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NATO Troop Levels in Afghanistan Will be Decided Later This Year: Stoltenberg

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(Last Updated On: October 24, 2022)

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday  they have not decided exact troops levels for 2018 in Afghanistan, adding that it will be decided later on this year.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting of the Heads of the States and Government in Brussels on Thursday, Stoltenberg said: ” First of all we haven’t decided exact troop levels for 2018. Some allies also announced that they’re willing to increase their force contributions. But the exact force or troop levels will be decided later on this year.

“We reviewed our training mission in Afghanistan, and we agreed that we will continue to sustain our mission. I welcome that several Allies came forward today with new troop contributions. And on the basis of our review, we will take further decisions in the coming weeks.”

NATO is expected to increase the number of its troops in Afghanistan as the Taliban continues to cause serious threats to the government forces in the country.

The alliance have around 13,000 forces in the country mainly engaged in training, assisting and Advising mission with Afghan security forces.

“What we are aiming at and the purpose of our training mission in Afghanistan is to strengthen the capabilities and the capacities of the Afghan National Security Forces to fight Taliban and to fight the different terrorist groups in Afghanistan. And we are in particular working with the Afghan special operation forces,” NATO Secretary General said.

Stoltenberg said that developing Afghan Air force is key in the fight against insurgents and NATO is helping them in regard.

“We are also helping them to improve command and control,” he said.  

He also said there is difficult situation in Afghanistan, “there will be more violence, more challenges, and still many,  many unsolved problems in Afghanistan including the issue of corruption.”

“But we have made progress especially in building a strong national Afghan army and security force which has proven capable, professional and able to take over responsibility for the security in Afghanistan, without NATO forces conducting combat operations, but with our support.”

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Media Violation Commission bans two TV channels

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(Last Updated On: April 16, 2024)

The Media Violations Commission has ordered Noor and Barya TV channels to stop broadcasting and to appear in court, state-run Bakhtar News Agency reported on Tuesday.

ّIt is said that the decision against the channels was taken for “not observing the principles of journalism.”

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Hekmatyar slams US for ‘occupying’ Afghanistan’s airspace

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(Last Updated On: April 16, 2024)

Former Jihadi leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has criticized the United States for patrolling Afghanistan’s airspace with drones.

Hekmatyar said in a speech Tuesday that any form of American presence in Afghanistan is unacceptable.

“Afghanistan’s airspace is under occupation. Expressing this issue is our religious responsibility. We have sacrificed the most for freedom. We do not accept any presence of America. We do not accept any kind of foreign rule,” he said.

Hekmatyar also stated that there is a possibility of American troops entering the country again.

“[Former] President Trump’s national security advisor says that their departure was a mistake and that they should return. This is not an ordinary issue. The possibility that they will make a mistake again and return to Afghanistan is very strong,” he said.

The Islamic Emirate has not commented so far on Hekmatyar’s remarks, but it has confirmed sightings of drones over Afghanistan.

“It is required that the respected officials of the caretaker government give explanations on this matter and respond to the concerns of the Afghan people in this matter, because important and great national issues are important for every Afghan citizen and if there is a problem, it will be a cause of concern for everyone,” said Fazl-ul-Hadi Wazin, a university lecturer.

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Uzbek and Qatari leaders discuss Trans-Afghan Railway project

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(Last Updated On: April 16, 2024)

Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Monday met with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani for talks on a number of issues including the Trans-Afghan Railway project.

The two leaders also discussed bilateral trade issues, strengthening of relations and regional matters, including the escalating situation in the Middle East.

In October 2023, Uzbekistan Railways JSC presented the Trans-Afghan Railway project to Qatar’s Ministry of Transport.

Subsequently, deliberations were held on Qatar’s involvement in the project’s execution.

In February 2021, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan signed a roadmap for the Termez-Mazar-i-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway construction.

The envisioned transport corridor, estimated at approximately $5 billion, aims to connect Europe, Russia, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Southeast Asian nations, boasting a transit capacity of up to 20 million tons of cargo.

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