fast becoming an in-thing for more and more Afghans despite the fact their national game was 'buzkashi.'


Translated & edited by Mudassir

http://www.pajhwak.com/en/news/viewStory.asp?lng=eng&id=4935

[Marine]

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8,800 sacked army men poised for reinstatement
By Ahmad Khalid Mowahid
KABUL, July 24 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Of the 11,000 former army men fired after President Hamid Karzai's interim government came to power in 2002, 8,800 will be reinstated after passing a test.

Major Gen. Juma Naser, aide to the deputy defence minister, told a press conference here on Sunday the 8,800 people had been able to qualify the test judging their professional knowledge, skills, age and health.

They will be gradually accommodated in the new national army, whose eventual strength has been projected at 70,000 servicemen. Under an army reform and rebuilding plan, the interim government had former officers and soldiers three years ago.

Sources in the Defence Ministry said more than 22,800 former ministry officials and soldiers were examined in two phases and the 8,800 managed to meet the criterion set for recruitment to the new army.

So far, 27,000 soldiers have been trained and recruited to the ANA. Zahir Azeemi, spokesman for the Defence Ministry, said the number would reach 70,000 next year.


nd/by/mud

http://www.pajhwak.com/en/news/viewStory.asp?lng=eng&id=4943

[Marine]

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France vows jets, soldiers to help secure Afghan polls
By Najib Khilwatgar
KABUL, July 23 (Pajhwok Afghan News): France announced on Sunday it would send 20 soldiers and six Mirage aircraft to Afghanistan for election-related security.

Wrapping up her three-day visit to Afghanistan on Sunday, French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie told newsmen the jets - currently at a base in Tajikistan - would fly into Afghanistan, if needed, to help boost security for the elections.

She pledged her country would also dispatch two transport planes for logistical cooperation with Afghanistan in holding the first post-Taliban parliamentary polls, slated for September 18.

During her sixth visit to Afghanistan, Alliot-Marie met President Hamid Karzai, Defence Minister Abdul Rahim Wardag and senior officials of the southern Kandahar province.

Translated by Mudassir

http://www.pajhwak.com/en/news/viewStory.asp?lng=eng&id=4944

[Marine]

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Checkpoints set up in Zabul to block militant infiltration
By Saeed Zabuli
KANDAHAR CITY, July 25 (Pajhwok Afghan News): The Helmand security establishment has set up four new checkpoints in Deshu district near the Pakistan frontier in order to block cross-border militant infiltration.

Senior police officer Gen. Abdur Rehman Naurozi told Pajhwok Afghan News on Monday the measure had been prompted by the plummeting security situation in border villages of the troubled southern province.

The check-posts manned by around 100 soldiers had been established in Bharamcha, Kalacha, Chaku and Rabat villages, some 500 metres on the Afghan side of the border, to prevent insurgents from crossing into the restive province, Naurozi added.

He said security officials in the shambolic villages were monitoring the movements of 30 suspected Taliban activists, who crossed the border all too frequently. "We are keeping a constant vigil on the suspects who often enter Pakistani territory and then come back."

On July 10, provincial authorities had found the bodies of 11 policemen killed by Taliban insurgents a day after a fierce clash in Deshu district. Later, Taliban claimed they had beheaded the cops after kidnapping them.

Meanwhile, Taliban spokesman Mufti Latifullah Hakimi scorned the impression that the fighters sneaked into the province from Pakistan to stage attacks. "Our men riding on motorbikes traverse different parts of Afghanistan," he said, adding the Taliban insurgents under watch had already left the district.

Translated & edited by Mudassir

http://www.pajhwak.com/en/news/viewStory.asp?lng=eng&id=4959

[ConcernedObserve...]

'Die America!' chants Afghan mob at U.S. base
More than 1,000 try to break down gate; 50 Taliban reported slain in battle
The Associated Press
Updated: 3:16 p.m. ET July 26, 2005


BAGRAM, Afghanistan - More than 1,000 stone-throwing Afghans tried to break down an outer gate at the main U.S. base here Tuesday while demanding the release of eight detained villagers, and Afghan troops fired warning shots and used clubs to beat the mob back. U.S. troops also fired into the air.

It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties in the melee outside the base’s main gate as protesters chanted “Die America!” Black smoke billowed from burning tires. An Associated Press reporter was hit by a stone and an AP photographer was punched by a protester.

In southern Afghanistan, meanwhile, a provincial governor said about 50 suspected insurgents and two Afghan soldiers died during an overnight battle. It was one of the deadliest clashes in recent fighting between the government and militants heading into parliamentary elections.

Mob chases U.S. military vehicles
The violence in Bagram erupted when six U.S. military vehicles tried to enter the base. Demonstrators massed outside to protest the arrests threw stones at the convoy and soldiers in the vehicles fired into the air with handguns.

The convoy sped into the base and the mob chased after them, trying to push down a metal gate guarded by Afghan troops. Some soldiers beat the protesters with clubs and several fired assault rifles into the air as they shouted for the protesters to go home. Most dispersed.

The eight men arrested late Monday “had materials used to make improvised explosive devices in their possession and are thought to be planning future attacks against coalition forces,” the U.S. military said in a statement.

Demonstrators said they were angry that American soldiers arrested the men without consulting local authorities.

“We have supported the Americans for years. We should be treated with dignity,” said Shah Aghar, 35. “They are arresting our people without the permission of the government. They are breaking into our houses and offending the people. We are very angry.”

The U.S. statement said the military tried to contact local Afghan authorities before the raid but was unable to do so.

There has been little violence in the Bagram area since U.S. forces helped oust the Taliban regime at the end of 2001 and took control of the base, where hundreds of Afghans are employed to clean, construct buildings and do other jobs.

One protester, Abdul Rahman, said that if the U.S. forces continued to raid people’s houses, Afghans would launch a “holy war against them as we did against the Soviets and Taliban.”

Thousands of American and other foreign soldiers live at the base, which is surrounded by several razor-wire fences and areas outside the perimeter remain mined from Afghanistan’s civil war and Soviet occupation. The main entrance is a series of heavily guarded checkpoints.

50 Taliban said killed, 25 suspects captured
In the southern city of Kandahar, Gov. Jan Mohammed Khan said the nighttime battle in Uruzgan province’s Dihrawud district came during an offensive against a rebel camp. In addition to the 50 deaths, about 25 suspected insurgents were captured, he said.

An American military spokeswoman said she had no details. A U.S. statement issued Monday said heavy fighting in that area had killed one American service member, an Afghan soldier and 11 rebels. Three Americans and one Afghan soldier were wounded, it said.

Elsewhere, police arrested 10 suspected Taliban insurgents after clashes in southeastern Zabul province, said Ali Khail, a spokesman for the provincial governor.

In neighboring Kandahar province, Taliban guerrillas attacked an Afghan patrol late Monday, triggering a battle that left an Afghan soldier dead and a police officer badly wounded, said deputy district chief Haji Lala Khan.

A candidate in the Sept. 18 election was killed in eastern Paktika province Tuesday when a roadside bomb blew up next to his vehicle as he drove his sick mother to hospital, police chief Malik Khan said. The mother was wounded.

More than 800 people have died in an upsurge in violence since March.

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8702657/

[Marine]

'Die America!' chants Afghan mob at U.S. base
More than 1,000 try to break down gate; 50 Taliban reported slain in battle
The Associated Press
Updated: 3:16 p.m. ET July 26, 2005
BAGRAM, Afghanistan - More than 1,000 stone-throwing Afghans tried to break down an outer gate at the main U.S. base here Tuesday while demanding the release of eight detained villagers, and Afghan troops fired warning shots and used clubs to beat the mob back. U.S. troops also fired into the air.

It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties in the melee outside the base’s main gate as protesters chanted “Die America!” Black smoke billowed from burning tires. An Associated Press reporter was hit by a stone and an AP photographer was punched by a protester.

In southern Afghanistan, meanwhile, a provincial governor said about 50 suspected insurgents and two Afghan soldiers died during an overnight battle. It was one of the deadliest clashes in recent fighting between the government and militants heading into parliamentary elections.

Mob chases U.S. military vehicles
The violence in Bagram erupted when six U.S. military vehicles tried to enter the base. Demonstrators massed outside to protest the arrests threw stones at the convoy and soldiers in the vehicles fired into the air with handguns.

The convoy sped into the base and the mob chased after them, trying to push down a metal gate guarded by Afghan troops. Some soldiers beat the protesters with clubs and several fired assault rifles into the air as they shouted for the protesters to go home. Most dispersed.

The eight men arrested late Monday “had materials used to make improvised explosive devices in their possession and are thought to be planning future attacks against coalition forces,” the U.S. military said in a statement.

Demonstrators said they were angry that American soldiers arrested the men without consulting local authorities.

“We have supported the Americans for years. We should be treated with dignity,” said Shah Aghar, 35. “They are arresting our people without the permission of the government. They are breaking into our houses and offending the people. We are very angry.”

The U.S. statement said the military tried to contact local Afghan authorities before the raid but was unable to do so.

There has been little violence in the Bagram area since U.S. forces helped oust the Taliban regime at the end of 2001 and took control of the base, where hundreds of Afghans are employed to clean, construct buildings and do other jobs.

One protester, Abdul Rahman, said that if the U.S. forces continued to raid people’s houses, Afghans would launch a “holy war against them as we did against the Soviets and Taliban.”

Thousands of American and other foreign soldiers live at the base, which is surrounded by several razor-wire fences and areas outside the perimeter remain mined from Afghanistan’s civil war and Soviet occupation. The main entrance is a series of heavily guarded checkpoints.

50 Taliban said killed, 25 suspects captured
In the southern city of Kandahar, Gov. Jan Mohammed Khan said the nighttime battle in Uruzgan province’s Dihrawud district came during an offensive against a rebel camp. In addition to the 50 deaths, about 25 suspected insurgents were captured, he said.

An American military spokeswoman said she had no details. A U.S. statement issued Monday said heavy fighting in that area had killed one American service member, an Afghan soldier and 11 rebels. Three Americans and one Afghan soldier were wounded, it said.

Elsewhere, police arrested 10 suspected Taliban insurgents after clashes in southeastern Zabul province, said Ali Khail, a spokesman for the provincial governor.

In neighboring Kandahar province, Taliban guerrillas attacked an Afghan patrol late Monday, triggering a battle that left an Afghan soldier dead and a police officer badly wounded, said deputy district chief Haji Lala Khan.

A candidate in the Sept. 18 election was killed in eastern Paktika province Tuesday when a roadside bomb blew up next to his vehicle as he drove his sick mother to hospital, police chief Malik Khan said. The mother was wounded.

More than 800 people have died in an upsurge in violence since March.

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8702657/

Well this story appears to be true, a bit exagerated and incompete so let's see what the Afghans say about it

July 26, 2005 - Tuesday :: Welcome. Subscribe to receive newstories.

Bagram residents stage anti-US demo
By Zubair Babakarkhail & Noman Dost
KABUL, July 26 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Hundreds of enraged Afghans Tuesday staged a protest demonstration demanding immediate release of a former commander and seven other villagers arrested by US forces near the Bagram airbase, some 35 kilometres north of the central capital.

The protestors numbering some 1,000, burned tyres near the well guarded detention facility and chanted slogans against the US amidst warning of resorting to violence if the locals were not freed forthwith.

A former mujahidin commander Engineer Hamidullah from the Deh Mula village was arrested along with prayer leader of a mosque and six other locals in the midnight between Monday and Tuesday.

The villagers argued although Hamidullah had been a military a one time military commander of the fugitive warlord Gulbadin Hekmatyar, but he had cut off ties with Hekmatyars' outfit ten years back.

Condemning the arrest, the demonstrators said the soldiers raided and searched their houses in the midnight. They warned of serious consequences if such search operations were not halted.

"We have fought against the former Soviet Union and the Taliban, but if the excesses continued, we will raise weapons against the US this time," screamed a young man punching the air. He vowed they were ready to lay their lives to save their honour.

Talking to Pajhwok Afghan News, Noorullah, brother of the arrested commander, said someone had misguided the US forces about his brother. He said in the past too, their enemies had provided false tips leading to his brother's arrest.

US military spokeswoman Cindy Moore, when contacted for comments, said the forces had recovered explosives from Hamidullah's house. The man was detained following reports that he was planning to attack the Bagram military headquarters. She added the US forces were accompanied Afghan intelligence and police personnel.

Meanwhile, talks were going on inside the headquarters between the US authorities and the locals represented by the Parvan governor, local officials and elders from the area, till the filing of this report.

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai had earlier asked the US military not to raid houses without prior permission of the local authorities.


arl/by/dk

http://www.pajhwak.com/en/news/viewStory.asp?lng=eng&id=5063

[ghostgovt]

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200507/2...727_198406.html

July 27, 2005

Afghan demonstration outside US base turns violence font size ZoomIn ZoomOut

A protest demonstration outside US military base at Bagram airfield Tuesday turned into violence injuring one demonstrator and attracting some 400 local employees to join in the rank of protestors, a demonstration organizer said.

"A protestor was injured in US troops' firing outside the base while around 400 local employees inside the base joined the protestors to push their demand," Mohammad Zahir Rahimi told Xinhua from the scene.

He added that the mob, had hurled stones on US forces and smashed the windows of their vehicles.

The demonstration began after the arrest of eight locals including a former resistance commander Hamidullah Monday night, and was later joined by hundreds of men and teens.

"We will not leave the ground unless our men are released," Rahimi emphasized.

On the other hand, the US military justified its action and said it took into custody eight suspected terrorists.

"Monday operation which led to the capture of eight people suspected of planning and conducting attacks against US and Afghan forces was conducted against a single compound near the base," said a statement of US army issued here in the afternoon.

"The detained individuals had materials used to make improvised explosive devices in their possession and are thought to be planning future attacks against coalition forces," the statement stressed.

[Marine]

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Officials claim arresting 20 Taliban in Zabul
By Saeed Zabuli & Hamim Jalalzai
KABUL, July 27 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Security officials claimed arresting 20 Taliban in the southern Zabul province but the militants rejected the claim, saying only sex villagers had been arrested in an operation.

Police chief of Shinkay district Mohammad Momand said the outlaws were captured following a joint swoop on by the US forces and Afghan National Army. Six of the arrested men had confessed their links with the militant outfit, he added. The Interior Ministry here did not confirm the claim.

Latifullah Hakimi, the militia's purported spokesman, on the other hand quickly reacted to the claim, saying only six villagers were arrested by the security forces.

Talking to this news agency, he said these people had nothing to do with the Taliban. A day earlier, twelve fighters were arrested along with arms and communication equipments in the province following two separate operations.


fn/by/dk

http://www.pajhwak.com/en/news/viewStory.asp?lng=eng&id=5122

[Marine]

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Pak-Afghan border trade route reopens
By Pakhtun Sahar
ISLAMABAD, July 27 (Pajhwok Afghan News): The Pak-Afghan border near the troubled semiautonomous tribal region of Wana in South Waziristan Agency (NWFP) has reopened for trade.

Apart from the inhospitable mountain passages frequented by smugglers, there are at least three routes - Lwara Mandi, Zawara and Ghulam Khan - used for transportation of goods and people between the two countries.

Some weeks back, the Wana road had had been closed owing to military operations against terrorists hiding in the restive tribal region, lying cheek by jowl with the Pak-Afghan frontier.

South Waziristan Agency Political Agent Laiq Hussain told Pajhwok Afghan News on Wednesday the route had been reopened on persistent demands from the locals. The decision would help resolve residents' economic problems, he added.

Speaking to this reporter by telephone from Wana, the political agent observed: "The local economy is directly linked to trade with Afghanistan and the closure of the route thus landed the locals in deep trouble."

After the reopening of the road, he vowed, genuine traders alone would be allowed to do business across the frontier. Elements abetting cross-border terrorism and smuggling would remain under a round-the-clock vigil, he maintained.

Wana inhabitant Malik Farhad said local traders had suffered huge losses this year because of a series of crackdowns on miscreants hiding in the region. At times, entire markets were sealed by authorities as part of economic sanctions imposed on tribesmen for allegedly sheltering terror suspects.

Translated & edited by Mudassir

http://www.pajhwak.com/en/news/viewStory.asp?lng=eng&id=5120

[Marine]

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Canadian PRT to start functioning Kandahar
By Ahmad Khalid Moahid
KABUL, July 27 (Pajhwok Afghan News): A coalition forces spokesman in Afghanistan Wednesday announced a Canadian Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) would start functioning in the southern Kandahar province.

Addressing a news conference here, Colonel James Yonts said the team comprising 250 Canadian soldiers would resume work in the insurgency-plague province from August 2.

The team will comprise an infantry company, an engineer squadron, a combatant support company and medical support and other specialized units. Besides, other units will also be available to monitor security and promote government polices in the area.

A total of 25 teams are at work across the country. Of these, nine are under the control of the International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) led by NATO and the remaining under the US-led coalition forces.

Regarding recapture of the four Arab escapees from the US detention facility at Bagram, he said investigation were on to reach a conclusion. The case was investigated by Central Investigation Department (CID).

He said more than 2000 people including US soldiers and Afghans working at the airbase had been questioned to reach a conclusion.



nd/r/amm/dk

http://www.pajhwak.com/en/news/viewStory.asp?lng=eng&id=5118

[Marine]

July 27, 2005 - Wednesday :: Welcome. Subscribe to receive newstories.

300 telephone booths to be operational soon
By Mustafa Basharat
KABUL, July 27 (Pajhwok Afghan News): The 300 telephone booths established by the Communication Ministry at different spots in the central capital would start functioning in a week.

Abdul Hadi Hadi, spokesman for the ministry, told Pajhwok Afghan News on Wednesday of the 300 calling points, 150 had been established in busy markets while the remaining in other populated areas.

He said calling cards worth 250 and 500 afghani would be used to make calls from the booths. A call to digital and cell phone number will consume one and five afghanis per minute respectively. The system has been operationalised by a US company at the cost of $200.

A number of people have lauded the opening of the calling booths, saying they would save them time as well as money in terms of local and international call expenses.

Mohammad Naveed, an employee of the Afghanistan's Central Bank, said it would help those people who could not afford a mobile set. Yar Mohammad, a shopkeeper in the Asmai Wat, said they had to tread a long distance to make a call from a PCO.

The calling booth system has been launched at a time when two private mobile companies in the name of Afghan Wireless Communication Company (AWCC) and Roshan are providing services across the country.


r/zm/amm/dk

http://www.pajhwak.com/en/news/viewStory.asp?lng=eng&id=5112

[Marine]

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Karzai addresses police graduation ceremony in Bamyan
By Makia Monir and Noman Dost
BAMYAN/KABUL, July 27 (Pajhwok Afghan News): President Hamid Karzai visited the central Bamyan province on Wednesday to attend a police graduation ceremony. He also inaugurated a local telephone exchange.

Heading an official delegation on the Bamyan visit, Karzai also listened to problems of the people through local elders. The president also went round a local girls' school in the central province.

Earlier, Bamyan officials complained about the glacial pace of the reconstruction process in the province and said repairs of clinics, roads, hospitals and schools had made little progress.

In his address, Karzai urged the graduating policemen to serve the nation to the best of their ability as dwellers of Bamyan, as indeed all Afghans, had suffered lots of troubles in the past.

The president said it was his second trip to Bamyan after his takeover as president. He remarked the city had changed a great deal in terms of development, compared to its status two year ago.

Ministers of defence, public health, communication, urban development, public works, education and advisors from several ministries accompanied the president.

During the presidential visit, provincial police set ablaze three tons of drugs seized over the two years as part of the government's campaign against narcotics.


hb/by/mud

http://www.pajhwak.com/en/news/viewStory.asp?lng=eng&id=5111

[Marine]

July 27, 2005 - Wednesday :: Welcome. Subscribe to receive newstories.

Zabul fighting leaves three Taliban dead
By Saeed Zabuli
KANDAHAR CITY, July 27 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Official in the insurgency-plague Zabul province claimed they had killed three Taliban fighters and captured two others following an armed clash on Tuesday night.

The fire-fight happened in the Shah Joy district on the Kabul-Kandahar highway when the student militia ambushed a police convoy, said provincial police chief General Abdul Saboor Allahyar.

Talking to Pajhwok Afghan News Allahyar said police retaliated killing three militants and capturing two others. Two policemen also wounded in the gun-battle. However, Shah Joy police chief said three fighters killed and two wounded besides injuries to five policemen.

But Taliban spokesman Latifullah Hakimi insisted only one fighter was wounded in the clash. He claimed their men had inflicted heavy losses on the 'enemies' without elaborating the exact number of casualties.

A day earlier, officials claimed killing 50 insurgents in the neighboring Uruzgan province following a joint crackdown by the US forces and Afghan National Army.

In a similar operation in Zabul, officials claimed a dozen more Taliban were captured along with arms and ammunitions allegedly planning to carry out an attack in the province.

Taliban have escalated insurgency targeting coalition forces, government soldiers and ulema ahead of the landmark parliamentary elections scheduled for September 18.


jh/by/dk

http://www.pajhwak.com/en/news/viewStory.asp?lng=eng&id=5073

[ghostgovt]

Which kind of brings us to the main question... "just who is the real enemy?"



http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/o...frilets295.html

This Taliban is not that Taliban

Jul. 29, 2005 12:00 AM

Regarding "U.S. had role in terrorist problem" (Letters, Thursday):

The writer should realize that Ronald Reagan's "praise" of "Taliban's predecessors" was for deposed refugees and freedom fighters who were struggling to free their country of Russian invaders, which they did.

The effort to return Afghanistan to its people was praised by all free nations, including France and Germany. Who was to know then that the Taliban and jihadists would split into radical cells of terrorists and target not only the United States, but also all free nations?

Hindsight is always 20/20, and I'm sure we were unaware back then we were dealing with horses of a different color.

[Marine]

July 30, 2005 - Saturday :: Welcome. Subscribe to receive newstories.

Afghan U-17 cricketers to participate in Asian Games
By Frozan Danish Rahmani
KABUL, July 28 (Pajhwok Afghan News): The Afghan Under-17 cricket team will participate in Asian Games to be held in Malaysia from August 4. The Britain-based Kabul Standard Chartered Bank will sponsor their tour.

Afghanistan's Cricket Federation General Secretary Taj Malook Alam told a press conference here on Thursday the bank had agreed to pay 62,000 dollars to meet the team's expenses.

Also present on the occasion, Standard Chartered Bank representative Joseph said Afghan cricketers would wear the bank's logo for publicity during their matches.

Din Mohammad Safi, chief advisor to the National Olympic Committee, said support from the private sector was instrumental in promoting sports in Afghanistan. He described the bank's help as a paradigm of that assistance.

Sixteen countries will participate in the games, which also feature the 17-member Afghan, which will leave for Malaysia on August 3. The junior team is currently in Pakistan to prepare for the competitions.

zm/r/amm/mud

http://www.pajhwak.com/en/news/viewStory.asp?lng=eng&id=5176

[Marine]

July 30, 2005 - Saturday :: Welcome. Subscribe to receive newstories.

IFC prods Afghan women into business
By Daud Khattak
KABUL, July 28 (Pajhwok Afghan News): The International Finance Corporation has organised a two-day workshop on July 26 for women entrepreneurs, says a press release issued here on Thursday.

Held at the Afghan International Chamber of Commerce (AICC), the speakers invited women to come forward and work side by side with their male partners in the business and marketing sectors.

The workshop, designed to help women to learn and share innovative approaches to business growth, was attended by more than 40 Afghan women entrepreneurs. Special focus was directed on developing marketing concept, identifying target markets and pricing of products and services.

Speaking at the concluding session, CEO of the Afghan International Chamber of Commerce Hamid Qaderi said all Afghans including female should join hands in economic growth and reconstruction of their war-ravaged country.

Participants of the workshop appreciated the venture, saying it would prove helpful in improving their professional skills in the field of business and marketing.

The training was delivered using IFC's global Business Edge Management training methodology and expertise aimed at increasing productivity, profitability and growth in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) by enhancing management performance in a number of areas including financial, operational and marketing management.

The workshop is part of a larger IFC regional programme to strengthen growth-oriented women-owned Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) soon to be launched.

http://www.pajhwak.com/en/news/viewStory.asp?lng=eng&id=5175

[ghostgovt]

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/D20...515B9FD38B7.htm

Regional leader killed in Afghanistan

Saturday 30 July 2005,


An Afghan district governor and two of his bodyguards have been killed by a remote-controlled roadside bomb.

The device hit their car in south-central Afghanistan on Saturday, an official said.

Abdul Jabar and two of his guards died while three more security staff were wounded in the attack in Charchino, Uruzgan province, about 370km (230 miles) southwest of Kabul, said provincial governor Jan Mohammed.

Fighters loyal to the ousted Taliban government have stepped up their attacks against Afghan and US forces in the province in recent months ahead of scheduled national parliamentary elections in September.

On Saturday morning two US soldiers and their Afghan interpreter were wounded in another remote-controlled roadside bomb blast, in the Deh Rawood district of Uruzgan, the US military said in a statement.