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DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. President Donald Trump paid respects Thursday to a pair of soldiers who were killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan earlier this week.

The president and first lady Melania Trump, along with several senior aides, traveled to Delaware to meet with the families of Chief Warrant Officer 2 David C. Knadle, 33, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kirk T. Fuchigami Jr., 25, as they received the fallen soldiers remains.

Trump and the first lady were among a group of dignitaries, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley and National Security Adviser Robert OBrien, who attended the roughly 12-minute ceremony and watched as six white-gloved members of the Armys Old Guard carefully handled the flag-draped transfer cases holding the soldiers.

Trump and Milley saluted the soldiers, while the first lady and OBrien stood with their hands over their hearts for the dignified transfer of remains.

Trump has said the responsibility of receiving the remains of fallen U.S. soldiers is the toughest thing I have to do as president.

As the final day of public hearings in the House impeachment inquiry wound down, Trump left the White House for the short flight to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, where the remains of service members killed abroad are returned to U.S. soil.

Knadle, of Tarrant, Texas, and Fuchigami Jr., of Keaau, Hawaii, died Wednesday when their helicopter crashed as they provided security for troops on the ground in Logar Province in eastern Afghanistan.

Both were assigned to Fort Hood, Texas.

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Wednesdays crash brought this years U.S. death toll in Afghanistan to 19, excluding three noncombat deaths.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for shooting down the helicopter, but the U.S. military has dismissed that as a false claim. The crash remains under investigation.

Trump broke off peace talks with the Taliban in September following a bombing in Kabul that killed 12 people, including an American soldier.

The White House said Trump and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani spoke on the phone Thursday, and both agreed a reduction in violence is necessary to move the peace process forward and for all-Afghan negotiations regarding a political settlement to be successful.

White House spokesman Judd Deere said Trump also thanked Ghani for his support in seeking the release of two Western hostages the Taliban freed this week after holding them in captivity for more than three years.

More than 2,400 Americans have died in the nearly 18-year war.

Last month, as Trump sought to justify his unpopular decision to remove a small contingent of U.S. service members from northeastern Syria, he began to describe his experiences at Dover and argue for removing the U.S. from endless wars in the Middle East, which he campaigned on in the 2016 presidential race.

The president has described the sight of cavernous aircraft pulling up on the base, doors opening, uniformed service members carrying flag-draped transfer cases and once-stoic parents breaking down.

Sometimes theyll run to the coffin. Theyll break through military barriers, Trump said at an unrelated White House event on Oct. 9. Theyll run to the coffin and jump on top of the coffin. Crying mothers and wives. Crying desperately.

And this is on these endless wars that just never stop, he said. And theres a time and theres a place, but its time to stop.

Trump was also joined Thursday by Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy and Army Sgt. Major Michael Grinston. Actor Jon Voight, who was awarded the prestigious National Medal of Arts at a White House ceremony earlier Thursday, also attended the solemn movement ceremony at the invitation of Trump.

Voight said he didnt meet the families but watched the moving ceremony.

The 1979 Oscar winner said he thought it must be some comfort that their children are cherished by the country.

There was no intention of meeting the families or any of that, Voight said. I just wanted to pay my respects, say a little prayer.

Thursdays trip was Trumps second to the Delaware military base this year, and his third visit there overall as president.

Trump went to the Delaware base in January 2019 for the return of four Americans who were killed in a suicide bomb attack in Syria.

He attended his first transfer service in February 2017, for the return of a Navy SEAL who was killed during a raid on an al-Qaida compound in Yemen.

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Trump travels to Dover to pay respect to soldiers killed in Afghanistan helicopter crash - Military Times

Lawmakers introduced a bill Thursday that would recognize the health hazards posed by oil well fires, burn pits and other pollution sources in Afghanistan and much of the Middle East an effort they say would help ill veterans who apply for VA benefits.

The Veterans Burn Pit Exposure Recognition bill, S. 2950, would declare that service members who deployed to the Middle East in the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf War and after, to Afghanistan and Djibouti following Sept. 11, 2001, and to Iraq beginning in 2003 were exposed to toxins.

The bill stops short of establishing service connection for specific diseases and does not guarantee disability benefits for ill veterans.

But it would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to concede that veterans were exposed to pollutants if they served in the named locations during the specified time frames, effectively eliminating a need for them to prove that they were in close proximity to a pollution source.

Sponsors Sens. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, and Joe Manchin, D-West Va., say the legislation is needed because currently, VA requires veterans to show evidence of their exposure to support benefits claims and frequently rejects claims on the lack of evidence on exposure.

But since the locations of burn pits and possible health effects associated by their use, may never be completely known, the proposed legislation states it would eliminate the requirement that they prove proximity.

The burden of proof regarding known exposure currently faces Navy and Marine Corps Vietnam veterans who served on Navy ships and were recently granted presumptive status for exposure to Agent Orange.

These blue water veterans who have a disease linked to the use of defoliants during the war must prove the ships they served on sailed within 12 miles of the shore.

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West Virginians have seen first-hand how long its taken for the Vietnam-era veterans who were exposed to toxic chemicals like Agent Orange to receive the care and benefits they deserve, and the toll it took on them and their families. I want to make sure that doesnt happen to this generation of veterans, Manchin said.

The [bill] reaffirms our commitment to those in uniform and ensures we will not wait decades to tackle this issue head on, Sullivan said.

In February 1991, Iraqi troops set Kuwaiti oil wells on fire, producing clouds of smoke that turned the skies to twilight and blanketed U.S. troops with fine, oily dust that covered skin, clothing, belongings, weapons, work and living spaces.

In Afghanistan and Djibouti after Sept. 11, 2001, and Iraq beginning in 2003, the U.S. military used burn pits to dispose of the refuse generated by military operations, including food waste and household trash, but also plastics, batteries, computer parts, animal carcasses, hospital waste, furniture and more.

Troops reported that soot from the pits often coated work and housing areas with a fine green-black powder and many developed chronic coughs, sinusitus and other respiratory symptoms they referred to as the Iraqi crud.

At their peak, more than 270 burn pits were in use in Afghanistan, Iraq and Djibouti. As of March, nine remained active, including seven in Syria, one in Afghanistan and one in Egypt.

Veterans, veterans service organizations and some physicians attribute rare cancers, some respiratory diseases and other health conditions seen in Gulf War and post 9/11 troops to exposure to these conditions.

In addition to conceding that certain hazardous duty stations pose a potential health hazard, the bill also acknowledges an information gap regarding the location, use and hazards posed by burn pits and encourages ongoing research by DoD and VA.

Veterans who would be covered under the bill include: those who served in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and United Arab Emirates beginning on Aug. 2, 1990; those who served in Iraq from Aug. 23, 1990 to Feb. 28, 1991, and beginning on March 19, 2003; veterans of Afghanistan and Djibouti, beginning on Sept. 11, 2001; and any other locations set forth in the VA Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry or as deemed by the VA secretary.

The bill names fine particulate matter, 16 types of hydrocarbons, 15 volatile organic compounds and 17 dioxin compounds as known toxins.

Several veterans service organizations, including Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America, pushed for the legislation.

This bipartisan bill will help get rid of red tape and assist affected veterans seeking burn pit-related benefits, said Randy Reese, executive director of the Washington headquarters of Disabled American Veterans.

For years, weve known of the adverse health effects caused by burn pits, and in that time weve seen too many seriously ill veterans struggle to get help from the VA because they lacked the documentation to prove what everyone already knows that they were exposed to toxic chemicals released by burn pits while serving overseas."

Retired Navy Yeoman First Class Lauren Price, whose organization Veterans Warriors has supported legislation that would require VA to declare presumptive conditions related to Iraq and Afghanistan service, praised the bill as one that would significantly help veterans, and unlike the legislation the group has supported, may not encounter the same pushback from budget conscious lawmakers.

Its truly a concession bill, saying We concede that there were nasty chemicals all over the place. All you have to do is prove you were there and if you have a disease. It would mean the VA adjudicators simply couldnt reject your claim because you couldnt prove you live a football field away from a burn pit, said Price, an Iraq veteran. Its a good bill.

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Proposed legislation would name service in Iraq, Afghanistan, a health hazard to US troops - Military Times

Washington: Developing strategic partnership with India is a critical element of President Donald Trump's South Asia strategy, a senior administration official said Thursday noting that there were encouraging results of the move.

"The United States welcomes India's substantial investment in and assistance to Afghanistan. And we will continue to support efforts to achieve an honourable and enduring outcome in Afghanistan that preserves our investment in Afghanistan's future," said Nancy Jackson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Afghanistan Affairs.

Speaking at the event, Indian ambassador to the US Harsh Vardhan Shringla said India has played an active role in the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan since 2001. India has completed 400 social infrastructure projects in this war-torn country and another 150 were under way, he said.

All the Indian projects are undertaken in partnership with the Afghan government and are spread across each and every of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan in diverse fields of development, including education, healthcare, infrastructure, administrative capacity, flood control, irrigation, agriculture, sports, he said.

"So far, close to 400 social infrastructure projects have been completed and 150 projects are under various stages of progress covering all 34 provinces of Afghanistan.... Under our New

Development Partnership, several important projects focused on developmental needs and priorities of Afghanistan have been identified for implementation including Shahtoot Dam and drinking water project for Kabul city, low-cost housing for returning Afghan refugees in Nangarhar province, among many others, he said.

"These projects are a reflection of India's enduring commitment towards Afghanistan's reconstruction," Shringla said, adding, "India is committed to support Afghanistan in its journey to emerge as a united, sovereign, democratic, peaceful, stable, prosperous and inclusive nation."

Delivering the keynote address to 'The India-Afghanistan Relationship: Examining Historical, Political, Economic, and Cultural Ties', organised by think tank Hudson Institute, Jackson said, "For too long, the Taliban have taken comfort in their conviction that our fight is unsustainable."

"Our friends and adversaries should understand that our interest in protecting American citizens is enduring, as we advance in a responsible way forward toward a peace settlement that will benefit not only Afghans, but the entire region, Jackson said in a warning to the terrorist organisations operating from the region.

According to the US official, the US Administration understands that the American people are ready to end the war in Afghanistan while remaining committed to countering the threat of terrorism from groups anywhere in the region.

"In 2017, the President's South Asia strategy acknowledged that military power alone will not bring peace to Afghanistan or stop the terrorist threat arising from that country, she said. Rather, the American military effort is designed to create conditions for a negotiated settlement.

This effort involves military resolve in Afghanistan, with decisions based on conditions on the ground, she told the Washington DC audience. Another critical element of the President's South Asia strategy is for America to further develop its strategic partnership with India the world's largest democracy and a key security and economic partner of the United States, Jackson said.

The senior State Department official appreciated India's important contributions to stability in Afghanistan, including USD 3 billion in civilian assistance since 2001. For our part, we remain committed to pursuing our shared objectives for peace and security in South Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific region, she said.

We have seen encouraging signs over the last 18 months that the South Asia strategy is working, and is beginning to set conditions for a political settlement that includes the Taliban, the Afghan government and other Afghans, including women's groups, said the US official.

An inclusive political settlement, in turn, will lay the groundwork for political stability and an improvement in security conditions, she said. At the same time, she said that no one should be under any illusion that a political settlement will immediately mean an end to violence. There will still be violent extremist groups like ISIS, and there will still be armed groups pursuing their own criminal or political objectives, she said.

A comprehensive peace agreement will, however, enable Afghans to work together to fight these common threats, including the threat posed by the international terrorist organisations that threaten our societies, Jackson said.

India and the United States, who want to see a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, also share an interest in an economically self-sufficient and prosperous Afghanistan. India and the United States are among Afghanistan's largest trading partners, with both of our countries doing about USD 1 billion in annual bilateral trade with Afghanistan, Jackson said.

India has done much to help Afghanistan's development, from the construction of dams, roads, electrical lines, irrigation systems, and telecommunications infrastructure to building a stadium in Kandahar for Afghanistan's cricket team, she said.

India is helping the Afghan Red Crescent Society treat children with congenital heart disease. India provides scholarships to 1,000 Afghan students each year out of the 16,000 Afghans who are studying in India, she told the audience.

Referring to the USAID-sponsored Passage to Prosperity India-Afghanistan International Trade and Investment Shows, Jackson said it has been attended by hundreds of Afghan businesses and thousands of Indian private sector representatives. The 2018 Passage to Prosperity event resulted in nearly USD350 million in deals between Indian and Afghan businesses, and this year's event was a similar success.

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US Backs India's Role in 'Investing, Assisting' Afghanistan as it Looks to Withdraw Troops - News18

The bodies of 28 Afghan refugees on Friday were repatriated to the southwestern province of Nimroz of Afghanistan from Iran, local officials confirmed.

The refugees died in a traffic accident in an attempt to travel illegally to Turkey, said Mohammad Ibrahim Amini, head of the Nimroz Police media office.

The accident occurred when two vans collided near the town of Khash in Sistan and Baluchistan, according to AP, and 21 passengers were injured as well.

Ibrahimi said most of those killed in the accident are from the western province of Ghor.

Last week the incident was reported by Iranian officials, who said 28 people were killed and 30 others were wounded.

According to the Nimroz Provincial Council, quoted by DW, most of the refugees are from Ghor while others are from Farah and Badakhshan provinces.

The council said that the age of the refugees ranged from 14 to 45 years old.

Iran hosts almost two million refugees from Afghanistan who seek refuge there in search of work, AP reports, and the area is frequently used by traffickers to smuggle illegal Afghan migrants, usually in overcrowded vehicles.

Also according to AP, Iran has one of the worlds worst traffic safety records, due to disregard of traffic laws, unsafe vehicles and inadequate emergency services, and each year approximately 17,000 people die in accidents in Iran.

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Bodies of 28 Afghan Refugees Returned to Afghanistan - TOLOnews

Pakistans current government is committed to trust-based friendly bilateral relations with Afghanistan and is working to utilize every possible channel to improve bilateral ties, said Usman Dar, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Youth Affairs, while speaking to the participants of the Pak-Afghan Youth Leaders Summit 2019.

It is so heartening to see young leaders from both the countries, sitting together side by side under a single roof, Dar said of the gathering organized by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) and the Afghan Studies Center as part of its cross-border Track 1.5/II initiative. This meeting of young leaders gives us hope, even in the often politically charged up environment, he said, adding the world we live in today is far better than it was thirty years ago. The credit goes to youngster like Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg; they changed the face of the earth. We want the same from the youth of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Both need to invest in human capital. This is where Pakistan and Afghanistan need to work together to carve out a bright future for the next generation, he said.

Usman Dar also gave good news to the Afghan youth present at the summit, saying that he will personally request and ask Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan to increase the number of scholarships for Afghans.

Mehnaz Akber Aziz, Member National Assembly of Pakistan and also an educationist, while speaking on the occasion, was of the view that if Pakistan and Afghanistan have to grow in an inclusive manner, they will have to prioritize and invest equitably in young people. as the economic potential of the country can only be unleashed by embracing its young population as its most valued resource for sustained growth. With over 64% of the total population below the age of 30, Pakistan is currently one of the youngest countries in the world, where as 63% of Afghanistans 27.5 million people are under the age of 25. We have to make an effort to turn them into a demographic dividend, added Mehnaz.

She also suggested education diplomacy between Kabul and Islamabad, as it is the one of the contemporary approaches which can play an effective role in bringing the two nations closer in a constructive way.

Building on the earlier perspectives to bridge the gap between two countries, senior journalist Rehman Azhar proposed fusion of arts, culture, music and literature. He was of the opinion that arts and culture transcend boundaries; it helps make people understand each other. Regarding media Rehman Azhar was happy to share with the audience that youth of both the countries are very smart. Though, media may be playing a negative role and instigates blame game, but youngsters dont trust media anymore. We shouldnt be avoiding the difference; we should be having a dialogue and resolve our difference in a decent way, Rehman stated.

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Pakistan committed to trust-based relations with Afghanistan: Dar - Daily Times