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Clinton Declares "America's Pacific Century"
November, 12 2011
HONOLULU - With the United States facing a multipronged challenge from China, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton declared Thursday that the 21st century will be "America's Pacific century" and said the region's problems require U.S. leadership. While stressing that the Obama administration will seek improved tie
SCO Prepares for Afghan Reconstruction
November, 10 2011
BEIJING - The Shanghai Cooperation Organization's role in Afghanistan will only become more important as time goes on, especially after most of NATO's combat forces exit the country, analysts say.
The organization, which advocates fighting against the "Three Evil Forces"- terrorism, religious extremism and regional separatism - held its 10th annual prime ministers' meeting on Monday.
"It is evidently in the US' strategy in the run up to its exit ...
President Karzai Leaves for Maldivesto Attend SAARC Summit
November, 10 2011
KABUL - Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan left Wednesday for a two-day visit to Maldives to attend the 17th SAARC Summit of the Heads of State.
The President is scheduled to deliver a speech in the Summit where he would highlight Afghanistan's vision for expanded political, economic, cultural and social interaction and cooperation in South Asia. Enhanced ...
Kazakhstan, US to Enhance Cooperation in Restoration of Afghan Economy
November, 10 2011
KABUL - Kazakhstan and the United States plan to enhance interaction to guarantee international security and restoration of the Afghan economy, an official at the Kazakhstani Foreign Ministry said, summing up results of Tuesday's talks between Kazakhstani Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov and the US Ambassador to the republic, Kenneth ...
Australian Prime Minister Visits Afghanistan
November, 10 2011
KABUL - Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard on Sunday made a surprise visit to Afghanistan and met with Australian troops stationed here.
The Australian Premier also met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
She flew into Trinkowt of Kandahar province to share a barbecue lunch with some of the 1,550 Australian soldiers stationed in the southern ...
Security Arrangements in Place Ahead of Loya Jirga
November, 10 2011
KABUL - The Ministry of Interior officials say special security arrangements have been carried out ahead of the November 16 tradition consultative Loya Jirga discussing the proposed strategic cooperation agreement between Afghanistan and the US. The four-day assembly is expected to be attended by more than 2,000 ...
Helmand Ready for Second Round of Transition: Officials
November, 10 2011
KABUL - Security forces are ready for the second phase of security switch in southern Helmand province, officials said on Wednesday.
The second phase of the transition is said to target some districts in Badakhshan, Badghis, Ghazni, Helmand, Herat, Kabul, Ghor, Laghman, Maidan Wardak and Nangarhar.
In Badakhshan, the provincial capital, Faizabad, Shahr-i-Buzurg ...
Obama, Rasmussen Discuss Afghanistan
November, 10 2011
WASHINGTONM - US president Barack Obama met NATO secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen at his Oval Office and discussed with him the current situation in Afghanistan, the White House said on Monday.
The President and the Secretary General discussed the important ...
Russia Offers to Invest $500 Million in Pak-Afghan Electricity
November, 10 2011
KABUL - The Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin has offered to invest "at least $500 million" in a Central Asian electricity project that will provide energy to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The Premier made the offer at a one-day meeting of Prime Ministers of ...
No Change in US Afghan Strategy: Pentagon
November, 05 2011
WASHINGTON - The Pentagon has ruled out any change in the US strategy in Afghanistan and said it is currently focused on successful security transition in the war-torn country.
"The role of the US military has not shifted or changed. The only firm plans that we have at this point is to drawdown some of the surge forces by the end of this year and additional tranche of surge forces by summer of next year. Beyond that any change that may be done ...
Afghan Gas Pipe Deal Imminent: Nedirov
November, 05 2011
ASHGABAT - Turkmenistan expects soon to sign a long-delayed agreement to sell natural gas to Pakistan and India and has "no doubts" that an ambitious project to build a pipeline through Afghanistan will be realised, a senior energy official said on Friday. Oil and Gas Minister Bayramgeldy Nedirov said the proposed ...
US Won’t Abandon Afghanistan: Crocker
November, 05 2011
KUNDUZ CITY - The United States would never repeat the mistake it had committed after the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan in the late '80s, the American ambassador said on Thursday.
Even after the pullout of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops by the end of 2014, American financial support to ...
US Hails Istanbul Declaration on Afghanistan
November, 05 2011
WASHINGTON - The Obama administration has welcomed the declaration adopted by Afghanistan's neighbours, promising to respect the sovereignty of the country and work toward its security and stability.
"They have endorsed Afghan priorities, including Afghan-led reconciliation, transition to Afghan security leadership and regionally ...
Afghan Peace to Strengthen Stability in the Entire Region
November, 05 2011
NEW YORK - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has stressed that establishing peace in Afghanistan will strengthen stability in the entire region and lauded regional efforts to find ways to enhance security in the Asian country as it prepares for the transition with the pull out of foreign forces in the next two ...
New Political Party comes into Being
November, 05 2011
KABUL - Former interior minister Muhammad Hanif Atmar on Thursday launched a new political party, saying the Right and Justice group would stand by the people and work for promoting their interests.
While announcing the party's launch at a news conference, he said the president was authorised to call a traditional Loya Jirga any time to ...
Pakistan to Give Military Training to Afghan Army
November, 05 2011
ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan army will train the Afghan National Army and police under trilateral pacts signed at the 6th Trilateral Summit held in Istanbul, local media reported Friday.
Quoting Foreign Office spokesperson Tehmina Janjua, The News reported that Pakistan signed a protocol with Afghanistan and Turkey on conduct ...
Disengaging Assistance to Afghanistan, Pakistan Undermines US Interests: Clinton
November, 05 2011
WASHINGTON - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Friday that disengaging civilian assistance to Afghanistan and Pakistan undermines US interests in the region ahead of Washington's decision to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan.
Clinton said in a statement that the civilian surge in Afghanistan ...
29 Nations Pledge to Work Together for Afghan Peace
November, 03 2011
ISTANBUL - An international conference on the future of Afghanistan concluded on Wednesday with 29 nations and international agencies pledging to work together in various areas and to follow up in the Afghan capital of Kabul in 2012. The "İstanbul Conference for Afghanistan: Security and Cooperation in the Heart of Asia," hosted by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, brought together regional leaders on Wednesday to find ways to improve security and economic development in ...
Regional Framework Needed for Afghanistan: India
November, 03 2011
KABUL - India on Wednesday called for a regional framework for stabilizing Afghanistan and ruled out competition as it pressed for collective action in combating terrorism and religious extremism.
"India supports the aims and objectives of this Conference: to ...
Karzai Hosts Dinner for Zardari
November, 03 2011
ISTANBUL - President Hamid Karzai hosted a dinner in honor of President Asif Ali Zardari here on Tuesday after the Trilateral Summit concluded in Istanbul. President Karzai received President Zardari warmly. Other members of the delegation of both the countries who earlier participated in the Trilateral Summit hosted by Turkish President ...
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey to Have Joint Military Drills
November, 03 2011
ISTANBUL - Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkey have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Istanbul on conducting joint military exercises. Pakistan and Afghanistan also agreed on setting up a joint mechanism to investigate the assassination of former president Prof. Burhanuddin ...
Afghanistan Needs Pakistan’s Support on Reconciliation: US
November 03, 2011
WASHINGTON: As diplomats from regional countries converged on Istanbul to mull a viable way forward in Afghanistan, the United States recognized that Kabul needs support of its eastern neighbor Pakistan to propel forward the reconciliation process. "It's always been our view, and it's certainly always been Afghanistan's view, that an ....
Karzai Seeks Neighbors’ Help in Terror Fight
November 03, 2011
ISTANBUL - Taliban and other militant leaders could join the peace process if they gave up violence, severed ties with Al Qaeda and returned to a peaceful life under the Afghan Constitution, President Hamid Karzai said on Wednesday. "However, as recent setbacks have indicated, the peace process will not succeed unless we are able to get ...
Pentagon Rules out Change in Afghan Strategy
November, 03 2011
WASHINGTON - Despite a series of militant attacks in Kabul, the Pentagon has ruled out any change in its Afghan strategy, saying such assaults are targeted to have more of a psychological impact as the Taliban are actually on the run. "The focus remains on transition to Afghan security lead in other areas of the country and they (the Taliban) are feeling the heat ...
US Should Talk to Afghan Neighbors: Kissinger
November, 03 2011
KABUL - Former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger has proposed the Obama administration should first hold talks with Afghanistan's neighboring countries before negotiating with the Taliban.
Speaking at the Washington-based Woodrow Wilson International Centre, Kissinger said: "I have no objection in principle to negotiating ...
Iran Opposes U.S.-Afghanistan Strategic Agreement
November, 03 2011
BAKU - Iran is against signing a strategic agreement between the U.S. and Afghanistan, IRNA quoted Iranian Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi as saying in Istanbul on Wednesday.
Salehi stressed that U.S. and NATO's plans are ill-considered, ...
UK Supports Turkish Peace Initiative
November 03, 2011
ISTANBUL - The United Kingdom on Wednesday supported the peace process initiated by Turkey, saying stability in the region, especially in Afghanistan, was important.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for South Asia Alistair Burt, also a participant of the Istanbul Conference, urged the international ...
China Supports Development Paths, Chosen By Afghan People
November 03, 2011
BEIJING - China supports the development path, chosen by the Afghan people and backs comprehensive economic reconstruction there, said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei at a press conference on Wednesday. Responding to a question on Regional Conference being held by Turkey in Istanbul to ensure peace, development and security in ...
Declaration of Istanbul Conference on Afghanistan Held on November 02, 2011
November, 03 2011
We have convened in İstanbul on 2 November 2011, under the leadership of H. E. Mr. Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and H. E. Mr. Abdullah Gül, President of the Republic of Turkey, and at the joint invitation ...
WJ Sets Demands for Istanbul Conference
November, 02 2011
KABUL - The Wolesi Jirga's Defense Commission on Tuesday set a number of demands for the regional cooperation conference in Istanbul due on November 2.
The commission demanded of participating countries to pursue peaceful policy, asked neighboring countries to stop meddling in Afghanistan's internal affairs, respect to Afghanistan's sovereignty, co-existence, end to political hypocrisy and good neighborhood, the commission chairperson Shukria Barakzai told a press ...
Turkey to Join Investigation on Rabbani Assassination
November, 02 2011
ISTANBUL - Turkey will take part in a three-nation commission that will try to shed light on the Sept. 20 assassination of Burhanuddin Rabbani, the former chief of Afghanistan's High Peace Council, the Hürriyet Daily News has learned. The breakthrough came at the ongoing Istanbul Forum ...
India, China Should Play Constructive Role in Afghanistan: US
November, 02 2011
KABUL - Ahead of the crucial Istanbul conference on Afghanistan, the United States has said it wants India and China to play a "constructive role" in bringing long-term peace to the war-torn country.
"We've talked with both capitals about very constructive roles that they can play," a senior Obama administration official ...
Pakistan Almost Agree with All US Demands:Gilani
November, 02 2011
ISLAMABAD - Pakistani Prime Minister, Yosuf Raza Gilani ,has said that at meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her visit to Pakistan, the two leaders 'almost agreed' on all points demanded by the Americans. Pakistan is ready to support any initiative by Afghanistan for reconciliation, Gilani said in an interview to ...
Afghanistan Doesn’t Need New Security Structure: Pak
November, 02 2011
ISALAMABAD - Pakistan on Tuesday said the world community should focus on implementing existing mechanisms for regional peace and security instead of floating proposals for creating a new security structure for the war-torn ...
Gul Offers Karzai Cooperation in Mining Sector
November, 02 2011
KABUL - Turkish President Abdullah Gul, promising greater economic cooperation with the landlocked country, said on Tuesday he would send a team of experts to Afghanistan for extraction of mines.
At a meeting with President Hamid Karzai in Istanbul, Gul said Turkish companies wanted to invest in the area of extraction of mines ...