kabul
Key to peace lies in talks: Sartaj Aziz
ISLAMABAD, 21 OCT (DNA) – The National Advisor on Foreign Affairs (NAFA) Sartaj Aziz on Friday said that Pakistan had no favorites in Afghanistan and will follow the priorities that elected government in Kabul determines for pursuing peace and reconciliation. Welcoming the deal between the National Unity Government (NUG) and the Hezb-e-Islami, Aziz, said this agreement seems to have motivated and encouraged other groups to come to talks. These groups should realize that it is a different Afghanistan that wants peace and where the dominant majority would like to goRead More
No plans to revive peace talks with Taliban, says Afghan govt
KABUL: Kabul has no plans to revive a peace process aimed at bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table after a four-nation effort earlier this year produced no results, the spokesman of the Afghan president said Thursday. Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria, responding to the remarks, reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the four-nation group ─ comprising Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States ─ for revival of the Afghan peace process. Haroon Chakhansuri, President Ashraf Ghani’s spokesman, said the four-nation group has no plans to meet again anytime soon. The groupRead More
Afghanistan receives military equipment from China
KABUL, July 03 (DNA): Afghanistan received military equipment from China on Sunday months after Beijing announced expanded military aid to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF). The Office of the National Security Adviser said the military aid by China was received by National Security Adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar. A cargo plane loaded with the military aid including transport vehicles and other military equipment landed in Kabul’s Military Airport today. China’s Ambassador to Afghanistan Yao Jing was also present during the hand over of the military aid to Afghanistan.Read More
Stay of Afghan refugees in Pakistan extended for six more months
ISLAMABAD, 29 JUNE (DNA) – Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has directed Ministry of Foreign Affairs and States & Frontier Regions Division to immediately engage with UNHCR and the government of Afghanistan for gradual relocation of refugee camps in Pakistan to Afghanistan. According to a press release issued by the Prime Minister House, it is stated, the stay of POR card holders Afghan refugees shall be extended for a further period of six months only, till 31st December, 2016; and, In order to facilitate relocation and as a gesture of continuedRead More
US Pakistan F-16 deal and the rut of history
By Adnan Yousaf US-Pakistan F-16 deal expired when United States refused to hand over eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan at the subsidised rate of $270 million and asked Pakistan to make the full payment for the aircraft from its national resources. Though Pakistan was in dire need of these aircraft for counter-terrorism operations, it chose not to pay $699 million for the aircraft which were previously financed through the US Foreign Military Financing (FMF) programme partially. And US, despite of knowing Pakistan’s need for these jets in the ongoing warRead More
Blast outside Afghan ministry kills 5, wounds several
KABUL: A bomb exploded in the parking lot of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Justice on Tuesday, killing at least five people and wounding dozens as civil servants were leaving work for the day, officials said. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack and vowed to kill more “slave” judges. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid made the statement in an email to journalists a few hours after the car bomb exploded. Ministry of Interior spokesman Sediq Sediqqi confirmed the deaths of five by telephone, while Mohammad Ismail Kawusi, a spokesman for the MinistryRead More