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EU Ambassador To Afghanistan 'Eager To Work' With Trump
Franz-Michael Mellbin: Afghanistan is facing a war. There is a determined enemy, which is challenging the state and which has a military ambition. It has not been able to fulfill this ambition by taking over parts of Afghanistan. But many observers would use the terms "war-like conditions" or "armed conflict" for what is happening in Afghanistan. The enemy decides what is going on there. The enemy's ambition is to gain permanent territorial control. Last month, Taliban militants attacked the German consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif. As a consequence, the diplomats have permanently shifted to NATO's Resolute Support mission's Camp Pamir. What signal does that send to the Afghan public? I think it sends a very positive signal that Germany has decided to keep the consulate running in Mazar. It would have been preferable to move back in the same premises, but the attack has made that impossible. It is clearly not possible to continue working there because of the damage to the building. It is less than an ideal situation though. After so much effort and billions of euros spent, how could this mission go so wrong? I would not say it went wrong. I think it has been a very important international effort in Afghanistan. We could have achieved more with the enormous resources that we had. Certainly, the results do not measure up to the resources that we put into Afghanistan. For a long time, the emphasis from the international side was on who was winning the war. But at the recent Brussels conference, we made a shift; now we are trying to "win" peace. The new strategy will allow Afghanistan to move decisively towards peace. We are now trying to align our security, economic, developmental and regional efforts towards the goal of peace. Do you think Afghanistan is safe enough for Afghan refugees and migrants to return to from Europe? The security situation varies from place to place in Afghanistan. You cannot go everywhere, but you can certainly go to a lot of places, especially...
Strengthening Key Public Service Institutions Critical for Good Governance, KP Police Reforms are Part of the Same Vision: KP Minister For LG&RD
Owing to the challenges of War-on-Terror (WoT) and realizing the Counter-terrorism roles of Police, reforming police in KP was crucial. Strengthening key public service institutions is critical for good governance and KP police reforms have been brought as part of the same vision. The idea was to reform KP police into an operationally autonomous organization which, at the same time, is democratically controlled. One of the top considerations for police reforms was easy access to justice for average citizen. The sacrifices made by the KP police – going above and beyond the call of their duty – are commendable and should be acknowledged by the public. We are proud of the police and appreciate how it is performing better than other provinces. These were the remarks made by Mr. Inayatullah Khan, Senior Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during a public forum on police reforms at press club, Peshawar. Mr. Faisal Shehzad, SSP Investigation, Peshawar and former KP Information Minister Mr. Shaukat Yousafzai also spoke on the occasion. The event was participated well by the members of community with diverse backgrounds including lawyers, local government representatives, media, academia and youth representatives. The forum was part of the project “Ulasi Police” an awareness and advocacy campaign undertaken by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) – as part of USAID Small Grants and Ambassadors’ Fund Program – to strengthen the rule of law in KP province by promoting and disseminating the significant police reforms aimed at incorporating local communities’ policing needs and international human rights standards. The endeavor aims to tackle the trust deficit between the public and police, help KP police become an accountable and community-focused police force. Mr. Shaukat Yousafzai said that the police today in KP has been completely de-politicized and professionalized to meet the formidable contemporary challenges facing...
Strengthening Key Public Service Institutions Critical for Good Governance, KP Police Reforms are Part of the Same Vision: KP Minister For LG&RD
Owing to the challenges of War-on-Terror (WoT) and realizing the Counter-terrorism roles of Police, reforming police in KP was crucial. Strengthening key public service institutions is critical for good governance and KP police reforms have been brought as part of the same vision. The idea was to reform KP police into an operationally autonomous organization which, at the same time, is democratically controlled. One of the top considerations for police reforms was easy access to justice for average citizen. The sacrifices made by the KP police – going above and beyond the call of their duty – are commendable and should be acknowledged by the public. We are proud of the police and appreciate how it is performing better than other provinces. These were the remarks made by Mr. Inayatullah Khan, Senior Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during a public forum on police reforms at press club, Peshawar. Mr. Faisal Shehzad, SSP Investigation, Peshawar and former KP Information Minister Mr. Shaukat Yousafzai also spoke on the occasion. The event was participated well by the members of community with diverse backgrounds including lawyers, local government representatives, media, academia and youth representatives. The forum was part of the project “Ulasi Police” an awareness and advocacy campaign undertaken by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) – as part of USAID Small Grants and Ambassadors’ Fund Program – to strengthen the rule of law in KP province by promoting and disseminating the significant police reforms aimed at incorporating local communities’ policing needs and international human rights standards. The endeavor aims to tackle the trust deficit between the public and police, help KP police become an accountable and community-focused police force. Mr. Shaukat Yousafzai said that the police today in KP has been completely de-politicized and professionalized to meet the formidable contemporary challenges facing...
Sabawoon Showcase: Violence Against Women (VAW) and the Significance of 16-Days Violence Against Women Activism Campaign
December 7, 2016, Peshawar: The latest episode of Sabawoon, flagship radio program of Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), focused on violence against women and the importance of 16 days’ VAW activism campaign conducted by civil society organizations to end violence against women. The key points of discussion included an overview of the prevailing situation of violence against women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), gender discrimination in Pashtun society, women’s rights in the constitution of Pakistan and Islam, psychological subjugation of women by men and lack of government’s response to resolve family disputes. The program also underlined the importance of education for women and awareness campaigns about the restraint of VAW. The program was aired under the theme of Jwandai Jazbey (living spirits) on Wednesday. Ms. Nazra Syed, a female rights defender and Program Manager of Khwendo Kor (Sisters’ Home) Peshawar, participated as the studio guest in the show. A radio report on the central themes of the program was made part of the program. The report shared the views of a women rights activist about the problems of women in the region and the VAW campaign to generate awareness. Live Calls on the Show: Three callers took part live in the program. A caller Mr. Rizwan Ullah said: “In our society women are always neglected and are not given any role in the decision making process. We should give them due share in decision making process both at home and outside.” Another caller, Mr. Mukamil Shah said: “Unfortunately FATA has more domestic violence and gender discrimination cases as compared to the other regions. We should sensitize public to promote gender equality and give proper rights to women in society.” Ms. Nazra Syed, Program Manager Khwendo Kor Peshawar, said: “The 16-days campaign is launched by civil society to encourage gender equality, spread awareness about female rights both in constitution and...
Panel: U.S. Will Need Clear Policy, Continued Coalition Participation in Afghanistan
The incoming Trump administration needs to send “a clear message of continued commitment” to the Afghan government that the United States will continue to support its decades-long struggle with the Taliban and other terrorist organizations, a former ambassador to Kabul said Wednesday. James Cunningham, now with the Atlantic Council, told a Heritage Foundation forum that “there has not been that clarity of messaging” from the Obama administration. Such a message would also reassure the United States’ 38 coalition partners to continue their efforts to bring stability not only to Afghanistan but to the region. “Afghanistan is an expression of the broader conflict” with Islamic extremism being waged in “a zone of crisis” stretching from North Africa to South Asia, he said. Hamdullah Mobib, the Afghan ambassador to the United States, said he understands how his countrymen, the United States and the coalition are “weary of this fight” after 15 years, but “the rationale for United States involvement in Afghanistan remains the same” as it was following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. The continuing “considerable threats from the Taliban … provide oxygen for other terrorist groups,” such as the Haqqani Network, operating from safe havens in Pakistan and now the Islamic State. “Afghanistan and its forces alone may not be able to defeat” them, Mobib said at the Washington, D.C., think tank event. The United States military estimates that about 10 percent of the population falls under Taliban control, 20 percent of the population live in contested areas and 70 percent of Afghanistan is under control of the National Unity Government of President Ashraf Ghani and its chief executive officer Abdullah Abdullah. Political divisions in the unity government, though, “do have an effect on how [and where] security forces operate,” Scott Smith, senior mediation advisor for the U.N. Department of Political Affairs, said at the event. “Afghanistan national security forces are...
Afghan Taliban Release Profile of Chief Maulvi Haibtullah Akhunzada
The Afghan Taliban on Wednesday released a profile of Maulvi Haibtullah Akhunzada months after he was named the group’s chief. The profile detailed Haibtullah’s role during Afghanistan’s invasion in 2001 and after the deaths of Mullah Omar and Mullah Mansour. The new chief is a strong advocate of Islamic unity, disavowing differences of ideology between Shias and Sunnis, the profile added. Haibtullah was named chief by members of the group’s leading council following Mullah Akhtar Mansoor’s death in a US drone strike on May 21. Sirajuddin Haqqani alias Khalifa and Maulvi Yaqoob Mujahid, late Mullah Omar’s son, were appointed his deputies on the occasion. “It was the courage and strong determination of brave leaders like Sheikh Haibtullah Akhunzada and his faithful colleagues that encouraged and inspired mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate and the Muslim masses of our country,” the profile read. “This resulted in a humiliating and embarrassing defeat for superpower America as well as NATO, the greatest military alliance of crusade forces in the world,” it added. “All key figures and field commanders unanimously supported the new ameer [chief] while pledges of allegiance and oath of fighting against the invaders and their foreign allied and internal mercenary forces were received from all 34 provinces,” the profile read. The document, released in Pashto, English, Urdu, Dari and Arabic, dwells on Haibtullah’s commitment to justice with compassion during the years the international community accused the group of inflicting regressive and unforgiving punishments. Meanwhile, when asked as to why the Taliban released the profile nearly seven month of his nomination, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told The Express Tribune that it had been done to counter any move to disseminate erroneous information about the leader.“We prepared an informative piece to share correct information and stop the spread of false information,” Mujahid said. This article originally...
China Warns Trump Ignoring One-China Policy Could Hurt Peace
Any change in U.S. policy favoring formal recognition of Taiwan will "seriously" damage peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and undermine relations between Beijing and Washington, a Chinese government spokesman said Wednesday. The comments from the Cabinet's Taiwan Affairs Office follow President-elect Donald Trump's remarks over the weekend that he didn't feel "bound by a one-China policy" unless the U.S. could gain benefits from China in trade and other areas. Under the one-China policy, the U.S. recognizes Beijing as China's government and maintains only unofficial relations with Taiwan, a former Japanese colony which broke from the Chinese mainland amid civil in 1949. Spokesman An Fengshan said breaching the one-China principle "will seriously affect peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait." "The one-China policy is an important political foundation for relations between China and the U.S.," An told reporters. "If such a foundation is disturbed or undermined, there can be no talk of a healthy and stable development of U.S-China relations." Trump broke diplomatic precedent by talking on the phone with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Dec. 2, during which the island's leader congratulated Trump on his election victory. Then, this past weekend, Trump said he might use America's recognition of Beijing as leverage for gaining advantages in trade and other areas. That is placing him perilously close to touching on China's bottom line that brooks no formal recognition of Taiwan or challenge to its claim to sovereignty over the island. China's response has thus far been fairly muted, mainly blaming Tsai for placing the call. The last major crisis over Taiwan came in 1995, when China staged threatening war games and missile tests near the island in response to then-president Lee Teng-hui's visit to the U.S., which was seen by Beijing as a bid to solidify the island's de-facto independent status. The move was largely seen as backfiring, with Lee winning...
Pakistan Tries to Figure Out Trump
First there was a moment of panic, when Pakistanis struggled to absorb the news last month that Donald Trump, who had threatened to bar foreign Muslims from the United States and suggested it was time to “get tough” with Pakistan for sheltering terrorists, was the U.S. president-elect. Then came a moment of glory, when Trump showered compliments on Pakistan in a phone call with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif two weeks ago, using words like “fantastic” and “terrific,” and hinting casually that he would be willing to help Muslim-majority Pakistan solve its historic differences with India, a much larger Hindu-led rival next door. Now both the shock and euphoria have worn off, leaving Pakistanis scrambling to prepare for an unpredictable new phase in its wary but enduring partnership with Washington, which has included Cold War and anti-terrorism military alliances as well as sharp differences over Pakistan’s nuclear testing and harboring of Islamist insurgents. Last week, the Pakistani government sent a special emissary, Tariq Fatemi, to Washington, where he hinted broadly that Sharif might like to attend Trump’s inauguration and said he believed the incoming administration would provide Pakistan with “a fresh opportunity to burnish its credentials” with the United States. Pakistanis do have reason to believe that Trump’s long-distance offer to mediate with India was more than a throwaway line. Mike Pence, the vice president-elect, repeated that offer in a clear, deliberate statement several days ago, saying the administration planned to be “fully engaged in both nations” and was prepared to play a “pivotal role” in resolving the key dispute over Kashmir. And, after the initial worry here that Trump’s limited knowledge of foreign affairs and anti-Muslim suspicions might work against the nation’s interests, some Pakistani experts are now positing that there might be a “silver lining” in having a brash dealmaker in the White House, unburdened by historical caveats and...
Afghan War Criminal Zardad Freed: No Protection for Witnesses
One of the few Afghans convicted of war crimes has been released from a British jail and deported to Afghanistan. Faryadi Sarwar Zardad, a Hezb-e Islami commander, was convicted in 2005 of hostage-taking and torture. He preyed on people fleeing the civil war in Kabul in the mid-1990s, infamously keeping a ‘human dog’, a man who would attack people with his teeth. As AAN’s Kate Clark reports, despite the threat Zardad poses to the witnesses who testified against him, at least some were not informed by the UK government that he was coming back to Afghanistan; nor have any measures been put in place to protect them. Zardad was released from jail just over half-way through his sentence, AAN understands, for ‘good behaviour’ and has now been deported from the UK to Afghanistan. He was due to arrive in Kabul today, 14 December 2016. Supporters were pictured putting up banners at Kabul International airport naming him a hero and welcoming him home; they included at least one non-uniformed, armed man (see here). The men had gathered just outside the terminal building, past the major security checks and beyond where normal people can go to welcome passengers. Some official authorisation must have been obtained. Pahjwok reported that hundreds of people had “thronged the airport” to welcome the convicted war criminal and “around 50 vehicles with tinted glasses and Zardad photographs left the airport at around 11am.” It was not clear if Zardad was transferred to the convoy or if, as former BBC journalist Bilal Sarwary reported, he was taken into NDS custody at the airport. Whether that was for investigation or for his own protection was also not clear. The crimes Zardad’s crimes date back to the mid-1990s, when during a time of extreme brutality, he managed to become one of the most infamous commanders of the Afghan civil war. His rise to power came after the fall of the communist government in 1992. Fighting as a Hezb-e Islami commander, he captured positions outside the...
China, Pakistan And Russia To Hold Consultation on Afghanistan
China is in contact with Pakistan for working jointly to promote peace and development in Afghanistan, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang. China, Pakistan and Russia are likely to hold a consultation on Afghanistan in Moscow on December 27. Replying to question about China-India relations at a news briefing, the spokesperson said the two countries were marching towards the goal of forging a more closely-knit partnership for development. It is normal for the two big countries who are also close neighbors to differ on some issues. But the main theme for the bilateral relationship is friendship and cooperation, while differences are secondary. The two sides are in touch with each other on the relevant issues, and China would like to work with India, following the consensus reached by the two leaders, to expand mutually beneficial cooperation, properly manage differences, and ensure the sustained and steady development of bilateral ties. As for India's application to join the NSG and the listing matter of the UN Security Council 1267 Committee, he said China's position is very clear and unchanged. On question of human rights, the spokesperson said, “To promote and protect human rights is the ideal and aspiration shared by all mankind. The Human Rights Day was designated to give the international community an opportunity to strengthen human rights protection, promote human rights exchanges, and contribute to the sound development of the cause of international human rights. However, it is used as an excuse for some individual countries to hurl accusations at other countries, interfere in their domestic affairs, and politicize human rights issues. We are strongly dissatisfied with and opposed to such behaviour. There is no one-size-fits-all path when it comes to human rights development, as every country needs to improve its record on the basis of its national conditions and its people's needs.” In this regard, China has made remarkable achievements...
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I am also a member of National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting. Recently, we held a meeting with the Director General of Radio Pakistan and we told them to initiate such local programs (like Constituency Hour) in regional languages to educate and inform people. Even Indian Radio can be heard in FATA which is being used for propaganda purposes and must be closed. Therefore, we should launch some standard and quality programs like CRSS that will change the taste of the listeners.