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The Afghan force seized a truck laden with 4,000 kilograms of explosives in western Herat province, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) said.

According to a statement released by interior ministry, the security forces seized the truck in Kang Village of Ghorian district of Herat.

The statement further added that the security forces confiscated 4,000 kilograms of Ammonium Nitrate from the truck.

The interior ministry also added that the terrorist groups, specifically the Taliban group use the Ammonium Nitrate substance to carry out explosives and manufacture improvised explosive devices.

The anti-government armed militants including Taliban group has not commented in this regard so far.

The Khaama Press News Agency is the leading and largest English news service for Afghanistan with over 3 million hits a month.Independent authors/columnists and experts are welcomed to contribute stories, opinions and editorials. Send stories to news@khaama.com.

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Truck laden with 4000 kgs of explosives seized in West of Afghanistan - The Khaama Press News Agency

Ordinary Afghans say it has happened to them many times and nevernot oncehas it made news anywhere outside Afghanistan. Last November, an American Reaper drone targeted a group of villagers in the mountainous area of Afghanistans southeastern province of Paktia and killed seven of them. Paktia has long been home to Taliban militants, but local residents say all the victims were civilians, including three women and one child. They had gone to the remote area to graze their cattle and collect wood. Suddenly, they were dead.

Nobody wants to listen to us. I doubt that the murderers will face justice one day. God is our only hope, said Mohammad Anwar, a resident of Zazai Aryub, a district in Paktia. The perpetrators he is talking about are sitting far away in one of the many U.S. military bases where drone operators are working from.

According to Anwar, who is related to the victims, some families lost their male breadwinners, as often happens after such attacks. They are desperate. Their future is very uncertain, he told Foreign Policy in a phone conversation.

And now it is more uncertain than ever, even after 18 and a half years of war. The newly signed U.S.-Taliban truce contains secret annexes that reportedly will give the Taliban information allowing the Islamist insurgent group to prevent attacks during the U.S. withdrawal. But the Afghan national government and its officials have been cut out of the dealthough it calls for peace talks between various Afghan factionsand even more so, ordinary Afghans, who have no recourse to justice and dont know whether the drone strikes will let up.

We are like ants for them, said Islam Khan, a resident of Paktia. The murderers need to face a trial. If its not happening, it just reveals that the Western world does not care about the Afghans they are murdering.

According to Lisa Ling, a former drone technician with the U.S. military in Afghanistan, civilian casualties caused by drone strikes must be investigated and regarded as war crimes. I think that every strike where community leaders speak out and tell us that we are killing their civilians should be thoroughly investigated by the ICC [International Criminal Court] and the international community should listen, she told Foreign Policy via Signal. Ling, who has become a whistleblower and staunch critic of drone attacks, believes that this kind of warfare is wrong on so many levels and that the United States cannot fight terror with terror.

Neither the U.S. military nor the CIA responded to a request for comment for this story. But both typically portray drone attacks as precision strikes that kill alleged militants or suspected terrorists, and actual on-the-ground investigations rarely take place afterward. According to a recent analysis of 228 official U.S. military investigations conducted in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria between 2002 and 2015, most investigations of alleged civilian casualty incidents didnt include even one visit. The military conducted site inspections in only 16 percent of the casualty investigations reviewed for the study by researchers from the Center for Civilians in Conflict and the Columbia Law School Human Rights Institute.

The same was true of the strike in Paktia. Not a single U.S. investigator is believed to have visited the site of the killings afterward. On its Dari Twitter page, U.S. Central Command reported that an action had allegedly killed Taliban members from Faryab province in the same timespan, but it did not mention any drone strikes nor civilian casualties.

Despite the U.S.-Taliban truce, residents of Zazai Aryub are still afraid, saying that they have been haunted by American drone strikes for years and that their fate is often ignored by both the U.S. military and the Afghan government in Kabul. They keep saying that they are killing terrorists. But thats not true. Farmers, shepherds, and women are not terrorists. One of the victims, Naqib Jan, was a 2-year-old child, said Khan, who works as a teacher in a local village. During the last months and years, several relatives and members of his family were killed by drone strikes. He claims that his fellow tribesmen are terrified and depressed, suffering from trauma, and that many children fear to play outside.

We tried to raise our voice, and we even confronted President Ashraf Ghani with this issue, but he does not care, Khan said.

While in the past, former Afghan President Hamid Karzai took a critical stance toward U.S. airstrikes and criticized them in public, Ghanis administration, which is heavily dependent on the United States for aid and support at a time when the Taliban are winning in many parts of the country, has preferred to largely conform to Washingtons global war on terrorism narrative, mostly ignoring civilian casualties. In some cases, Ghanis officials have even rejected the findings of independent observers and human rights organizations that offered proof of civilian harm. U.S. military officials have sometimes claimed that their Afghan army allies ordered the strikes.

In early March, senior judges at the ICC authorized an investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Afghanistan. By doing so, they overturned an earlier rejection of the inquiry. Mainly, the ICC investigation will look at actions by U.S, Afghan, and Taliban troops. But immediately after the ICCs announcement, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attacked the ruling, describing it as reckless, and said the United States would outline measures in the coming weeks to prevent its citizens being brought before the court. This is a truly breathtaking action by an unaccountable political institution masquerading as a legal body, Pompeo told a news conference.

In terms of possible U.S. war crimes, the ICC is focusing on alleged CIA torture and some cases of forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. However, according to various reports, drone strikes, such as the one that wiped out Khans family members, will not be included in the inquiry. These strikes could be seen as violations of international humanitarian law. But that does not make it a war crime, which has to be intentional or sufficiently reckless. But determining recklessness requires a legal analysis in each case of the evidence, Patricia Gossman, an associate Asia director for Human Rights Watch, told Foreign Policy via email.

Nor has the United States done an effective job of investigating any of these strikes, rights officials say, especially since the International Security Assistance Force was disbanded in 2014 and the U.S. military was in control once again.

Family members of the victims in Paktia believe that there is no doubt about the nature of those human rights violations. We dont believe that it was a mistake. It happened too often. We want the culprits to face prosecution and trial, Khan said. Other Afghans share his opinion. Its a war crime, and it needs to be prosecuted properly. We are not interested in quibbling words and phrases. We want justice. This is just one case out of thousands that took place since the end of 2001, said Abdul Malik Zazai, the head of Paktias provincial council, in a phone conversation.

Afghanistan is the most drone-bombed country in the world. The United States dropped more bombs on Afghanistan in 2019 than in any other years since the Defense Department began keeping track in 2006. According to new figures released by the U.S. military, at least 7,423 bombs and other munitions were dropped on the country in 2019, a nearly eightfold increase from 2015 and an average of 20 bombs a day.

In its numbers, the U.S. military does not differentiate between strikes conducted by drones or those conducted by conventional aircraft. At the end of 2001, the age of drone warfare began in Afghanistan, where the very first lethal strike of an unmanned aircraft took place.

According to the London-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism, which is observing U.S. drone warfare around the world, at least 6,825 drone strikes took place in 2019 in Afghanistan. The total number of victims remains unknown since most of these attacks are taking place in remote areas like in Zazai Aryub.

The Americans are benefiting from the nature of this war and from the status quo of the international community. They believe that they are above the law, said Karim Popal, an Afghan German lawyer who is representing the victims of a 2009 NATO airstrike that was ordered by a German colonel in Kunduz province. Back then, dozens of civilians were killed. A German court rejected considering the massacre as a war crime and paying compensation to the victims families. A few years later, the responsible colonel was promoted by the army.

Recently, however, a hearing took place in front of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, with no outcome as yet.

This is a big success, but at the same time, its very clear that many Western countries, including Germany and the United States, are not interested in addressing the crimes their troops committed, Popal said by phone. Imagine being the Afghan father or mother who heard that the one who killed their children did not face any trial but was promoted. Its a shame.

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Afghans Wonder if America Will Ever Acknowledge Its Alleged War Crimes - Foreign Policy

WASHINGTON - While the government of President Ashraf Ghani downplays the repercussions of a potential $1 billion cut in U.S. aid to Afghanistan, ordinary Afghans and experts warn the country is not in a position to withstand such a financial blow as it struggles with ongoing political instability that threatens the countrys peace process and growing fears of a COVID-19 outbreak.

A $1 billion cut in U.S. aid would be a significant blow to the country. Afghanistans GDP is only about $20 billion per year, and much of that comes from international donations, Johnathan Schroden, an expert on Afghanistan and director of Stability and Development Program at Washington-based think tank Center for Naval Analysis (CAN), told VOA.

Secretary Pompeo has made clear that the U.S. would prioritize continued support to Afghanistans security forces, but U.S. civilian-sector assistance to Afghanistan is about $500 million this year, so even if they zeroed that out, to reach $1 billion would still require a $500 million cut to military aid, Schroden said.

He said if the U.S. cuts aid to Afghanistan, its NATO allies will likely follow suit, creating a compounding effect.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made a surprise visit to Afghanistan this week to help resolve the political impasse between President Ghani and his election rival and former chief executive officer, Abdullah Abdullah. Both declared themselves winners in the contested presidential election last year.

Pompeo expressed U.S. disappointment over the failure of the leaders to form a government.

The United States is disappointed in them and what their conduct means for Afghanistan and our shared interests, Pompeo said in a strongly worded statement after his departure from Kabul.

Their failure has harmed U.S.-Afghan relations and, sadly, dishonors those Afghan, American and coalition partners who have sacrificed their lives and treasure in the struggle to build a new future for this country, he said.

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Ghanis reaction

While expressing gratitude for continued U.S. assistance to Afghanistan, Ghani, reacting Tuesday to the potential cut in U.S. aid, said it would not have direct impact on key sectors.

In order to compensate for the cut in U.S. aid [to Afghanistan], I will conduct an overall assessment of our budget and will report to you as soon as possible, Ghani said. However, in the meantime, I can assure you that reduction in U.S. aid will not have a direct impact on our key sectors."

But Shukria Barakzai, Afghanistans former ambassador to Norway, said the U.S. statement has a message.

"The statement has a clear message that is more serious than the economic assistance, and that is a political one. If the U.S. stops supporting the current political system, I think that would be the worst-case scenario for Afghanistan, Barakzai said.

Matt Dearing, an assistant professor at Washington-based National Defense University, seconds Barakzais concerns and charges that the cut in aid poses serious risks for the country.

At a time where Afghan domestic politics are at their worst, an aid cut is incredibly risky and could break the country in two, Dearing said.

We should remember that it is was not the withdrawal of Soviet troops that led to the fall of the Afghan government [1989], rather the end of aid in 1992, he added.

Alternative resources

Ghani said his government will try to fill the vacuum with the help of alternative resources.

Javid Ahmad, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, said he thinks the Afghan government will tap into the countrys cash reserve while trying to find a solution to end the political crisis and reverse Washingtons decision.

More immediately, the countrys $8 billion cash reserves and cutbacks in security expenditures are likely to provide short-term support as Afghan leaders make another attempt to break the political impasse, permitting the U.S. to reverse the decision, Ahmad said.

Ahmad warned that if the U.S. proceeds with it is decision, the potential slash in U.S. aid will cut into the military aid Washington has been providing Afghanistan to support its security sector.

The cutback, still under review, is unlikely to affect the basic functions of the Afghan government, but it will exact a toll on the security sector that consumes the bulk of the Afghan budget, he added.

Ordinary Afghans

Meanwhile, ordinary Afghans are worried that the loss of $1 billion in U.S. assistance would have a direct impact on their lives.

If this $1 billion that the U.S. gives to Afghanistan is reduced, it would not have any effects on Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani. But ordinary people would suffer, Ainullah Attal, a Kabul resident, told VOA.

Our leaders, Abdullah Abdullah and Dr. Ashraf Ghani, should sit with each other and make peace for the people, country and Gods sake, Abdullah Jan, another Kabul resident, told VOA.

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Ghani and Abdullah shared power in the contested presidential elections of 2014 following months of a political crisis that almost took the country to the brink of civil war before former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry helped broker a deal that led to the creation of the National Unity Government (NUG).

Both Afghan leaders vowed not to compromise politically this time, despite Pompeos visit.

"In the current situation, reducing that much money is a great loss [for Afghanistan]. But there is no alternative; President Ghani has made some promises during his reelection campaign. One of those promises was that he wont be making a power-sharing government, Kabir Ranjbar, a political analyst and former member of Afghan parliament, told VOA.

Ghanis rival, Abdullah, has not publicly said that his team would consider a similar arrangement but has shown a willingness to negotiate.

Ghani said Tuesday that he has offered Abdullah a key role in the ongoing peace talks with the Taliban and Cabinet positions to his allies but charged that Abdullahs demands of changing the constitution were beyond his authority.

Impact on peace talks

There is growing frustration among Afghans over the ongoing political impasse between the two leaders will add to the growing fears of a COVID-19 outbreak in the country and have an impact on the ongoing peace talks with the Taliban.

If Dr. Abdullah and Dr. Ashraf Ghani were on good terms with each other, we would have the intra-Afghan talks started, Shah Wazir Tarakhil, a member of the Afghan parliament, told VOA.

On his way to Qatar to meet with representatives of the Taliban, Pompeo told reporters the U.S. was committed to the peace deal with the Taliban.

We are proceeding with the conditions-based withdrawal of our forces in accordance with the U.S.-Taliban agreement, Pompeo said. The United States remains convinced that a political settlement is the only solution to the conflict.

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The war in Afghanistan has claimed the lives of more than 2,400 U.S. service members and cost the U.S.nearly $1 trillion.

VOAs Rahim Gul Sarwan from Kabul and Cindy Saine from Washington contributed to this report.

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Experts: $1 Billion Cut in US Aid to Afghanistan Will Have Serious Implications - VOA News

DISCLAIMERThe opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views ofThe Khaama Press News Agency.We welcome opinions and submissions to Khaama Press Opinions/Exclusives Please email them toinfo@khaama.com.

To become a nation, Afghanistanhas three core blind spots, and as long as these three problems are not covered,it is impossible for us to become a nation, have a meaningful government andenjoy our political and social rights like other countries.

A handful of people run Afghanistan while the average public always finds themselves oppressed. However, to get out of this situation, they do nothing or their actions are always arisen out of ethnic, sectarian, religious or linguistic affiliations and dependence. One notable example is the Wolesi Jirga and the Meshrano Jirga representatives, who do not represent their constituents in real terms. Most of the Upper and Lower House representatives work as Afghans call commission workers, who the ministers have to bribe to get the vote of approval or confidence. These representatives have failed their constituents several times, but the latter still supports them. The elections of 2014 and 2019 are no exception. Such a situation implies that we have a majority ignorant, minority treacherous problem. Ignorance does not mean that our people do not know or are unaware, but that they are so engrossed in dependency chains that they neglect prosperity as a nation. Until we do not sacrifice the Is and the Wes for the nation, the minority treacherous will always rule us.

Japan gained its freedom along with Afghanistan. The atomic bombing of the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki not only destroyed the infrastructure and killed a large number of human resources but also resulted in a generation of slow learners. To tackle the problems, the country appointed an intelligent kid to help train every nine slow learners, and work as the Niners teacher and leader. The teachers worked voluntarily for a long time, too.

Today, Japan is one of thedeveloped countries of the world and Afghanistan cannot be compared to Japan. Unfortunately,Afghanistan uses the reverse case. In our country, nine smart leaders are ledby someone who has failed as a follower. This weak follower or slow learnerin all areas of life reduces the speed, efficiency and effectiveness of thenine smart leaders. You must have noticed that our young Fulbrighters and Chevenersworking under such slow learners in civilian, military, nonprofit andnonprofit institutions

I find it extremely funny thatyoung leaders with good educational and working backgrounds are hired and latertold what to do instead of being asked what needs to be done. Both the leadersand followers are happy in such an arrangement while no positive change is observedin anyones life including the country. It is high time that we permanentlydistance these weak followers from the political, social, and economic scenes andmake way for mainstream leaders or obligate the slow learners tolearn from smart leaders.

According to a recent study, Afghanistan is one of the countries that top the list of Islamic countries in performing prayer. But does such an achievement represent the knowledge of Islam amongst Afghans? If the Afghan practices are properly studied, we will realize that our knowledge of Islam is minimal. Most of our government leaders take an oath of serving the people on the Quran, but we are still one of the most corrupt countries in the world. Islam requires that we treat women well in our family and community, but we use them as tools and we do not consider them more than cooks, cleaners, concubines and incubines. Islam entitles women to their fathers heritage, but most Afghans deprive them of their heritage, including the very fathers. Unfortunately, in an almost 100 percent Muslim state, women do not have physical and mental safety. The teachers and Mullahs, who should carry on the Prophets legacy, (sexually) abuse children. Islam says suicide and killing of innocent are forbidden. However, a group of people sees it as a means of warfare and achievement of their goals, marking divine prohibition null and void and the list is long, but we will suffice with these examples.

Our religious naivet has been the byproduct of little knowledge of Islam. You can literally do anything by using an Afghans religious naivet. Tens of Afghans can flock to a mosque in a crowded place and storm an unknown lady to death because she has allegedly burned the Quran. This is amongst very dangerous character traits that blind an Afghan of the fact that s/he is not a judge, the Supreme Court, aMufti,etc. Like it has always happened, a shrewd religious scholar can misuse the teachings of the Quran and Hadith however he wants to carry out his own agenda. Since conflict has been the recipe so far, Afghans religious naivety has caused several conflicts throughout history. The abdication of King Amanullah Khan by Habibullah Kalakani and the Taliban regime as a whole are two examples. Arabic, Quranic interpretation,Tajweed,Hadith,Siret-ul-Nabi and a host of other important religioussubjects need to be taught more comprehensively at school levels so that Afghan children are equipped with proper religious education upon graduation and not fall prey to extremism.

Nasrat Esmaty has a Master of Arts Degree in Poverty and Development from the Institute of Development Studies in the UK and an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts & Sciences from San Joaquin Delta College in the U.S. He is the author of Blue Blood Mirage on the Other Side of Illusion and constantly writes or blogs on development issues with a focus on gender poverty.

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The Three Blind Spots of Leadership in Afghanistan - The Khaama Press News Agency

The authorities in North of Afghanistan confirmed that four members of a single family lost their lives in a brawl which turned into an armed clash over the hunting of ducks.

Mohammad Farooq, the Director of the Crimianl Investigation Department of Parwan, confirmed to Salaam Watandar that the incident and said four members of a family lost their lives and another was wounded during the clash.

Farooq further added that the incident took place before noon on Saturday, at around 10:00 am, in Balto Khel area of the provincial capital of Parwan.

He also added that the police forces arrested two people in connection with the deadly clash and an investigation is underway.

The Balto Khel Village and Sayad are the main hunting places for the birds in northern Parwan province of Afghanistan.

The Khaama Press News Agency is the leading and largest English news service for Afghanistan with over 3 million hits a month.Independent authors/columnists and experts are welcomed to contribute stories, opinions and editorials. Send stories to news@khaama.com.

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4 members of a family killed as duck hunting turns deadly in North of Afghanistan - The Khaama Press News Agency