Indonesian President Joko Widodo arrived in Kabul on a formal visit on Monday. The visiting president was welcomed by Second Vice President, Sarwar Danish, at the Hamid Karzai International Airport. President Ashraf Ghani welcomed his counterpart at the presidential palace. Flag of the two countries had already been erected on …
Read More »White House Calls on Quick Resolution of Balkh Dispute
The White House in a statement has called on a quick resolution of the dispute between Atta Mohammad Noor, the ousted Balkh governor, and President Ashraf Ghani over the governorship of Balkh province. Last month, President Ghani announced that he has approved Noor’s resignation and has appointed Engineer Mohammad Dawoud …
Read More »Afghanistan Stands in Best Position Compared to Past 17-Years: Ghani
President Ashraf Ghani on Friday said that Afghan forces and the country are standing in the best position compare to the last 17 years. Addressing the Special Operations Corps in Kabul, Ghani said the effective performance of special forces is one of the reasons why the current U.S. Afghan policy …
Read More »U.S. Vice President Pence and Ghani Discuss Balkh Leadership In Call
The U.S. Vice President, Mike Pence and President Ashraf Ghani have discussed the controversial issue of Balkh leadership over a phone talk yesterday, the White House stated via a statement. Mr. Pence has stressed on the peaceful resolution to the issue and that he supports Afghan government to engage with …
Read More »Abdullah Reacts to Recent Remarks by Atta Noor
Afghanistan’s Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah on Monday reacted to recent remarks by Atta Mohammad Noor, the ousted Balkh governor, saying his silence doesn’t mean he is not having answers. “If we are not responding to every comments, it should not be considered that we are not having answers. It is …
Read More »MPs Harshly Criticize Ghani’s Remarks on Recruitment Process
Members of Parliament (MPs) on Wednesday harshly attacked President Ashraf Ghani for asking them to refrain from interventions in recruitment process in the ministries. Parliamentarians argued that it is their duty to oversight the government performance and solve the problems of their clients. “President [Ghani] has abused Afghanistan’s budget for …
Read More »No Individual Should Have Authority, Ability to Use Force Against People: Ghani
President Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday said that no individual or group should have the authority or ability to use security forces against the people of Afghanistan. Speaking at the 10th graduation ceremony of Afghan police forces, he emphasized that only Afghan security institutions must have the power to use military …
Read More »Jamiat Party Negotiates with Arg over Implementation of NUG Agreement
Jamiat-e-Islami Party of Afghanistan have started negotiations with the Presidential Palace (ARG) over the implementation of the political agreement on the formation of the National Unity Government (NUG) and the fate of Atta Mohammad Noor, the ousted Balkh governor. Kamaluddin Hamid, a member of Jamiat leadership council, on Friday told …
Read More »Sayyaf Urges Ghani, Atta Noor to End Political Tensions
Former jihadi leader and chief of the Council for Protection and Stability in Afghanistan, Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf, called on President Ashraf Ghani and Atta Mohammad Noor, the ousted Balkh governor, to end their political dispute. Speaking at a scientific ceremony in Kabul on Friday, Sayyaf said the tensions between …
Read More »Rollout of Electronic ID Cards to Be Kicked Off ‘Next Week’
The electronic National Identity Card (e-NIC) rollout will be officially kicked off next week, an official said Wednesday. “There is a strong commitment by President [Ghani] and Chief Executive [Abdullah] to launch the distribution of electronic ID-Cards. The President urged us to start the process as soon as possible, so …
Read More »Abdullah Rejects Having Hand Behind Noor’s Removal
The Chief Executive (CE) Abdullah Abdullah on Monday rejected the notion that he was involved behind Atta Mohammad Noor dismissal, adding that the governor of Balkh was directly negotiating with President Ashraf Ghani. Speaking at the Council of Ministers Meeting, Abdullah said that dismissal of the governor of Balkh was …
Read More »MPs React to Atta Noor’s Dismissal
Members of the Lower House of parliament harshly reacted on Wednesday after President Ashraf Ghani fired Atta Mohammad Noor from his position as Balkh governor. “The National Unity Government is a coalition government and Ustad Atta is one part of this coalition. Why he was dismissed? Did he make any …
Read More »Ghani-Abdullah Favoritism in Dealing with Corrupt Officials Unveiled
Lieutenant General Sayed Ghulam Hussain Fakhri, Director-General of the High Office of Anti-Corruption claims that Afghan leaders are waiving from heavy corruption cases in order to secure vote banks in the upcoming presidential elections. “The government leadership is dealing with these people with considerations, because they don’t want to lose …
Read More »Ghani, Erdogan Meet Behind Closed-Door in Turkey
President Ashraf Ghani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a closed-door meeting at the sideline of the OIC summit in Istanbul late on Wednesday. According to a statement released by Ghani’s office, the two sides had discussed regional issues, Afghan peace process and expanding bilateral cooperation between their countries. …
Read More »Ghani Apologizes to Women for Using “Head Scarf” to Degrade Political Opponents
President Ashraf Ghani has offered apology to women for using “head Scarf” to degrade some political opponents of the National Unity Government (NUG) due to claims made to the address of its high ranking officials. The president yesterday while addressing a conference held for transferring responsibilities of Afghan Border Police …
Read More »Kandahar Meeting Organizers Give Gov’t 12-Hour Ultimatum
Kandahar meeting organizers on Friday warned President Ashraf Ghani that they will remove him from power based on the law after the plane of Atta Mohmmad Noor, the governor of Balkh province, was barred to take off from Mazar-e-Sharif City to Kandahar airport. In reaction, the organizers of the meeting …
Read More »Sayyaf Calls For Urgent ‘Constitutional Loya Jirga’
Abdulrab Rasul Sayyaf, a prominent former Jahadi leader, on Friday called on President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah to pave the way for holding a Loya Jirga, or grand assembly of elders, as soon as possible. “According to their pledge, the government leaders should pave the way for …
Read More »Governor Noor’s Plane Was ‘Not Allowed’ to Fly to Kandahar
Atta Mohammad Noor, the powerful governor of Balkh province and Chief Executive of Jamiat party says he was not allowed to fly from Mawlana Jalaluddin Balkhi airport in Mazar-e-Sharif City to Kandahar in the south. Noor who was accompanied by Batur Dostum, son of the First Vice President Abdul Rashid …
Read More »General Dostum to Return Home within 10 Days: Junbesh Party
General Abdul Rashid Dostum, Ashraf Ghani’s First Vice President will return home within 10 days and will continue in his post as the Vice President of Afghanistan, said Abdullah Qarloq, Deputy Chief of Junbesh Party. He further said that upon Dostum’s return back to Afghanistan, the Coalition for Salvation of …
Read More »IEC Chairman Accuses Ghani’s Office of Interference
Najibullah Ahmadzai, chairman of the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan (IEC) on Wednesday accepted that a number of the Commission’s commissioners have launched efforts to dismiss him from his position. Recently reports emerged that five commissioners from the IEC have called for Ahmadzai to be fired over a range of …
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