::. Editorial
Why the Stubbornness?
Updated on Febraury 22, 2012
The Government has once again reiterated its stubbornness continuing the ruining path. In a recent meeting with some US Senators, President Karzai prioritized the demands of end of night-raids and Afghan control of prisons as key conditions for the strategic partnership agreement with the US. On Sunday, a US congressional delegation ...
On Reactions to Reported Desecration
Updated on Febraury 22, 2012
People have the right to express their outrage at any act that constitutes a desecration of their belief, Holy Scripture, and holy places that they may hold high in sacredness. Afghan people are also entitled to protect the sanctity of what are sacred to them against any desecration. It is common in a civilized world not ...
An Approach That Rebounded on the Goal
Updated on Febraury 21, 2012
Violent political competition over scarce resources has been at the heart of the conflicts and wars over the last thirty years in Afghanistan. This in turn has originated from the exclusionary structures prevailing in the country. The Bonn Agreement in late 2001 laid the foundation for emergence of an inclusive and development-oriented ...
Record Snowfall Turns Deadly
Updated on Febraury 21, 2012
Snowfall in Afghanistan has been quite unusual this winter. According to anecdotal evidences, Afghanistan has had no such a winter in the past twenty years. At times when snow is perceived a blessing in countries like Afghanistan - where if there is no raining and snowing, there will be severe draught -, for Afghans living in camps and ...
Stoppage of Oil Shipment to France and Britain
Updated on Febraury 21, 2012
Iran's nuclear issue has got a new turn as the global pressure spirals up and it announced preparation to resume talks with western countries. The possibility of military attack on nuclear sites by Israel has still remained high. International community is worried about the consequence of such an attack on the regional and global ...
Lessons Remain Unlearnt
Updated on Febraury 20, 2012
Seeking to find Taliban leaders, in his meeting with Pakistani officials, President Karzai reportedly asked them to bring Mullah Omar to the negotiating table. The request caused both astonishment and anger at the Pakistani side. "Deliver Mullah Omar? If that is the expectation, then there's no reality check. Then they're not ...
Karzai’s Justification of Taliban’s Re-Growth
Updated on Febraury 20, 2012
Night raids have been a matter of dispute between President Hamid Karzai and NATO officials since long. NATO believes its night search and target operations have been quite pivotal in reaching figures linked to insurgents groups. According to NATO, these kinds of operations have been the safest with very little chance of ...
Cultural Dimensions of an Inhuman Phenomenon
Updated on Febraury 20, 2012
It has now become common to hear pieces of news about violence against women in Afghanistan. Since people in this country have been through more than thirty years of conflict and have seen and continue to see most gruesome cases of violence, a news item about self-immolation may not be shocking for them. Unfortunately, Afghanistan ...
Public Support in Exchange for Representation and Services
Updated on Febraury 19, 2012
LaniGuinier, in Tyranny of the Majority, argues that "The potential for instability exists when any significant group of people ends up as permanent losers." Over the last three decades, Afghanistan has been not only through political instability but also violent ups and downs. This chequered history of politics has affected ...
Taliban Notify US of USSR-like Defeat
Updated on Febraury 19, 2012
Amid all the fuss about peace and reconciliation process, the Taliban, on the 23rd anniversary of withdrawal of Red Army from Afghanistan issued a statement cautioning the US of the same fate. "Selfish Americans must learn a lesson from… the Russian defeat and no longer fight a meaningless battle with zealous Afghans and ...
Women Rights in Absence of Supporting Norms
Updated on Febraury 19, 2012
Of significant achievements that President Karzai government and the international community boasts of as result of the decade-long all-out efforts to change things in Afghanistan is the relatively improved human rights and new mechanisms and measures to promote and protect rights of women, children and vulnerable group. Beyond the ...
Karzai’s Failed Attempts to Cultivate Support among Taliban
Updated on Febraury 18, 2012
President Hamid Karzai has been trying to portray the Taliban as the children of Afghanistan that wish to work for peace in this land. The Taliban and other insurgent militants have been called by the president with most sacred names, such as brothers and children of this land. But the Taliban have betrayed these sacred names ...
No Stability with Drug Economy
Updated on Febraury 18, 2012
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has said Afghanistan cannot be a stable country while our economy depends heavily on drug trade.While talking at an international conference, he urged countries involved in Afghanistan to step up the fight to combat poppy cultivation and drug business. He said there cannot be sustainable ...
The Policy against Infiltrators
Updated on Febraury 18, 2012
One of the key issues, which have become the hotbed of political discussions and arguments is the capacity of Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) to accomplish their task unilaterally without depending on the muscle of foreign security forces. Similar to the rest of social and political issues, the notion has also ...
Military Arrangements and Political Reforms
Updated on Febraury 16, 2012
Strategic agreement between Afghanistan and the US is under discussion. Leon Panetta, the United States Secretary of Defense said in the US senate session that the US is in negotiation with Afghan authorities to sign a security agreement that would allow his country to maintain its military presence in Afghanistan after ...
Lesson from History
Updated on Febraury 16, 2012
Events were held in Kabul and other cities celebrating the 'Mujahideen victory' and Soviet departure from Afghanistan. As a nation, which we have to be yet, we should ask ourselves was it really a victory? Those who are not tired of claiming the 'Afghan Jihad' caused the collapse of Soviet Union and take pride for the 'victory' is ...
We Have to be Realistic!
Updated on Febraury 16, 2012
Currently, Afghanistan has been highly dependent on international support to run its economic system. The international troops that have been in the country for almost a decade are preparing to withdraw from the country and that withdrawal is going to end till 2014. After the withdrawal is complete there are possibilities ...
A Makeup Code by the Ministry of Information
Updated on Febraury 14, 2012
The Ministry of Information and Culture has asked the female newscasters and presenters to observe Islamic ethics and national culture while appearing on televisions. In a notice, the ministry has asked all the television channels not to allow the newsreaders with unveiled heads and "thick make-up" to appear on the ...
Not to Pardon Again
Updated on Febraury 14, 2012
When last year, on the occasion of Eid ul Fiter, President Hamid Karzai pardoned 18 teenagers who were arrested because of having plans of terrorist attacks in mind, the President seemed quite excited thinking that his forgiveness would change the mindset of those young terrorists. In addition to gifts and monetary rewards, some ...
Civilian Casualty and Air Strikes
Updated on Febraury 14, 2012
Civilian casualties have constantly fuelled tension between Afghan government and foreign allies. And the main reason behind NATO-caused tolls is recognized to be aerial operations across the country. Last week, NATO air strikes left reportedly seven children dead in the remote Kapisa province, which angered President Karzai ...