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Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Omar Zakhiwal meets foreign affairs adviser Sartaj Aziz in Islamabad

In this file photo, Prime Ministers Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz meeting with Afghan Ambassador in Islamabad Dr Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal. PHOTO: ONLINE

ISLAMABAD:Afghanistan has agreed to address Pakistans concerns over the presence of terrorist sanctuaries across the border, a development that may pave the way for de-escalation of tensions between the two neighbours, officials said on Monday.

The assurance was given by Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Omar Zakhiwal during a meeting with Prime Ministers Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and senior military officials in Islamabad.

Zakhilwal flew to Kabul on the weekend for consultations following the recent terrorist attacks across Pakistan, including the suicide attack in Sehwan, which had links with Afghanistan.

Within hours of the attack at Lal Shahbaz Qalandars shrine in the Sindh town, senior Afghan diplomats were summoned to the General Headquarters (GHQ), and given a list of 76 terrorists hiding in Afghanistan.

A Foreign Office official familiar with the meetings told The Express Tribune that discussions were held in constructive and positive manner and Afghanistan assured it would address Pakistans concerns on cross-border terrorism.

The flurry of overt and covert meetings prompted a high-level security huddle at the GHQ as well, where the overall security situation along the border was reviewed.

Reports suggested Pakistan Army reinforced security along the Afghan border fearing that the continuing tension might lead to a serious situation between the two neighbours.

However, army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, who presided over the security meeting in Rawalpindi, clarified that enhanced security arrangements at Pak-Afghan border were meant to fight all terrorists, regardless of their affiliation.

Heavy artillery moved towards Pak-Afghan border

Pakistan and Afghanistan have fought against terrorism and shall continue this effort together, Gen Qamar was quoted as saying by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The army chief directed for effective border coordination and cooperation with Afghan security forces to prevent cross-border movement of terrorists, including all types of illegal movement.

He also welcomed recent proposals from Afghan authorities to take forward the mutual coordination for result-oriented efforts against terrorism.

The army chiefs conciliatory tone was in contrast to the hard-hitting statement issued after the Thursdays Sehwan attack, which said Pakistan would show no more restraint to anyone and blood of Pakistani nation would be avenged immediately.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also ordered security forces to eliminate terrorists wherever they were.

Although there was no official confirmation, Pakistan has since pounded the hideouts of Jumaatul Ahrar (JuA) across the border and killed scores of terrorists.

Army decimates four Jamaatul Ahrar camps

The unannounced action by Pakistan drew strong reaction from across the border with Kabul calling it as an act of aggression, vowing to use all available means to stop shelling from Pakistan.

Security officials, however, clarified Pakistan had no intention to violate the sovereignty of Afghanistan. We have never targetted the Afghan army or the Afghan people. We carried out attacks in an area where Afghan authorities have no control, the official explained.

Kabul reacts angrily to targeting of TTP, JuA camps on Afghan soil

Since the sudden surge in terrorist attacks including the one in Sehwan, Pakistan has been exerting renewed pressure on Afghanistan to take decisive action against the hideout of banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, and its breakaway faction, JuA, which was behind the recent terrorist attacks.

In a statement, ambassador Zakhilwal confirmed he had a positive meeting with Sartaj Aziz and constructive talks with officials at the GHQ after his return from Kabul on Monday.

As a result I expect de-escalation of the current tension and the creation of a more positive environment for responding to each others concerns and grievances in a cooperative manner. We have agreed tentatively on a path forward, the ambassador added.

List of 32 terrorist training centres

Dr Zakhilwal also claimed to have passed on to the Foreign Office and GHQ a list of 32 terrorist training centres, which according to him were operating from Pakistani soil against Afghanistan. Pakistan has been asked for immediate action against such centres, he added.

In a separate statement, Afghan foreign ministry said the letter given to Pakistan includes names of 85 senior members, and leaders of the Taliban, and other terrorist groups including the Haqqani network.

The initial response from Pakistan authorities was positive and we hope Pakistan takes practical steps in this regard, the statement added.

Kabul is willing to discuss and take responsible actions jointly with Pakistan on the lists and concerns of both sides within the framework of Quadrilateral Coordination Group involving the US and China besides the two neighbours, the Afghan foreign ministry concluded.

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Afghanistan assures action against "terrorist sanctuaries" on its soil - The Express Tribune

Forward Operating Base Torkham, in Nangahar Province, Afghanistan (army.mil)

In the next week, the defense secretary, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the secretary of state, the director of national intelligence, and the acting national-security advisor will hand President Donald Trump a new military plan to defeat the Islamic State. For the sake of Americas military and political mission in Afghanistan, President Trump should direct the Defense Department, State Department, and intelligence community to conduct a similar assessment against the Taliban movement.

At the top of the list should be a fundamental question. Is the conventional concept of winning in Afghanistanpulverizing the Taliban into the ground; defeating al-Qaeda into oblivion; establishing an Afghan army that is corruption-free, independent, and strong enough to control the entire country; and constructing an Afghan government that respects democratic principlespossible to meet?

U.S. troop numbers in the country may be at their lowest point since 2002, but the American aircraft and special-operations forces are still all too frequently asked to bail out the Afghan army when they find themselves surrounded.

The security situation is going in the wrong direction at an increasingly alarming rate. According to the latest report from the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) and data from the UN mission, territory under Afghan government control continues to contract. U.S. Forces-Afghanistan reports that 57.2 percent of the countrys districts as of November 2016 are solidly under the thumb of the Afghan security forcesa 15 percent decrease from the same period the year prior. More than 83 percent of Uruzgan province and 57 percent of Helmand province are under insurgent control or influence.

Armed clashes between insurgent groups and the Afghan security forces have reached their highest intensity since the UN began tracking the data. Meanwhile, the Afghan security forces are taking so many casualties that its becoming increasingly difficult for Kabul to address the attrition ratebetween November 2015 and November 2016, there were a total of 18,562 casualties (killed and injured).

Afghanistan was barely mentioned as a subject during the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Now that hes their commander-in-chief, President Trump has a duty and responsibility to the American service-members who are continuing to fight the Talibanand the American taxpayers who backstopped 72.8 percent of the Afghan armys budget in 2016that U.S. policy is serving the security interests of the United States.

Trump should order the Pentagon to undertake a top-to-bottom review of the Afghanistan mission with these questions in mind:

None of these questions are easy. In fact, all of them are difficult to the point of being uncomfortable. After 15years of blood, sweat, tears, and treasure, any question that forces U.S. policymakers to confront whether Americas investment in the war has been worthy of the cost will generate a fair amount of anxiety.

As Stephen Walt explains persuasively when assessing our foreign-policy outcomes, There was never much doubt thatthe United States could topple relatively weak and/or unpopular governmentsas it has in Panama, Afghanistan, Iraq and, most recently, Libyabut the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan showed that unmatched power-projection capabilities were of little use in constructing effective political orders once the offending leadership was removed.

This should be evidence enough that difficult but elementary questions need to be discussed within the inter-agency process. To kick off this uncomfortable but necessary step, President Trump should sign another executive order tasking his commanders to do just that.

Daniel DePetris is a fellow at Defense Priorities.

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Why Trump Must Define the Mission in Afghanistan - The American Conservative

Zimbabwe v Afghanistan, 2nd ODI, Harare February 19, 2017

ESPNcricinfo staff

Afghanistan 238 for 9 (Shahzad 64, Rahmat 53, Chatara 3-63) beat Zimbabwe 184 (Mire 54, Rashid 3-25, Nabi 3-38) by 54 runs Scorecard and ball-by-ball updates

File photo - Rashid Khan took three crucial wickets for Afghanistan in his 7.1 overs and conceded less than 3.5 runs per over Peter Della Penna/ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Afghanistan went 2-0 up against Zimbabwe in the five-match ODI series after their spinners Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi took three wickets each to skittle the hosts for 184 in a chase of 239 in Harare.

Zimbabwe suffered a dramatic collapse in their chase after a strong start from opener Solomon Mire - whose 54 was his highest ODI score - and Craig Ervine (34). Mire hit seven fours and a six and was involved in a 69-run stand for the first wicket with Peter Moor while Ervine and Ryal Burl (27) added 55 runs for the fourth wicket. When Ervine fell Zimbabwe were 139 for 4. They were bowled out 45 runs later as Nabi, Rashid and left-arm spinner Amir Hamza (2 for 40) ran through the hosts' middle and lower order.

Afghanistan chose to bat after winning the toss and reached 238 for 9 despite a late batting collapse. After Mohammad Shahzad (64), who struck his eighth ODI fifty, Rahmat Shah (53) and Nabi (33) set up a base for the visitors, late wickets from Tendai Chatara hurt Afghanistan; they lost their last four wickets for 26 runs. Najibullah Zadran held up one end to score 45 off 47 deliveries before he was the ninth man out, during the last over of Afghanistan's innings.

The third ODI, a must-win affair for Zimbabwe, will be on February 21 in Harare.

ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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Afghanistan go 2-0 up after spinners run through Zimbabwe - ESPNcricinfo.com

By Lolita C. Baldor, The Associated Press

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said he plans to make some decisions soon on whether to recommend an increase in the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan and whether the totals should be based on military requirements rather than pre-set limits.

Mattis told reporters traveling with him that he spoke for several hours by video conference on Sunday with U.S. Gen. John Nicholson, the top American commander there. Mattis said he will collect his thoughts and then send recommendations to the White House where, he said, President Donald Trump is open to his advice.

Earlier this month, Nicholson told the Senate Armed Services Committee that he needs a few thousand more troops to train and advise Afghan forces.

At the time, Nicholson didnt provide an exact number, but argued for greater flexibility in setting U.S. troop commitments in Afghanistan, where the war is entering its 16th year. Defense and military leaders would prefer a troop level based on military requirements, rather than on a specific, predetermined number.

The president has been rightfully reticent on it because hes waiting for my assessment and the assessment from the intelligence community, Mattis said during a press conference. It shouldnt take too long. Ive got to integrate a fair number of issues to give a good recommendation for the way ahead.

The Pentagon chief was scheduled to fly into Afghanistan to meet with commanders and leaders on Sunday, but he said bad weather prevented the trip.

He said the call with Nicholson and a meeting Saturday in Munich with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani were part of his effort to get the latest information on the situation both politically and strategically.

During the hearing, Nicholson told senators that the additional troops could come from the United States or other nations in the U.S.-led coalition.

He noted that when then-President Barack Obama ordered a cut in U.S. troops to 8,400 last year, commanders were forced to hire contractors to do jobs that American forces would normally do.

As an example, Nicholson said that because of the troop cut, the aviation brigade that deployed to Afghanistan was able to bring its helicopters, pilots and staff. But its mechanics had to behind at Fort Riley, Kansas, and contractors were hired instead at a cost of tens of millions of dollars, affecting the units readiness.

The Obama administration came under fire for what critics said was unnecessary micromanagement of the military deployments.

Of the American forces now in Afghanistan, more than 2,100 are conducting counterterrorism missions. The remainder are part of the training and advisory mission. Another several hundred U.S. forces are stationed outside the country, but can quickly deploy into the warzone if needed from elsewhere in the region.

On a separate issue, Nicholson told the senators that Russian meddling is complicating the counterterrorism fight. Mattis said that part of his evaluation will look at what other countries in the region are doing in Afghanistan to help or hinder us.

Mattis added that while the Afghans have lost some territory to the Taliban, the insurgents have suffered a lot of damage and havent met their tactical objectives.

He acknowledged that Afghan forces have had a lot of casualties, but he said theyve held on and, the Taliban is in a worse position today, even though I do not equate that to success on our side.

Originally posted here:
Defense Secretary Mattis to decide soon on troop levels in Afghanistan - The Denver Post

Rashid Khan was picked by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 4 crores while Mohammad Nabi was the first Afghanistan player to be picked at the auction.

There was a lot of excitement for the cricket-mad public of Afghanistan as two of their players were picked at the Indian Premier League auction. (LIVEBLOG)

Their eighteen-year-old leg-spinner, Rashid Khan, is now being called the million dollar baby by his teammates after Rashid was picked by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 4 crores on Monday. Veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi was the first Afghanistan player to be picked at the auction at his base price of Rs 30 lakhs.

His googly is difficult to pick and he fires it on target, is how former Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi described Rashid on the eve of the auction.

READ|IPL auction: Ben Stokes goes for record Rs14.5 cr to Rising Pune Supergiants

Rashid has been following in the footsteps of Nabi. If Nabi was the top wicket-taker at the 2016 World T20 Cup in India with 12, Rashid was a close second with 11. The highlight of Rashids performance being his spell of three for 11 in the win over Zimbabwe at Nagpur.

He repeated the performance on Sunday, when he claimed three wickets for 25 runs to rout Zimbabwe in the second ODI at the Harare Sports Club. Nabi also snared three wickets in the game and scored 33-ball 33.

READ|IPL quick fix: Pace bowlers the flavour at Indian Premier League auction

The two were brilliant at the Bangladesh Premier League with Nabi claiming 19 wickets in 13 games and Rashid claiming 13 wickets in eight games.

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IPL 2017 auction: Afghanistan players Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan create history - Hindustan Times