Coalition Troops Work to Help Kabul Residents
By Sgt. Matthew MacRoberts, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service


KABUL, Afghanistan, July 12, 2005 – Students at Lamashaheed School here attend classes in conditions that make learning difficult and can even endanger their health. But still, the teachers continue to instruct, and the children eagerly attend class.

Afghan girls at the Lamashaheed school laugh after having their picture taken while receiving new pens, pencils, colored markers, and other school supplies from the Commander's Emergency Response Program. U.S. and British servicemembers delivered the supplies during the students' classes. U.S. Army photo (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

The U.S. military and the United Kingdom's 2nd Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles, have been working to supply schools and hospitals in Kabul with essential supplies and material support. U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Hendrick Felix and his staff of soldiers, airmen and seamen keep an inventory of prayer rugs, Korans, children's clothes, sugar, tea, beans, rice, stoves, hygiene kits and school supplies.

The troops support 13 schools, seven kindergartens and as many local hospitals as their supplies allow.

British Army Capt. Daniel Lama, the Gurkha 2nd Battalion's civil assistance representative, said the most important items given to students are pens, pencils and notebooks. "This is because at the schools these items are not issued and are, in relative terms, expensive. Colored pencils or crayons are also fantastic and help add some color into their young lives," Lama said.

Helping supply everyday items is one part of the coalition's effort to return life to normal in Afghanistan. "This program is part of the Commanders Emergency Response Program," Felix said.

For Felix and his crew, going to Kabul recently to distribute supplies was special. "It was the first time I helped issue the (civic aid) supplies we stock to Afghans," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Omar Avila, an El Paso native and a Navy storekeeper. "It felt great actually giving it to them. The crowded classrooms and the conditions in the hospital surprised us."

Lamashaheed, which is named after one of the school's teachers who was shot and killed in her classroom during the war, is one of the schools receiving assistance. It was built to accommodate some 2,000 students, but currently has more than 6,300. Corridors and stairwells are used as makeshift classrooms, and tents are used for the overflow.

"My first impression was they really need a place to facilitate the classes," Felix said. "They need at least a fan to circulate the air to just be out in the tents.

"The children and teachers just bear it and withstand the heat," he said. "That's sheer determination."

Tent classrooms have dirt floors, and those inside are at the mercy of the environment. In summer, temperatures in the tents can rocket to more than 120 degrees. Many children experience health problems from the heat: nosebleeds, headaches, nausea, dehydration and heat stroke. Every tent has jugs of water, and the teachers try to ensure their students take frequent water breaks to stave off heat injuries.

"The heat is unbearable sometimes," said Rahima, a teacher at Lamashaheed. "My big wish is to get rid of the tents and get proper classrooms."

Hospitals in the community also welcome the assistance brought by the civic-aid partnership. Many medical services, such as CT scans, and liver function tests and other blood work, are not readily available here.

"Working with the hospitals, we support the weakest members of society," Lama said. "And working with schools we support the future of the country. This has important force-protection spinoffs as the military is then seen as a force for good in an additional role from that of a security provider."

Maiwand Hospital's director, Dr. M. Gul, said his main request was for some way for his staff to liaison with coalition or International Security Assistance Force medical facilities so better diagnoses can be made and treatments prescribed.

"The hospitals aren't really hospitals, they are more like just a building with beds," said Felix. "(The doctors') highest form of medical technology is their minds and their hands. If they had the technology we have, they could better treat their patients. But they lack that technology, and they lose people every day."

Lama said the most upsetting thing he sees during his distribution of aid is "the seriously ill children in the intensive care ward of Maiwand Hospital. Many of these children have little or no hope of survival because the doctors lack the basic equipment and drugs to diagnose and then treat them."

When asked about his partnership with U.S. forces, Lama said, "I think it would be fair to say that the U.S. and U.K. forces have a close working relationship and this is recognized around the world. The United Kingdom and United States are both committed and totally dedicated to the stability and reconstruction of Afghanistan. This enables the mutual crossover of support to occur. And the development of joint aid projects is, therefore, yet another example of this fruitful relationship."

(Army Sgt. Matthew MacRoberts is assigned to the 20th Public Affairs Detachment.)

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jul2005/20050712_2038.html

U.S. Army Capt. (Dr.) David Harper, left, and Maj. (Dr.) Cory Costello, surgeons assigned to the 2-504th Parachute Infantry Regiment and 1-82nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, are interviewed by Andrew North from the BBC. The donated medical vehicle is in the background. U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Geoffrey Carter


Vehicle Brings Medical Aid to Remote Regions
The donated SUV is equipped with storage areas for medicines, allowing
a doctor and assistant to set up a clinc in minutes.


By U.S. Army Master Sgt. Geoffrey Carter
Task Force Devil Public Affairs
SALERNO, Afghanistan, July 12, 2005 — The Khost Provincial government, in conjunction with Coalition forces, recently donated a Mobile Medical Vehicle to the Ministry of Health, in order to provide better medical services and care to remote regions of Khost province.

The vehicle donation ceremony was conducted at the Khost Ministry of Tribal Affairs and was attended by Dr. Amir Bad Shah, Minister of Public Health; Lt. Col. George Donovan, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment commander; Maj. (Dr.) Cory Costello, Task Force Devil surgeon, Maj. Commander of the Khost Provincial Reconstruction Team, Capt. (Dr.) David Harper, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment surgeon, and various tribal elders.

“The reason we are donating this vehicle is simple,” said Harper. “Over the past few months I have visited many of the villages throughout the Khost province and found some of those villages do not have a clinic or a medical provider. With this vehicle, local doctors from Khost can drive out to remote locations and provide care and medicine to those in need.”

“With this vehicle, local doctors from Khost can drive out to remote locations and provide care and medicine to those in need,” U.S. Army Capt. (Dr.) David Harper

The dark blue SUV had an elaborate system of drawers built into the back seat and trunk area that can hold cases of medicines and ointments. This storage allows a doctor and one assistant to drive out to any village and set up a clinic in minutes.


U.S. Army Lt. Col. George Donovan, left, and Maj. (Dr.) Cory Costello, right, discuss the medical vehicle donation with Minister of Health for the Khost Province Dr. Amir Bad Shah, center. U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Geoffrey Carter


“The efforts of the Provincial Public Health Department and the Ministry of Health are examples of the ways the government of Afghanistan is working toward a better future,” Donovan said.

“I am confident that as Afghanistan continues to rebuild its government made up of freely elected representatives, improvements to public health would only be a part to the overall relief brought to those remote villagers who might be suffering,” added Donovan.

As elders were nodding their approval, the Minister of Tribal Affairs, Mohamid Tahir Sabar, reminded them that this vehicle was to be used for official use only and to maximize the amount of aid that could be brought to the outlying regions of Khost province.


http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/jul2...a071205dg2.html

A grader works on smothing a road just outside of the city of Orgun-E, Afghanistan, July 6, 2005. The road construction is being done by soldiers from the 391st Higher Headquarters Company Engineers and Company B, 864th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy) and will extend 64 km to Sharana, Afghanistan. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Laura E. Griffin


New Road to Cut Path to Prosperity for Orgun-E
Soldiers tackle road construction through terrain so rocky that tires on
the earthmoving equipment are shredded.

By U.S. Army Spc. Laura E. Griffin
Task Force Devil Public Affairs
ORGUN-E, Afghanistan, July 15, 2005 — A new road is under construction which will link the cities of Orgun-E and Sharana, where it can there link up to the ring road system - the major trade roads in Afghanistan that form a loop by connecting major cities.

Engineers from Company B, 864th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy) and 391st Higher Headquarters Company Engineers started the project July 5 and are expected to finish the 64-kilometer road some time around December 15.

The current road linking the two cities more resembles a series of trails, which makes travel difficult and slow for the “jingle trucks” that carry supplies and goods in the area.

U.S. Army Capt. Burlin L. Emery, Bravo Company commander, drove the route in early June to do an initial survey for the road’s path.

“As engineers, we come here to improve the quality of life for the soldiers and commerce for the Afghans. If it will help the local commerce and build allies, it will be good for us and for the nation as a whole,” U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Eugene Russell.


“It reminded me of Baha racing,” said Emery. “It was a wide-open valley with cars going everywhere. The one place that it did get down to one path was horrible. We busted a tire going through the river and had to turn around and backtrack several times just to find a passable route.”

Cutting through the rocky terrain to make the road is not easy either. The heavy earthmoving equipment is in constant need of repair and maintenance.

Sgt. 1st Class Susan K. Peniston, a motor sergeant in Bravo Company, is in charge of ensuring those repairs get done.

“The repairs and maintenance are kind of hard to keep up with,” said Peniston. “The rocks cut the tires and mud gets in everything. (Tuesday) we went through two tires and (Wednesday) we went through another two. Tires are our main problem here. We have 50 tires on stock for each piece of equipment, and that won’t even last us through this whole project.”

Staff Sgt. Richard D. Davenport, a construction equipment mechanic with Bravo Company, says that dust kicked up by the work also wreaks havoc on the equipment.

“We also have a lot of fuel problems with all the dust and sand that gets into the fuel system,” he said.

U.S. Army Sgt. Jason E. Herzog, a construction equipment repairman with 391st Higher Headquarters Company Engineers trims a plug that he used to repair a blown tire on a grader that was doing road construction just outside of Orgun-E, Afghanistan, July 6, 2005. The road construction is being done by soldiers from the 391st Higher Headquarters Company Engineers and Company B, 864th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy) and will extend 64 km to Sharana, Afghanistan. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Laura E. Griffin



A sign warning drivers of road construction ahead leans agains a humvee parked outside of the gates of Orgun-E, Afghanistan, July 6, 2005. The road construction is being done by soldiers from the 391st Higher Headquarters Company Engineers and Company B, 864th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy) and will extend 64 km to Sharana, Afghanistan. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Laura E. Griffin


First Sgt. Eugene Russell, Bravo Company's first sergeant, says that these sorts of problems are all just part of the job.

“We'll go through a lot of grader tires and blades, but that's anticipated,” he said. “As engineers, we come here to improve the quality of life for the soldiers and commerce for the Afghans. If it will help the local commerce and build allies, it will be good for us and for the nation as a whole.”

Lt. Col. Alberto C. Rosende, Task Force Wildcat Commander, says that so far, progress on the project has been swift, despite the problems.

“The 64 kilometers of road are broken up into smaller chunks of about seven kilometers each for security reasons,” he said. “Five of the first seven kilometers are already almost done, and it's only been two days.”

“Orgun-E is a major hub in this area and is a on a main trade route from Pakistan,” continued Rosende. “We want to ensure that we can connect Orgun-E to Sharana so that these goods can get to the ring road. Cities in Afghanistan didn't grow because of the rivers; they grew up because they were on the ring road or connected to it.”

Rosende also hopes that the construction process itself will help to get some money flowing into the area by hiring local residents to do some of the work and by buying necessary construction supplies from them.

“For now the road will just be an improved gravel road because asphalt is not readily available here, which makes it cost prohibitive for us,” said Rosende. “USAID is planning to pave it some time in the future; we are just doing the initial work.”

The estimated cost of the project is between one and two million dollars, but it could be lower depending on availability of natural resources from “borrow pits”- deposits of gravel and sand usually found in riverbeds that are free for use in the construction.

For Pfc. Jean-Paul M. Pelletier, a heavy equipment operator with Bravo Company, this project offers an opportunity to perfect his skills as a grader operator.

“So far I've worked on over 900 meters of the road,” he said. “It's a learning experience for me because this is something we don't do back in the rear.”


http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/jul2...a071505dw1.html

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,15990096-23109,00.html


Violence 'continuing through Afghan poll'
From correspondents in Kabul, Afghanistan

July 20, 2005
From: Reuters


VIOLENCE is likely to persist through Afghanistan's September elections as Taliban fighters and other armed groups seek to discourage voting, NATO's top civilian representative in Kabul said today.
The Taliban, whose hardline Islamic government was toppled by US-led forces in 2001, has stepped up violence in the run up to the September 18 parliamentary and provincial council polls, the next big step in the war-ravaged nation's quest for stability.

"I do expect there will be violence," NATO's Hikmet Cetin said in an interview. "Radical groups are trying to display force to influence the outcome of the election. They do not want a popularly elected parliament."

In the latest election-related violence, a female poll worker was wounded yesterday when suspected Taliban gunmen stormed a voter-registration office in northeastern Afghanistan.

Hundreds of people have died, many of them guerrillas, in militant violence since March, which has exceeded levels of recent years.

The fighting is mostly in the south and east, where insurgents cross from sanctuaries in Pakistan, officials said.

US, Afghan and Pakistani forces said they have killed more than 60 suspected foreign and Taliban militants, most of them on the Pakistani side of the border, since last Thursday.

Mr Cetin said Afghanistan had little hope of a lasting peace unless Pakistan could be persuaded to bolster its efforts in stamping out the militants.

"Afghanistan continues to be subject to interference from its neighbouring countries," he said. "The US and NATO will have to talk more and more with neighbouring countries to get support and contributions, especially from Pakistan."

Besides Islamic extremists, drugs and weapons smugglers and organised criminals stand to lose if elections help create a more secure environment. They too have stepped up attacks, Mr Cetin said.

Political rivalries among the 5800-odd candidates on the ballot could further stoke violence, he said.

"Compared with (last year's) presidential election, this election will be more difficult, more complex ... I do not expect it will be organised terror, but there will be local unrest and local problems."

He said Iraq, where US-led forces are battling insurgents after invading in 2003, had contributed to recent turmoil in Afghanistan. That war has fueled Muslim frustration with Western intervention and sapped valuable resources that could have been otherwise directed to Afghanistan.

"Terrorist activities in Iraq are negatively affecting Afghanistan," he said. "Without Iraq, it is my view the situation in Afghanistan would be better - security-wise and economically and politically.

"The international community must do more on the economic side because if we do not ... there could be a backlash. A million soldiers cannot secure the peace without the support of the people."

Well they are finally getting the description of the thugs against progress right.

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Three outlaws arrested in Nangarhar
By Ezatullah Zawab
JALALABAD, July 19 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Security officials in the eastern Nangarhar province claimed arresting three people following an armed combat on Monday night.

An official on the condition of anonymity told Pajhwok Afghan News three people ambushed government soldiers in the Agam area of the Khogiani district.

After exchange of fire that lasted for about an hour, the attackers surrendered to the government soldiers, the official said, adding their leader had been identified as Qari Bahadar.

The officials further said three rockets, 20 AK-47 assault rifles, one TT pistol, six anti-personnel mines and 18,00 different kinds of ammunitions had also been recovered from them.


Translated by Daud

http://www.pajhwak.com/en/news/viewStory.asp?lng=eng&id=4721

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Huge quantity of drugs torched in Herat
By Ahmad Ehsan Sarwaryar
HERAT CITY, July 19 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Provincial officials Monday set ablaze 11 metric tons of drugs in the Dash Hawz area, some 15 kilometres from this provincial capital.

Abdul Rauf Ahmadi, spokesman for the provincial police, told Pajhwok Afghan News the drugs included 3,110 kilograms of opium, 8,500 kilograms of hashish, 65 kilograms of heroin and four tins full of acid had been seized during raids.

Gen Daud Daud, Deputy Minister for Counter-Narcotics, who was present on the occasion, said the heap of drugs was seized over the last three and a half years. Herat is bordering Iran and Turkmenistan, and drug smugglers use the route for onward transportation to other countries.

He said police was trying hard to discourage drug smuggling via Herat, adding 66 cases had been registered with them so far.


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786 kilograms of explosives seized in Jalalabad
By Ezatullah Zawab
JALALABAD, July 19 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Police have seized huge quantity of explosives in this provincial capital of the eastern Nangarhar province, officials said.

Destined for Kabul, the 786 kilograms of destructive materials were packed in sacks and hidden in a truck loaded with onions.

Ahmad Shah Himmat, chief of anti-narcotics force, told Pajhwok Afghan News, getting a tip-off, police rushed to the spot and after search, recovered 23 sacks full of explosives.

He said two suspects, Malook and Abdullah had been arrested, who were under investigations to reach the real culprits. It is the record quantity of explosives ever recovered in Nangarhar.


jh/by/dk

http://www.pajhwak.com/en/news/viewStory.asp?lng=eng&id=4738

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One militant killed, another captured in Uruzgan
By Aziz Zahid
KABUL, July 19 (Pajhwok Afghan News): The Afghan National Army claimed killing one Taliban fighter and arresting another in the southern Uruzgan province on Monday.

"One militant was killed and his colleague captured following a swoop on in the Najran area of the Charchino district," said General Mohammad Sarwar, deputy commander of the Kandahar corps.

Talking to Pajhwok Afghan News, Sarwar said the arrested Taliban had been identified as Mullah Ghulam Nabi. Three motorcycles and a Datsun pick-up have also been captured in the crack down.

He said the operation had been successfully completed with no loss of life or property to the Afghan army.

A day earlier, the Afghan Defence Ministry claimed their forces had arrested two Taliban commanders in the southern Kandahar province.

Taliban have stepped up insurgency in the southern parts of the country to sabotage the landmark parliamentary polls scheduled for September 18.


Translated by Daud

http://www.pajhwak.com/en/news/viewStory.asp?lng=eng&id=4740

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AIHRC hails Afghan warlord's conviction by London court
By S. Mudassir Ali Shah
KABUL, July 19 (Pajhwok Afghan News): The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) Tuesday hailed the jail sentence handed down to an Afghan warlord on torture and hostage-taking charges by a British court in London.

On Monday, the 42-year-old Sarwar Zardad Faryadi was awarded 20 years in prison following his conviction in a significant case - in which torture perpetrated in one country has been prosecuted in another for the first time.

"The trial of Sarwar Zardad Faryadi in Britain on charges of conspiracy to torture and hostage-taking from 1992 to 1996 and the detention of Hesamuddin and Habibullah in the Netherlands are important international initiatives," the AIHRC observed.

Hoping the steps would help bring to justice perpetrators of crimes against humanity in Afghanistan, the human rights watchdog said the first-ever international trial on charges of previous crimes against humanity would end the culture of impunity and boost popular confidence in the transitional justice system in the country.

In a press statement issued here, the AIHRC called on prosecutors of other countries to emulate the British precedent in dealing with Afghans accused of human rights abuses in accordance with the principle of universal jurisdiction.

The AIHRC supported the Afghan government's Action Plan on Transitional Justice, believing its implementation could lead to the establishment of peace, stability and national reconciliation.

If enforced, the commission added, the plan would ensure respect for human rights in addition to bringing dignity to victims and martyrs of the 23-year conflict in the country.

While handing down the ruling, Justice Tready remarked the warlord, who controlled a number of military check-posts between Kabul and Jalalabad, was personally involved in these acts of torture and hostage-taking by allowing his men to commit the outrages.

Living illegally in south London prior to his arrest and subsequent trial, Sarwar Zardad Faryadi was accused of summary executions, the slaughter of 11 men in a vehicle and torturing many.

The landmark judgment coincided with President Hamid Karzai's two-day visit to London, where he was scheduled to meet Prime Minister Tony Blair and address the British parliament.

http://www.pajhwak.com/en/news/viewStory.asp?lng=eng&id=4749

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100 makeshift primary schools to be set up in Bamyan
By Ahmad Sanayee
BAMYAN CITY, July 19 (Pajhwok Afghan News): The United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the provincial education department, is planning to open 100 makeshift primary schools in the central Bamyan province.

Mohammad Ali Waseq, provincial chief of the education department, told Pajhwok Afghan News the schools would be set up in areas having no access to education facility. The plan will take two weeks to materialise.

Waseq said a brief survey would be conducted to locate areas where the schools would be established. Priority will be given to areas having no schools or where children tread long distance to attend a school.

Dr Abdullah Esmat, regional director of the UNICEF, told this news agency the organisation would be responsible for recruitment and wages of teachers and provision of stationery. However, he stopped short of explaining as who will prepare the budget.

Asked if they have any plans give permanent status to the schools, he said they would closely monitor the whole activity and whenever got ample funds for the project, it would be given a permanent status.

Meanwhile, students as well as parents have lauded the decision, saying it would solve the students' problems up to a large extent.

Tahira Esmat (12), who has recently returned from Iran, said she had to walk a long distance to attend a school. Establishment of school in our area will save our time and energies.

It is pertinent to recall that the education ministry, last week, declared to construct and renovate 70 schools in Bamyan. According to education department's figures, a total of 256 schools are operational in the province, with 82,500 on their roll.


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Governors confer on security for parliamentary elections
By Saeed Zabuli
KANDAHAR CITY, July 19 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Governors and police chiefs of four southern provinces Tuesday went into a meeting here to discuss security issues ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections.

At the end of the session attended by Kandahar, Uruzgan, Zabul and Helmand governors, the host Asadullah Khalid told a news conference the Afghan Army and Highway Police would coordinated their efforts with US-led coalition forces in the region as part of a campaign for boosting security.

Southern parts of Afghanistan, especially the four provinces, have seen a considerable increase in violent attacks often blamed on the Taliban, who have vowed to disrupt the landmark September 18 legislative polls.

Speaking on the occasion, Helmand Governor Sher Mohammad Akhunzada said provincial security personnel had arrested two men in connection with the murder of his Ulema Council chief Maulavi Salih Mohammad, who was gunned down by Taliban last week.

He accused Pakistan of allowing militants to cross the border into Afghanistan and return safely after carrying out attacks inside Afghanistan. He urged the neighbouring country to crack down on the insurgents in a meaningful manner.

Zabul Governor Delbar Arman told journalists he had deployed 300 Highway Police officials on the main road from Ghazni to Zabul to strengthen security and prevent insurgent attacks.

Oruzgan Governor Jan Mohammad Khan asked for public support in preventing daring assaults staged by Taliban fighters.


Saeed Zabuli


http://www.pajhwak.com/en/news/viewStory.asp?lng=eng&id=4751

http://www.pajhwok.com/en/news/viewStory.asp?lng=eng&id=4806

July 20, 2005 - Wednesday :: Welcome. Subscribe to receive newstories. Pakistan bans Afghan truckers' entry By Wagma Saba Aamir TORKHAM, July 20 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Pakistani border guards at Torkham Wednesday slapped a ban on the entry of Afghan trucks, a step that led to long queues of heavy vehicles parked on both sides of the road.

The restriction comes hard on the heels of a 10-day protest by Pakistani truckers against the attitude of Afghan officials, who allegedly tease them on their way to Kabul.

Beginning their protest from July 10, many Pakistani drivers staged a noisy demonstration in Khyber Agency to denounce the hurdles created to their loaded vehicles by Afghan police.

They chanted slogans against Afghan authorities and hurled stones at the vehicles plying the road in the semi-autonomous Pakistani tribal region.

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100 kilograms of opium seized in Herat
By Ahmad Ehsan Sarwaryar
HERAT CITY, July 20 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Police in the western Herat province Tuesday claimed foiling an attempt to smuggle 100 kilograms of opium. An alleged smuggler had also been arrested.

Speaking to Pajhwok Afghan News, Highway Police chief Colonel Mohammad Ayub Safi said the opium was recovered from secret cavities of a van on Herat-Torghondi highway. He opined the seized goods were destined for Turkmenistan.

Without mentioning identity of the alleged smuggler, Safi said the man had confessed he was owner of the vehicle and the smuggled materials.

Bordering Iran and Turkmenistan, smugglers use the Torghondi route to cross into the two neighbouring countries for onward transportation of the drugs to the international market.

Colonel Nisar Ahmad Paikar, chief of Herat crime branch, said security forces had stepped up vigilance on the border areas and thousands kilograms of illegal drugs had been confiscated thus far.


http://www.pajhwak.com/en/news/viewStory.asp?lng=eng&id=4756

Mine blast leaves four Taliban dead
By Saeed Zabuli
KANDAHAR CITY, July 20 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Four suspected Taliban were blown up while planting a mine by the roadside in the southern Uruzgan province on Tuesday.

Uruzgan Governor Jan Mohammad Khan told Pajhwok Afghan News on Wednesday the explosion happened close to the capital Tarinkot. He said the mine went off and killed the four militants on the spot.

Provincial officials kept mum about the identity of the dead people, saying their bodies were lying at the explosion site and no one had come to shift it.


jh/amm/dk

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NATO to set up command centre in Mazar-i-Sharif
By Ahmad Naeem Qadri
MAZAR-I-SHARIF, July 20 (Pajhwok Afghan News): The NATO-led international peacekeeping force would create a regional center of command for its civil-military teams deployed in northern provinces, officials said Wednesday.

John Britain, commander of the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) based in Mazar-i-Sharif, told Pajhwok Afghan News the regional command centre would be built in this city in eight months' time.

In an exclusive interview with this scribe, he added the center would supervise the reconstruction teams in the northern provinces of Baghlan, Kunduz, Badakhshan, Takhar and Faryab and cooperate with them in the rebuilding activity.

John Britain said the command center, which might be headed by Germany, would help PRTs with requisite instructions and other forms of assistance in overcoming problems. From Britain, Sweden is to take command of the current provincial reconstruction team in Mazar-i-Sharif, with some 150 multinational soldiers.

The NATO-led force's central command is presently located in Kabul, from where several PRTs have been dispatched to the provinces, mostly in the north and west. The PRTs overall strength works out at 8,300 soldiers.

At the moment, the PRT in this Balkh capital city has 140 soldiers from 10 countries. Officials welcomed the expansion of the NATO force to the north with the creation of the command center.

"Creation of the command centre is a positive step, which will help strengthen security and accelerate reconstruction activities in the region," observed Gen. Nasruddin Hamdard, police chief for the north.

The PRTs are participating in reconstruction projects such as building and repairing schools, clinics and other civil facilities in addition to boosting security in the provinces.

The Afghan government and NATO are making concerted efforts to beef up security for the September 18 parliamentary elections, which Taliban fighters have vowed to disrupt.


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Two Taliban commanders arrested in Kandahar
By Aziz Zahid
KABUL, July 20 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Officials in the southern Kandahar province claimed they had arrested to senior Taliban commanders two days ago.

Kandahar security chief Abdul Hakim told Pajhwok Afghan News the two militants had been arrested on Monday in the Arghistan district of the violence-plague province.

He said the arrested were senior level commanders but refused to disclose their identity. He said they were under investigations and their names would be released later.

Meanwhile, another police official, who refused to disclose his identity, said one of the arrested men was a key leader in the Taliban hierarchy and wanted to government on several counts.


Translated by Daud

http://www.pajhwak.com/en/news/viewStory.asp?lng=eng&id=4802

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?p...22-7-2005_pg7_5


Friday, July 22, 2005

14 killed in Taliban-sparked ethnic clash

KANDAHAR: Fourteen Afghan civilians were killed when a Taliban attack sparked a clash between two villages in Afghanistan, said an official on Thursday.

Taliban guerrillas attacked Hazara village in Uruzgan on Monday and killed 10 villagers, said provincial governor Jan Muhammad Khan. He said that Hazara tribesmen from Uruzgan’s Kejran district, blaming the attack on their neighbouring village, launched a raid that killed four people. “The attack in which 10 Hazaris were killed was carried out by Taliban. The Hazaris thought the attack was by Pashtuns,” he added.

The governor said both tribes’ elders investigated the matter and found that Taliban fighters carried out Monday’s attack. However, self-claimed Taliban spokesman Mullah Abdul Latif Hakimi said the ousted regime was not involved in the bloodshed. afp

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsarticl...KIDNAPPINGS.xml

Militants kidnap 3 Afghan poll workers - official
Sat Jul 23, 2005

KABUL (Reuters) - Three Afghan election workers were kidnapped by suspected Taliban or al Qaeda militants in the northeastern province of Nooristan, an official said on Saturday.

The abduction is the latest in a series of violent incidents in the approach to September 18 parliamentary polls, the next big stage on Afghanistan's difficult path to stability.

The three men were seized from a villager's house three nights ago in Kamdesh district after the end of a voter registration programme in the rugged region, Mohammad Yusouf, secretary for Nooristan's governor, told Reuters.

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Taliban free kidnapped engineers in Kandahar
By Saeed Zabuli
KANDAHAR CITY, July 21 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Taliban in the southern Kandahar province said the two engineers they had abducted from Zeri Dakhta had been freed Wednesday evening.

Speaking from an unknown location over the telephone, spokesman for the student militia Mufti Latifullah Hakimi had told Pajhwok Afghan News on Wednesday fate of the kidnapped men would be decided by the movement's religious scholars.

The two engineers were employees of the Ministry of Public Welfare and Rural Development. They were kidnapped while visiting a project in the Zeri Dakhta area, some 25 kilometres from the city.

Chief of Refugee Affairs Said Anwar told this scribe the abductees were released on Wednesday night. He said the kidnappers had snatched a car, two cell phone sets and cash from them.

Approached by this news agency for comments, the freed engineers, who had been kept in the refugee affairs department, declined to speak to media.


Translated by Daud

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Two Taliban captured in Laghman
By Abdul Moeed Hashmi
MEHTERLAM, July 21 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Police claimed arresting two armed Taliban in the Alingar district of the eastern Laghman province on Thursday.

Speaking to Pajhwok Afghan News, Laghman's National Police chief Jehan Shah said the militants were rounded up following a crack down in the Kotakhel area of Alingar.

The police chief said two AK-47 assault rifles and ammunitions had also been recovered from them.

He declined to reveal names of the arrested fighters, saying investigations had been initiated and they were expecting crucial information from the captured.


Translated by Daud

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Gwadar port to stimulate Pak-Afghan trade
By Pakhtun Sahar
ISLAMABAD, July 21 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Islamabad is optimistic of a substantial upsurge in the Pak-Afghan trade volume with the construction of a sea-port in Balochistan's coastal city of Gwadar.

Pakistan's Communication Minister Shamim Siddiqi Thursday asserted bilateral trade between the neighbours would account for billions of dollars once the sea-port was completed in the province bordering Afghanistan.

In an exclusive interview with Pajhwok Afghan News, the minister hoped the port, 450 kilometres from Karachi, would also lend a fillip to Pakistan's trade links with the Central Asian republics.

"Pakistan, exporting building materials, foodstuffs and other daily-use items to Afghanistan, is playing a proactive role in the rebuilding of that country," he claimed, promising all possible facilities for Afghan entrepreneurs.

Siddiqui added the completion of roads in Gwadar would enormously benefit Afghanistan in terms of forging deeper trade relations with Pakistan, China, Iran, India and Middle Eastern countries.

He was of the opinion the Gwadar port would make Afghanistan a commercial hub in the region on the one hand and translate into better trade prospects for Central Asian states on the other.

"We invite Afghanistan to make us of the enabling economic environment here and accord Pakistan the most favoured nation status," observed the minister, who concluded Kabul would dispassionately analyse the business opportunities his country offered.

The mega project is being executed on a fast-track basis despite stout opposition from Baloch nationalist leaders, who allege the port would bring no concrete gains to the local people.


Translated & edited by Mudassir

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More Pak bank branches in Afghanistan urged
By Pakhtun Sahar & Zainab Mohammadi
ISLAMABAD/KABUL, July 21 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Pakistani traders and businessmen have demanded opening of Pakistani banks' branches in all big cities of Afghanistan to boost trade with that country.

Zahidullah Khan Shinwari, an official at the provincial trade department, told Pajhwok Afghan News some Pakistani banks had already opened their branches in Kabul.

He agreed such branches must also be set up in other big cities like Mazar-i-Sharif and Herat to promote bilateral trade and strengthen economic ties between the two countries.

A senior official of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) in Kabul Mohammad Younas told this news agency they had branches of the bank in Kabul and Jalalabad. Another branch of the NBP would be opened in Kandahar shortly.

"We are in contact with the Afghan government and its central bank on opening more branches in big cities in the near future," Younas informed.

A senior official of Pakistan's Habib Bank in Islamabad told this scribe they were ready to open branches of their banks in different cities of Afghanistan if the government allowed them.

A merchant, Fazlur Rehman, said they faced problems in moving from one city to another with money in hand. "Our problem will be solved up to a large extent if Pakistani banks open branches in other cities as well."

In a chat with this news agency, the Tajik Traders owner said they used to export dry fruit via Pakistan to other countries. But after tax concession announced by New Delhi, the produce was now being exported to India.

He said Pakistan had suffered million of dollars losses due to the shift. He demanded a tax waiver from Pakistan on imports from Afghanistan to increase the volume of trade.


Translated by Daud

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Four drug smugglers arrested with 90 kilos of opium in Zabul
By Aziz Zahid
KABUL, July 21(Pajhwok Afghan News): Four drug smugglers were arrested with 90 kilograms of opium in the southern Zabul province, security official said on Thursday.

Zabul police chief Gen. Mohammad Saboorullah told Pajhwok Afghan News the drugs were seized Wednesday on the Kabul-Kandahar Highway in Shahr-i-Safa district of the troubled province.

In a telephonic chat, he said 50 kilograms of morphine were also recovered from hidden cavities of two cars on their way to Kandahar from Kabul.

Earlier this month, he pointed out, Zabul police had seized 120 kilograms of opium in the Kalat City. He did not say if the police had apprehended any traffickers in that action.

Translated by Mudassir

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Militant gunned down, another injured in Zabul
By Aziz Zahid
KABUL, July 21 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Coalition forces in Afghanistan claimed they had killed a Taliban fighter and wounded another following an encounter in the southern Zabul province.

In a statement released from US Bagram airbase on Thursday, coalition forces' spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jerry O' Hara said four armed men riding on motorcycles attacked a joint patrol of the government and coalition soldiers southwest of the provincial capital.

The attackers, he said, used light arms and rocket-propelled grenades. But no soldier was killed or hurt.

He said the soldiers retaliated by shooting down one and wounding another assailant. Two of their colleagues managed to escape. The spokesman said hunt was on to net the two militants.

The spokesman warned the militants to either cease resistance by accepting the government's reconciliation programme or face strict action from the government and coalition forces.


Translated by Daud

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Afghanistan to build 30 airports in three years
By Habibur Rahman Ibrahimi
KABUL, July 21 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Thirty Afghan provinces across the country will get their own airports during the next three years.

Besides, the Kabul, Nangarhar, Balkh, Herat and Kandahar airports will be renovated and reconstructed to bring them on a par with international standards, said Transport Minister Inayatullah Qasmi.

In an exclusive interview with Pajhwok Afghan News here on Thursday, the minister informed construction agreements of 18 airports had already been inked with different companies, while contracts for the remaining would be signed in near future.

He said loans had been received from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for construction of the airports.

In the first phase, he revealed, construction work would be initiated on Faizabad, Maimana, Bamyan, Chaghcheran, Zaranj, Farah and Qilla Naw airports.

He said during his last week's visit to Balkh, Samangan, Baghlan, Bamyan, Wardag and Ghazni provinces, people had registered gripes regarding transport problems being faced by them.

He said transport problems in the central capital had been overcome to some extent, adding the ministry was planning to give more buses to Herat, Kandahar, Mazar-i-Sharif and Jalalabad, the most populated cities.

He recalled the Indian government's pledge regarding 200 mini-buses, saying if handed over, it would solve transport problems in many districts and cities.


Translated by Daud

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Britain pledges $350m in aid to Afghanistan
By Lailuma Sadid
KABUL, July 21 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Britain has pledged $350 million in aid for reconstruction in the war-ravaged Afghanistan.

A British Embassy statement released here on Thursday states the aid was announced following a meeting between Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai and British Secretary of State for International Development Hilary Benn on Wednesday.

The amount will be spent on paying salaries to government employees, improving condition of schools, hospitals and a number of other public facilities.

The finance ministry said its development expenditures for the current fiscal year stood at $704 million, which would be financed by foreign donors.

President Hamid Karzai, who has now arrived in Italy after visiting London, had also signed an Enduring Relationship Agreement with Britain.

The statement said aim of the agreement was to promote close cooperation between the two countries and support reconstruction in Afghanistan.

As part of the aid, $22 million will be spent on upgrading working capacity of organisations combating drugs in Afghanistan, Benn was quoted as saying in the statement.


nd/by/dk/mud

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Important Pak-Afghan trade pacts on the cards
By Zubair Babakarkhel
KABUL, July 23 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Pakistan and Afghanistan are expected to ink key agreements in areas of transit trade, customs duty and bus links during Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's visit to Kabul, officials said here on Saturday.

Zafar Ali Khan, a senior official at the Pakistan Embassy here, hinted at the signing of the accords in a brief chat with Pajhwok Afghan News regarding the prime ministerial trip to this capital city.

He said Shaukat Aziz, scheduled to arrive in Kabul on Sunday, and his entourage would meet Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Father of the Nation Mohammad Zahir Shah on issues of bilateral interest to the two countries.

According to Aziz Shams, spokesman for the Finance Ministry here, a delegation would arrive later on Saturday to participate in a meeting of the Joint Economic Commission (JEC), founded some 18 months back.

The team is likely to wrap up a number of deals on economic issues including items exported to Afghanistan under the transit trade agreement and custom duties at talks with the host officials. "After the arrival of Shaukat Aziz, his advisor Dr. Salman Shah and Afghan Finance Minister Anwarul Haq Ahadi will initial the deals," Shams revealed.

Well-placed sources confided to this scribe the Pakistan government might also announce a reversal of its decision on deleting six items including foodstuffs from the Afghan transit trade list.

The articles struck off the transit trade list are cooking oils, cigarettes, automobile spares, tyres, television and telephone sets, which Islamabad complains are smuggled back to Pakistani markets.

The JEC session is expected to give the go-ahead to plans for a cross-border bus service between Quetta and Kandahar and Peshawar and Jalalabad. The bus link is a longstanding public demand on both sides of the frontier.


Translated & edited by Mudassir

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Judicial complex opens in Paktia
By Ilyas Wahdat
GARDEZ, July 23 (Pajhwok Afghan News): A new judicial complex has been inaugurated in the southeastern Paktia province on Saturday.

The building has been completed at the cost of $200,000 being provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

In this connection, a ceremony was held in the Gardez City. Head of Afghanistan's judiciary reforms Qazi Bahauddin Baha was the chief guest on the occasion.

Speaking to Pajhwok Afghan News, Baha said there was no judicial complex for the lower courts in the province and the officials concerned would use private and government buildings for the purpose.

However, he added, the problem had been solved with the opening of the new complex, which had 33 rooms, a hall and a library.

He hoped other provinces, having no buildings for the lower courts, would soon get such places to efficiently carry out their routine functions.

Paktia's deputy governor Mohammad Nabi Sapi said a number of other governmental organs had no buildings of their own and the government should construct buildings for it.

Besides other officials, Deputy Justice Minister Mohammad Qasim Hashimzai and a senior official of the Attorney General's office Azizullah Waziri were also present on the occasion.


Translated by Daud

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One Taliban commander killed, another captured in Zabul
By Saeed Zabuli & Habibur Rehman Ibrahimi
KALAT, July 23 (Pajhwok Afghan News): One Taliban commander was killed and another captured alive in an overnight anti-insurgency operation in the troubled southern province of Zabul, a government official claimed on Saturday.

Mohammad Wazir, administrative chief of Shinkay district in the southern province, said Maulvi Kabir was killed and Mullah Abdul Manan apprehended in the crackdown jointly conducted by provincial security personnel and the US-led coalition forces.

In a chat with Pajhwok Afghan News, he said they had received a tip-off about the Taliban commanders' presence in the area, where they planned anti-government activities. But the forces moved swiftly to stop the militants in their tracks, Wazir said, adding the operation was still underway.

On the other hand, Taliban spokesman Mufti Latifullah Hakimi told this news agency in a telephone call that he was unaware of the killing and the arrest of the men in Zabul, where attacks on government and coalition forces have escalated in recent months.

Hakimi went on to claim responsibility for killing last night three drivers and torching two oil tankers and a truck loaded with food items. The supplies were being delivered to US forces stationed in the Shinkay district, he maintained.

But Mohammad Wazir insisted no driver had been killed in the Taliban attack, which was repulsed by policemen at a nearby check-post in the district. However, he did confirm the burning of one truck.


Translated & edited by Mudassir

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Taliban activists held with anti-govt leaflets
By Aziz Zahid
KABUL, July 23 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Three Taliban activists were arrested with hate literature in raids in the southern Uruzgan province on Saturday.

Kandahar Corps Commander Gen. Mohammad Muslim Abid informed Pajhwok Afghan News the activists led by Mullah Daud were held in Charchino district of Uruzgan.

He added the arrests came after a clash, in which no one was injured. The 500 leaflets seized from the insurgents carried vitriolic anti-government writings.

Mud

http://www.pajhwak.com/en/news/viewStory.asp?lng=eng&id=4893

You haven't been visiting Afghanistan, have you gg?

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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

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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


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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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'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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.