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Kabul Bank Goes on Sale, Lessons to be Learnt
May 12, 2011 | Mehdi Rezaie
Everyone knows that corruption is a particularly poignant problem in Afghanistan. Much has been said and discussed about the rage of corruption inside the government. From people having to pay bribes in order to get their smallest things done through the bureaucracy of an efficient government to the cases of embezzlement and theft of public...
Differences Over Peace Process
May 12, 2011 | Jawad Rahmani
Indubitably, everybody in Afghanistan supports negotiation and reconciliation with Taliban-led militants. But differences between supporters of the initiative are far larger than that of Kabul government and insurgency.
Last year President Karzai succeeded to form a national-wide peace council which was potentially...
World Order After Osama
May 11, 2011 | Dilawar Sherzai
The incident of 9/11 initiated a considerable change in the world order that was supposed to proceed smoothly after the end of Cold War. Francis Fakuyama, soon after the disintegration of Soviet Union had prognosticated the New World Order to be peaceful and rather boring. He had speculated that in New World Order Democracy would marry Capitalism and...
A New Era for Universities
May 11, 2011 | Michael R. Czinkota and Andreas Pinkwart
Universities and their internationalization are important. Traditional knowledge exporters, such as the United States, Germany, France and England, aim to maintain their high share in the growing international academic market. They recognize the economic benefits of educating students who, when back home, will decide about purchases for...
Questions on a Vacillating Relation
May 10, 2011 | Nasruddin Hemati
The tense relations between the two strategic allies in war against terrorism are getting more gravity following questions on Osama Bin Laden's death near a military academy in Abbottabad. Before the blowing news of US forces' operation to capture or kill Al-Qaeda head was announced by US president Obama, analysts doubted ...
The Siege of Kandahar and Uncertain Future
Mehdi Rezaie | Mehdi Rezaie
Perhaps the Taliban have never had it better than this. The spectacular two-day attacks mounted by the Taliban in the heart of Kandahar that paralyzed this political and economic hub and left over 70 people dead and wounded is yet another daring show of force by them. Barely two weeks ago and in another incident, more than 540 Taliban...
Osama’s Death No Game-Changer
May 09, 2011 | Abbas Daiyar
The death of Osama Bin Ladin has been making the titles of opinion pages on newspapers around the world. Particularly in the Af-Pak region, where it matters the most, intelligence analysis is being made about the future of Al-Qaeda and terrorism in the region.
Regarding Afghanistan, there are different perspectives. Optimists of...
Local Militias Warlords and the ANA
May 09, 2011 | Musa Khan Jalalzai
On April 27, 2011, a frustrated Afghan Air Force pilot killed eight coalition troops and one civilian contractor in Kabul International Airport. Afghan pilot, Ahmad Gul, who served in the air force for over thirty years under the communist regimes, was a poor man suffering from frustration and anxiety. As he was not paid his salary for mouths; he...
U.S. Moves to Accommodate the Taliban
May 08, 2011 | Mehdi Rezaie
The situation in the country in light of the alleged killing of Osama bin Laden is poised to enter into a new phase, one which will see heightened efforts by all sides to accelerate the process of talks with Taliban and other insurgent groups. Last month, a high-level Pakistani delegation visited Kabul that consisted of the heads of major centers...
Afghanistan, Agonizing Challenge for Obama’s Security Team
May 08, 2011 | Ali Raza Hussaini
With Congress's approval, President Barak Obama has made significant replacements and appointments in his national security team. As part of the change, the US's current ambassador in Iraq, Mr. Ryan Crocker will take over Karl Eikanberry's post as new ambassador in Afghanistan. Mr. Crocker had...
Osama’s Death and the War on Terror
May 07, 2011 | Abbas Daiyar
The man, who was responsible for mass murders of thou sands of innocent people from America to Afghanistan, deserved that miserable death without a proper burial on earth. The leader of global terrorism who founded Al-Qaeda in his will written in December 2001 told his children not to join the group of bloodthirsty Jihadis. This coward living in hiding for...
War against Taliban in Post-Osama Afghanistan
May 07, 2011 | Mehdi Rezaie
The death of Osama Bin laden has had the effect of rattling the capitals in Washington, Islamabad and of course Kabul. Let us have a look here at what the death of Osama Bin laden means for the war against Taliban and Al-Qaeda and what it holds for the future and prospects of the broader struggle against terrorism and religious...
Osama Death Wont Impact Afghanistan
May 05, 2011 | Dr. Hussain Yasa
There is a big wave of victorious joy among all those who wanted to see the death of Osama bin Laden, the most wanted man in the world who carried a $ 25- million bounty on his head and the one who institutionalized killing of one man by another under his peculiar interpretation of faith.
Although certain angles of the special operation in which Bin Laden was killed remain obscure, there is no doubt...
Why not Asians First and Lead
May 05, 2011 | Ahmad Bilal
There are many reasons why Asians first and lead. Human history has shown the fact and is a concert evidence that human race has been originated in Asia. Asians are the most powerful human character in all terms compared competitively with other continents population. Asia has been the largest inhabitant of human kind from very beginning up to...
Osama’s Death Versus Our Reputation
May 05, 2011 | Jawad Rahmani
Perhaps, there are fewer events in the world to find such a large worldwide coverage by Media as the death of Osama bin Laden, the leader of Al-Qaeda, has had since last Sunday. The news has become more like a popular entertainment program. People around the world have gazed on TVs, Videos posted on News websites, Social networking to watch out a spectacular program—the...
Freedom of Press and the Greater Danger of Relapse
May 04, 2011 | Sher Alam Saqib
A decade has elapsed after the hard-line Taliban regime was toppled by the U.S-led international intervention in Afghanistan in late 2001. Both Afghan government and international community claim to have taken tremendous strides in various areas and walks of...
Is Peace Talks with Taliban Possible?
May 04, 2011 | Abdul Samad Haidari
Going by what transpired to the Afghan premiership and its western allies have commonly comprehended that negotiation with the fanatically purist Taliban are indeed for a cooperative path out of the morass after ten years of often directionless war.
Centrality of the message is that a concerted act may wave over Afghanistan,...
Osama’s Death Doesn’t Mean the End of War
May 03, 2011 | By Sher Ali Yecha
With the eruption of news on the death of Osama bin Laden, within a blink of eye my facebook page was filled with links, opinions and information about his death. I started receiving SMSs on my cell phone regarding Osama's death and TV channels started giving Breaking news about this. At first, many people around me did not believe the news as true and termed them as 'rumors.' But they had to...
Strategic Cooperation and Worries Beyond Borders
May 03, 2011 | By Jawad Rahmani
One of the most challenging issues in the course of current US/NATO military engagement in Afghanistan has been the issue of permanent strategic cooperation between Kabul and Washington. The issue was brought about because of instant worries about the so-called spoil of democratic achievement made during past ten years. In 2001, when ...
The Winner and the Loser
May 02, 2011 | Nasruddin Hemathi
The analysis saying that the Arab spring –caused by public revolts - may prove Israel's winter, is coming true. Since the fall of Mubarak regime, an Israeli ally, the Jewish state has expressed its deep concerns on the ongoing socio-political changes. Experts say that Israel seems highly frightened of losing partners while others gaining more strategic positions at the political...
The Imagined Boy in the Painting
May 02, 2011 | Abbas Daiyar
Since childhood, an extraordinary photo, and my favorite painting, was committed to the visual memory of my mind like something nailed there forever. I saw it almost every day. When I had seen for the first time, probably in primary school, I was curious who was in that imaginary photo hanged on walls of some classes. It was a favorite choice for drawing competitions among students in schools, and a perfect...
Afghan Refugees in Australian Detention Centers
May 01, 2011 | Abbas Daiyar
Nowadays Afghan refugees in Australian detention centers are on protest and hunger strike. Recently some very disturbing news of suicide attempts by some immigrants who are to be sent back to Afghanistan, were reported in media. A young boy had hanged himself in a detention center. Human rights organizations have been criticizing the Australian Government...
Hollow Antiterrorism Efforts
May 01, 2011 | Farman Nawaz
very year May 21 is observed as Antiterrorism day. The idea of World Anti-Terrorism Day was initiated because thousands of youth are drawn in to the folds of terrorist camps and organizations each year. The purpose of observing World Anti-Terrorism Day is to spread the message of global peace and non-violence, to discourage vulnerable ...
The Budget Debate
April 30, 2011 | By Abbas Daiyar
The budget rejection is not something new. Last year, the lower house of the parliament had rejected the budget draft and demanded changes in it. After the first rejection, usually it should be possible to incorporate recommended changes in the budget and get it approved, but the case with our Government is different. Our rulers have no regard for the institutions...
The 19th Anniversary of Mujahedin
April 30, 2011 | Jawad Rahmani
This week, Afghans celebrated the 19th anniversary of Mujahedin as they succeeded to force Soviet armies out of Afghanistan on April 28, 1992. But this year, it was not celebrated with enthusiasm as it was being held previously, and the reason is usual which has become like a nightmare for all mass...
Practical Aspects of Islamic Banking in Afghanistan
April 27, 2011 | Dr. Alam Khan Hamdard
Islamic banking was introduced in Af ghanistan between 2008 and 2009. The first draft banking law was prepared by Da Afghanistan Bank (Central Bank of Afghanistan) Da Afghanistan Bank established the Islamic banking section that operates under the technical support of the Shariah Council consisted up of famous religious scholars from Afghanistan as well from some other...
The 12th Five-Year Plan Depicts a Blueprint for China’s Next Development
April 26, 2011 | Xu Feihong
In March 2011, the Fourth Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) of China endorsed the Outline of the 12th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development (2011 to 2015).
The document puts forward the guiding principles, main objectives, main tasks and measures of the ...
The Walk: on the Public Harassment of Afghan Women
April 25, 2011 | Noorjahan Akbar
Every day in Afghanistan millions of women and girls make their way through streets, mountains and villages to schools, universities, work places, clinics, marketplaces, etc. The reports on women's progress in Afghanistan focus on the percentage of women who make or don't make it to their destinations, be it schools, work places, etc. Rarely any ...
Pakistan Army Asserts Control on Afghanistan
April 24, 2011 | Tufail Ahmad
It was Pakistan's day in Afghanistan. On April 16, 2011, the almost entire Pakistani leadership descended on Kabul to hold talks with the Afghan government. The Pakistani leaders included: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Deputy Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar as...
The Export of Suicide Bombers
April 21, 2011 | Musa Khan Jalalzai
Civil war in Afghanistan brought many misadventures into Pakistani society. The unending war and foreign intervention exacerbated internal religious tensions and increased in the flow of arms, suicide bombers, narcotics drugs and money into the country. Unauthorized weapon industries in FATA region flourished and an illegal arms trade in all provinces of the country continued without the supervision of the ...
Media Darling in the West, Irrelevant in Afghanistan
April 19, 2011 | Abbas Daiyar
The bravest woman of Afghanistan”, “iconic human rights activist”, “champion for Afghan woman” are titles you read in media headlines in the West about Afghan activist Malalai Joya. She is a star among the anti-war left circles of the West. Recently she made headlines because of the US visa denial, and lefty...
On the Declining Security
04/27/2011 | Nasruddin Hemati
iolence seems unending here. Fighting continues harassing people and downplaying achievements in Afghanistan. Shortly before the transition process begins, the perspective of peace, development and stability remains unreliable in Afghanistan. Battling a multilateral dilemma, the Afghan government is yet too feeble to stand on its own. The...
Military Withdrawal is not a Sign of Failure
04/25/2011 | Jawad Rahmani
Nowadays, two diametric opposite reasons are given for the US and NATO military withdrawal from Afghanistan. Either of them seems extreme-like notions. On one hand, it is said that US and NATO military withdrawal is just a desperate struggle for face-saving disengagement and leaving Afghanistan...
The Af-Pak Commission and Prospects
04/24/2011 | Abbas Daiyar
President Hamid Karzai or any Government official has not denied the media reports about "Pakistani demands from Afghanistan" in the recent high-profile visit from Rawalpindi and Islamabad to the presidential palace in Kabul. The discussions in different circles of Kabul are all about the "letter" of those demands handed over to President Karzai, and questions are being raised in media and by ...
Security Forces Infiltrated by Taliban Militants
04/23/2011 | Mehdi Rezaie
The high-profile Taliban attack inside the com pound of the Ministry of Defense in Kabul that killed two and wounded seven, shocking as it is, has raised doubts about the capabilities of security forces to protect even the most vital of security installations. The attack also has been a powerful statement put out by the Taliban ...