Latest News
NATO focuses to support Afghanistan after current mission
NATO emphasizes on continuation of cooperation with Afghanistan even after the end of the current training mission in Afghanistan.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that NATO’s supporting mission and enduring partenership with Afghanistan will continue in long-terms.
NATO pulled out most of its combat troops from Afghanistan last year, leaving around 12,000 personnel to train local soldiers and police in a mission expected to end at the end of 2016.
After talks between defense ministers from NATO and Afghanistan, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said no final decision had been taken on when either phase of the training mission would end.
“We are going to … assess the situation after the end of the fighting season this year,” he said, referring to the period between April and the first winter snows.
By then, NATO would have more information about the security challenges Afghanistan faced and the capabilities of its forces, he said.
Afghanistan has urged the United States, which provides the bulk of foreign soldiers, to slow their withdrawal. U.S. President Barack Obama said in March he would maintain a force of 9,800 through the end of 2015 while sticking to a 2017 exit plan.
After the training mission ends, NATO plans to keep a smaller, civilian-led mission in Afghanistan to advise and instruct security bodies.
In the meantime, Afghan acting defense minister declared that the Afghan delegation received a positive feedback regarding the proposals of the Afghan government shared during the NATO defense ministerial.
Masoom Istanikzai the acting defense minister has said that the Afghan delegation shared proposals on four main areas, including long term to the Afghan national security forces, specifically the Air Force.
“NATO defense ministers assured to assist Afghanistan to enhance the capabilities of the Afghan Air Force,” Istanikzai said.
At the other side, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Afghanistan still faces many challenges but US stands as its commitments against Afghanistan.
Carter further added that the small numbers of Islamic State fighters in Afghanistan were mostly not new arrivals but fighters who had changed allegiance.
NATO’s conference held as Afghanistan has recently witnessed a wave of violence from Taliban in most of its provinces.
Reported by Fahim Noori and Rafi Sidiqi
Officials at the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) say 7,000 incomplete projects of the World Bank are at risk of destruction in Afghanistan. They call on the World Bank to resume the work of these projects.
According to them, discussions have been held with the World Bank about these projects, but there has been no result yet.
“7,000 incomplete projects are being destroyed, and if the work is not started, these projects will be destroyed. We ask the World Bank to resume the work of these projects as soon as possible,” said Noorul Hadi Adel, the spokesperson of MRRD.
Meanwhile, members of the private sector also ask international institutions to resume their work in Afghanistan.
According to the officials of this sector, with the start of these projects, job opportunities will be provided for thousands of people in the country.
“These projects create employment for our people and the country will grow a lot,” said Mirwais Hajizadeh, a member of the private sector.
However, economic experts stated if the work of these projects does not start soon, they will be destroyed and the investments made in them will be wasted.
Ten people have been killed and six others injured by floods in Helmand province in the past week, local officials said on Friday.
According to officials, seven of those were members of the same family, and they were killed in Kajaki district last night.
“Most of the people moved from vulnerable areas to high lands and mountains, and thanks Allah the number of casualties is low,” Sher Mohammad Vahdat, the head of information of the Directorate of Information and Culture in Helmand, said adding rescue teams and security forces have been dispatched to help people.
It is said that the telecommunication system has also been disrupted due to the effect of floods in Kajaki district. Floods have also destroyed thousands of acres of agricultural land.
Roza Otunbayeva, the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, met with the Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in New Delhi and discussed issues related to Afghanistan, it was announced on Thursday.
During the meeting, Otunbayeva thanked India for “its critical humanitarian support and longstanding friendship for the Afghan people” and discussed the importance of regional and international cooperation to address prevailing challenges in Afghanistan, UNAMA said on X.
Jaishankar also said on X that the sides exchanged views on the current situation in Afghanistan.
“Underlined that India has provided wheat, medicines, pesticides and school supplies. Appreciate the role of UN agencies as partners in these endeavors,” he said.
IEA urges World Bank to resume work on 7,000 incomplete projects
Ten people killed by floods in Helmand
Rashid Khan threatens BBL pullout after Australia postpones Afghanistan T20I series
UN envoy meets Indian foreign minister to discuss Afghanistan
Traffic accident leaves one dead, four injured in Herat
ATN secures TV and digital rights to broadcast IPL 2024 in Afghanistan
Blinken meets with Saudi Crown Prince to discuss Gaza
Afghanistan and India play out goalless draw in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
Dead body of Quran-burner found in Norway
ATN secures rights to produce, broadcast second season of KPL
Tahawol: China’s call for inclusive government in Afghanistan
Saar: UN’s report on poverty in Afghanistan discussed
Tahawol: Russia and Tajikistan hold joint military drills along Afghanistan border
Saar: Anti-corruption efforts & better public services discussed
Tahawol: Abdul Kabir’s recent remarks discussed
-
Sport4 days agoACL fever grows as fixtures finalized
-
World5 days agoUS will not take part in any Israeli retaliatory action against Iran
-
Latest News4 days agoOver 50 people dead in traffic accidents over Eid
-
Latest News4 days agoUS identifies Kabul airport suicide bomber
-
Business4 days agoAfghanistan-Kazakhstan chamber of commerce opens in Herat
-
Latest News5 days agoGood rains enable DABS to increase power production in Kabul
-
World4 days agoIsraeli military vows response to Iran attack as calls for restraint mount
-
Sport2 days agoATN secures exclusive rights to broadcast Paris 2024 Olympics