Latest News
Election Result Vital For NATO Presence In Afghanistan: Rasmussen
The NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said that the Afghanistan election result is important to give a legal framework to the continued presence of NATO troops.
G. Anders Fogh Rasmussen expressed confidence that the NATO’s operation will begins with the new Afghan president signs the bilateral security agreement with Washington and NATO status of forces agreement.
NATO plans to leave behind a smaller force in Afghanistan beyond 2014 to train and advise Afghan security forces. However, the alliance insists that the new Afghan president needs to sign the security agreements with Washington and NATO allowing foreign forces to stay.
“We should learn from Iraq’s situation and the training operation for Afghan forces should be continued.” Rasmussen added.
Meanwhile, U.S. and NATO officials have indicated that they would move ahead with a complete troop withdraw before December if the agreement is not finalized soon.
Earlier, U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said this week that the BSA cannot be postponed any further, and Afghanistan risks having no foreign troops or financial aid to support it after December if the deal is not signed soon.
The remarks by Rasmussen comes as there are concerns that announcement of the Afghan vote audit and final election result could be further delayed due to disputes among the presidential contenders over vote audit and formation of the unity government which was agreed during US Secretary of State John Kerry’s visit to Afghanistan.
The Ministry of Interior has announced the delivery of several new, modern cars to the General Directorate of Traffic Police, replacing the older fleet that consisted mostly of trucks.
According to a ministry statement, the new vehicles, equipped with special traffic police colors, markings, and modern equipment, are expected to play a key role in maintaining traffic order in cities and on main roads, preventing accidents, and providing faster services to the public.
Azerbaijan has released 14 Afghan nationals from its prisons, Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday.
The ministry said in a statement that the release happened following efforts by Afghanistan’s embassy in Baku.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its appreciation to Azerbaijan and relevant authorities for their cooperation and humanitarian action. It also reaffirmed that the IEA will continue to follow up on and resolve the cases of Afghan prisoners.
Former U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, says Washington is largely satisfied with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s (IEA) efforts against terrorism, though progress in broader relations remains hindered by the issue of prisoners.
In an interview with NDTV, Khalilzad said the United States views the detention of at least two American citizens in Afghanistan as the primary obstacle to improving ties.
Khalilzad highlighted what he described as a “significant degree of satisfaction” in the U.S. assessment of the IEA’s counterterrorism commitments under the Doha Agreement. He said the IEA continue to fight Daesh, a group they have long considered an enemy. Many Daesh militants, he added, have been pushed out of Afghanistan and are now in Pakistan.
At the same time, Khalilzad said concerns remain regarding human rights and the political role of non-IEA Afghans.
Traffic police receive new cars
Azerbaijan releases 14 Afghan prisoners
Trump signs order threatening tariffs on nations doing business with Iran
Afghan delegation heads to Turkey for medicine talks
Khalilzad says U.S. ‘significantly satisfied’ with IEA’s fight against terrorism
ICG report says Pakistan most impacted by IEA’s return in Afghanistan
Afghanistan–China joint market opens in Kabul
Pakistan approves re-export of stranded Afghan transit trade cargo
ATN secures broadcast rights to Carabao Cup semis across Afghanistan
Pakistan army orders evacuation of Tirah Valley, fears of mass displacement grow
Tawsia: Afghanistan’s interest in buying Russian oil and gas
Tahawol: IEA calls UNSC’s Daesh concerns baseless
Saar: Afghanistan’s role in regional affairs discussed
Tahawol: Discussion on UNSC meeting on Daesh threats
Saar: Rising expectations for US-Iran talks in Oman
-
Sport4 days agoJapan trumps Afghanistan 6-0 in AFC Futsal Asian Cup quarter-final
-
Sport3 days agoHosts and heavyweights advance as AFC Futsal Asian Cup reaches semifinals
-
Sport5 days agoAfghanistan crush Scotland in ICC T20 World Cup warm-up
-
Latest News2 days agoTerrorist threat in Afghanistan must be taken seriously, China tells UNSC
-
Latest News3 days agoUzbekistan, Pakistan advance Trans-Afghan railway project
-
Business4 days agoAfghanistan seeks expanded ties with Russia in energy, mining and infrastructure
-
Sport3 days agoWinter Olympics finally underway, ATN to broadcast exclusively across Afghanistan
-
Latest News4 days agoUNDP warns Afghanistan’s new development strategy faces major risks