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US Favours India’s Military Support to Afghanistan

Afghanistan has sought more military supplies from India including attack helicopters and US favours Indian support in enhancing Afghan security forces, a top American commander overseeing US operations in the war-ravaged country said.
India has already provided four Mi-25 helicopters to Afghanistan and US Commander General John Nicholson said the country needs more military aircraft to deal with Taliban and various other terror outfits.
Welcoming India’s contribution to restoring peace and stability in Afghanistan, Nicholson said terror outfits like Haqqani network, Lashkar-e- Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad are not only a threat to Afghanistan but to the region including India.
Nicholson, who heads the US operations in Afghanistan, on his second visit here has met National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and Defence Secretary G Mohan Kumar and discussed a range of issues including situation in Afghanistan and terror threats to the region.
“I cannot speak for the Afghan government. But I know that they have requested more and would like more and I think there is an immediate need for more as these aircraft can immediately get into the fight,” he said, when asked whether Afghanistan was seeking more military helicopters from India apart from the four Mi 25 choppers.
He said Afghanistan was struggling to get spare parts for Russian aircraft due to Western sanctions against Moscow and India can supply them, adding “the US favours India’s military support to Afghanistan”.
Referring to Pakistan, he said the Taliban “enjoys sanctuaries” in Pakistan and that the US has asked Islamabad to take steps to contain the terror networks operating from its soil.
“We consistently encourage Pakistan to take action against terrorist groups that operate from its territory and close down their safe havens,” he told a group of journalists, at the same time, adding that the US was supportive of Islamabad’s efforts to reduce the ability of militants groups.
Nicholson said the US was trying to build a “counter terrorism platform” focusing on containing all terror groups emanating from the region and ensure its peace and stability.
Hailing India’s contribution in reconstruction of Afghanistan, he said the Afghan-India Friendship Dam in Herat province and Chabahar port project will help boost Afghanistan’s economy.
The US Commander yesterday visited the burial sites of one of his ancestors — Brigadier Gen John Nicholson — in a cemetery in Old Delhi. “My wife and I cleaned his grave,” he said.
Business Standard

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Bayat Foundation helps needy families in Kabul during Ramadan
Ismail added: “The Bayat Foundation is at the forefront during the winter, the holy month of Ramadan, and whenever there are other urgent needs.”

Bayat Foundation is once again reaching out to help people through Ramadan and have so far given food packages to dozens of needy families in Kabul city.
Foundation officials said the aid packages include flour, rice, and oil, which have been distributed to the deserving individuals after a transparent survey.
They added that their commitment to providing assistance continues not only during Ramadan but also during the winter and in times of emergencies.
“Today, we have started our Ramadan aid, which includes flour, rice, and oil. This aid is being distributed in Kabul as well as in other provinces,” said Haji Mohammad Ismail, deputy head of Bayat Foundation.
Ismail added: “The Bayat Foundation is at the forefront during the winter, the holy month of Ramadan, and whenever there are other urgent needs.”
Meanwhile, families who received the aid are urging other humanitarian organizations to follow Bayat Foundation’s example of helping those in need.
“There are ten members in my family. I have disabled and handicapped individuals. I cannot work during the day. Thank you to the Bayat Foundation and their partners for helping us,” said one recipient.
The Bayat Foundation has been providing food and non-food aid to thousands of needy families in the capital and provinces every Ramadan for nearly two decades.
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IEA condemns resumption of Israeli attacks on Gaza, calls it against Int’l Human Rights Law

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate has strongly condemned Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip, stating that the resumption of attacks by the “occupying regime” is against international human rights laws and also in conflict with fundamental human values.
In a statement, the Ministry once again called on the world, especially influential countries, to declare their strong support for the “oppressed” Palestinian people and take practical and serious measures to end the occupation.
“The Islamic Emirate continues to regard the issue of Palestine as a fundamental and common issue within the Islamic Ummah and considers their just struggle and legitimate resistance as a fixed right, offering its support,” the statement read.
As a result of Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on Tuesday at least 200 people, including women and children, were killed.
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US ‘obligated’ to hold senior officials accountable for chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal
DOD spokesman Sean Parnell says Pentagon ‘figuring out’ what the investigation ‘will look like’

US Department of Defense (DOD) spokesman Sean Parnell said the Trump administration has an “obligation” to hold senior officials involved in the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan accountable.
Addressing a press briefing on Monday, Parnell was asked whether the DOD would be firing or disciplining any remaining leadership directly involved in the withdrawal.
“We’re in the process of figuring out what that investigation will look like,” Parnell stated.
He said he had served in the military in Afghanistan and detailed how former President Joe Biden’s withdrawal had “horrified” him.
“I was horrified, in a lot of ways,” he said.
“You think about how much time, and blood and treasure and American life that was lost in Afghanistan over 20 years, you think about that for a second — I’m 43 years old, and this country was at war in Afghanistan for 20 years.”
“Almost half of my life, this country was at war in Afghanistan,” he said.
“We bled the ground red in Afghanistan,” he said. “I watched my men do extraordinary things in support of a grateful nation and in support of a mission there, and to watch Afghanistan be surrendered in the way that it was, [it] was extremely difficult.”
“Will those people be held accountable?” Parnell continued. “I think we have an obligation both to the American people and to the warfighters who fought in Afghanistan to hold the leadership accountable in some way.”
“Now, we don’t know what that looks like right now to hold the leadership of the Afghanistan withdrawal accountable,” he said.
“If you have a private that loses a sensitive item, that loses night-vision goggles, and loses a weapon, you can bet that private’s going to be held accountable. The same and equal standards must apply to senior military leaders.”
Former Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCOS) Gen. Mark Milley was involved in planning the withdrawal. His security clearance was revoked by US President Donald Trump in January.
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