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Preservation of life is, after all, the bedrock on which the hierarchy of human needs is based upon

The ghosts of Afghanistan can trace their misery back to 1978, the year that changed the course of history for a once-prosperous country. The rise of Afghanistans communist party to power brought with it widespread radical reforms aimed at modernising the country. Their internal struggle prompted an invasion by the USSR making the region a volatile breeding ground for civil wars and insurgents. The Afghan people, in these circumstances, had no choice but to flee from the country to save their lives. The preservation of life is, after all, the bedrock on which the hierarchy of human needs is based upon.

The Soviet invasion, subsequent civil war, rise of the Taliban and the War on Terror made the country virtually uninhabitable. More than three million refugees fled to Pakistan alone something that stands as one of the biggest mass scale migration for any region till this day.

In an alien country, without an identity, without the prospect of livelihood and without a glimmer of hope, these refugees turned ghosts meander through a sad existence. They have been plagued by the same problems over a generation. They left their country to save their lives yet were stripped of the ability to make one.

In 2016, more than 380,000 refugees left Pakistan, however the UNHCR reported the presence of 1.3 million Afghan refugees in 2017. These ghosts, who have resided in Pakistan (many of whom were born here) for more than three decades, have always been deemed as Afghan nationals. Pakistans inability to make concessions for these individuals could be marked as a significant diplomatic failure as well.

National integration is but a dream for many of these refugees who have been born and raised in a country that refuses to acknowledge them as part of its population. The refugees cannot claim a Pakistani passport or a National Identity Card (NIC). The only acknowledgement of their presence comes in the form of Proof of Registration Cards (PoR). This provides them with a temporary legal status along with freedom of movement.

These ghosts cannot buy property, vehicles or mobile SIM cards. Workplaces tend to look away from people without a valid NIC. Schools and universities cannot enrol them without the necessary documents that they are not allowed to have. Hospitals often refrain from admitting pregnant Afghan women because they cannot issue them birth certificates.

Pakistan opened its doors to the Afghan refugees in the aftermath of a war that was crucial for our geopolitical ambitions and safety. Our hospitality however has left much to be desired. India on the other hand has stepped in to fill the vacuum. They are now providing education, training and resources for Afghan individuals who will ultimately lead the Afghan opinion on geopolitics. Pakistan had the chance to leave a mark on the very fabric of Afghanistan and form a bond that could have persisted for centuries. If we could have integrated these refugees, educated them and sent them back, we could have created an ally that would have stood by us for the foreseeable future.

Instead, these ghosts trudge through their routines, knowing that the State and the world in general have failed them. Pakistan can still salvage the situation by implementing a multitude of options yet the powers that be seem inclined to drive them back rather than appreciate the opportunity they have at hand.

Perhaps we are to blame as well. When Prime Minister Imran Khan proposed naturalising third and fourth generation Pakistan-born Afghan refugees, he was met with thunderous criticism and backlash. Therefore, it is safe to assume that Pakistan will always be somewhat complicit in the suffering of the Afghans.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 1st, 2019.

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The ghosts of Afghanistan - The Express Tribune

Afghanistan's Test journey may only be three matches old, but they've already secured two wins, including a big one against Bangladesh in their most recent game, and their spinners pose a very real threat to West Indies.

Overview

Afghanistan v West Indies, only TestEkana International Cricket Stadium, LucknowWednesday, 27 November; 10.00am local, 04.30am GMT

In their most recent Test, Afghanistan secured a handsome win over Bangladesh in their backyard. Rahmat Shah produced a marvellous first-innings hundred but it was captain Rashid Khan's bag of 11 wickets that was key to the 224-run win.

If Bangladesh, a team that is a lot more familiar with spin, were outsmarted by Afghanistan's tweakers, the West Indies batters will know that they will have to be at their best to avoid the same fate.

Afghanistan, of course, will be without Mohammad Nabi, who called it quits from the longest format after the game against Bangladesh, and his reliable off-spin will surely be missed. But, they still have a wealth of fantastic slower bowlers to choose from, including Qais Ahmad, Zahir Khan and Amir Hamza. While left-arm spinner Hamza is yet to play a Test, he may get a look in after having picked up eight wickets against the West Indians in the practice game.

West Indies have good experience in the batting line-up. Kraigg Brathwaite and Roston Chase have scored centuries in Asia, but it will be just as crucial for younger talents such as Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer to do their part in countering Afghanistan.

The West Indies bowling attack led by Jason Holder, ranked No.1 on the MRF Tyres ICC Test Rankings for all-rounders has been faring well recently. While it's their fast bowlers who have made the biggest impact, it will be crucial for their spinners Jomel Warrican and Rakheem Cornwall to do well at Lucknow as well.

Remember the last time

These two sides are yet to face each other in Test cricket. The limited-overs rivalry between them was reflected during the ODIs and T20Is earlier in the month. West Indies outclassed Afghanistan in each of the three fifty-over matches and won the first T20I as well, but Afghanistan bounced back to win the last two T20Is and claim the series.

Hope and Chase struck good form during the ODIs and will look to transfer those skills into the Test match. Chase was also among the wickets and his off-spin will have a big role to play. Worryingly for Afghanistan, Rashid wasn't quite at his potent best, but the skipper will hope to get back to his incisive ways.Fast bowler Karim Janat excelled in the second T20I, picking up 5/11 and it will be interesting to see whether Afghanistan are tempted to hand him his maiden Test cap on the back of that performance.

What they said

Jason Holder, West Indies captain: "Having started the year with a series win, it would be fitting to end the year with a series win. Afghanistan will be no pushovers especially in these conditions which they are familiar with. I expect they will play plenty of spinners. It will be up to our batsmen to negotiate their spinners and do it well."

Conditions

Weather is expected to be clear and sunny for the course of the match. The Ekana Stadium hasn't previously hosted a Test, but going by the limited-series played at the same venue, spin will have quite a big role to play. Batsmen will have to be cautious and work hard for the runs.

Link:
WI v Afg, only Test, preview West Indies wary of threat from formidable Afghanistan spin attack - International Cricket Council

After 19 years of war in Afghanistan, the U.S. is working on a plan to draw down its troops. There are currently 13,000 active troops stationed in Afghanistan filling various roles for the United Nations, including positions of military advisers. One of the main tasks that Americans have been helping with is preparing Afghan military air traffic controllers, otherwise known as ATACS, that can help coordinate airstrikes against Taliban fighters.

There are severe problems with this plan. A recent defense department Inspector General report states that only 2.5-7.5% percent of airstrikes from Afghan MD-530 helicopters and A-29 Super Tucano aircraft involve coordination from tactical Afghan air controllers, and not U.S. forces.

Those numbers present a problem because most of the military actionin Afghanistan are coordinated airstrikes. Since 2013 the United States has been working with the Afghan forces to train more than 80 ATACS, but that hasn't gone well. They've so far trained over 400 but as of writing of this article, there are only 24 active in the theater. A lot of this is because the country has been unable to initiate an acceptable training program to keep candidates trainedand prepared for their roles.

In this photo, a Brazilian soldier stands guard near a A-29 Super Tucano during the opening ceremony of the Santiago's Aviation Fair, known as FIDAE, at Chile's international airport, on March 27, 2006. Photo: REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado

Another critical issue is that the Afghan Air Force has only grown to 183 aircraft for the entire branch of the service: the McDonnell Douglas MD 530 helicopters, which are the premier attack vehicle being shipped to Afghanistan by its manufacturers, and the A-29 Super Tucano of which the Afghan Air Force has 15. There is an additional contract for 200 more of the aircraft to be manufactured by Northstar aircraft in Florida and shipped to Afghanistan and the theater of action within the coming year.

Coalition forces once trained pilots at Moody Air Force Base in Florida to fly the aircraft and they also trained maintenance technicians to maintain the aircraft. After so many years of training, U.S. forces should not have to play that role now.

U.S. forces are working steadfastly to try and pull out of the country, but peace negotiations with the Taliban have been deadlocked. In an attempt to force the Taliban back to the negotiating table, the U.S. has been consistently hammering them with airstrikes. On a positive note, the Afghan Air Force has been able to coordinate its own aircraft but there have been continuous problems with the Afghan Air Force and the Afghan National Army communicating and working together for successful military operations.

It does not appear that the U.S. will be pulling out anytime soon. Despite what the politicians may say we may be locked in a forever air war in Afghanistan.

Read the rest here:
The US Air War In Afghanistan May Never End - International Business Times

TwoSenate Foreign Relations Committee lawmakers on Thursday introduced a bipartisan bill that would establish congressional oversight on any peace deal process to end the now 18-year war in Afghanistan.

The committees top ranking Democrat Sen.Bob MenendezRobert (Bob) MenendezSenate passes legislation supporting Hong Kong protesters Graham blocks resolution recognizing Armenian genocide after Erdoan meeting Trump encounters GOP resistance to investigating Hunter Biden MORE(N.J.) and his colleague Sen. Todd YoungTodd Christopher YoungThe Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump says he is fighting testimony to protect presidency The Hill's Morning Report Dems and Trump score separate court wins GOP braces for Democratic spending onslaught in battle for Senate MORE (R-Ind.),introduced theEnsuring a Durable Afghanistan Peace Act,which would require congressional oversight for U.S. diplomatic efforts to achieve a political solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and any agreement that emerges from that process, according to a statement from the two.

Unfortunately, like other war powers discussions, Congress has taken a backseat in the debate over the future of our mission in Afghanistan while the conflict has descended towards a stalemate, Young said in the statement.

As we pursue negotiations with the Taliban and work to end our involvement, Congress must be a part of the process to ensure that our mission is brought to a responsible end.

The legislation comes after President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump at rally vows to supporters no name change for 'Thanksgiving' Trump says he will designate Mexican drug cartels as terror organizations State Dept. official describes frantic effort to save recalled Ukraineambassador MOREin September declared peace talks with the Taliban dead.

Until that point, theadministration had been negotiating with the Taliban for nearly a year in an effort to end Americas longest war. A draft agreement at the time would have pullednearly 5,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan within months in exchange for Taliban assurances that it would not allow terrorist groups to use the country as a jumping off point for attacks on the United States.

Butearlier this weekthe Taliban freedan American and Australian in exchange for three of its members. Administration officials hope this could jump start peace talks.

An issue that still needs to be resolved, however, was the Afghan governments limited involvement inU.S. negotiations with the Taliban.Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghanireportedly felt sidelined by the talks, and national security officials and lawmakers fear it will be a hard sell to get the Afghan government to hold up a deal they were largely not a part of in making.

The White House on Thursday said that Trump had spoken with Ghani to affirm the important role of the Afghan government in its countrys peace process.

Both sides agreed a reduction in violence is necessary to move the peace process forward and for any intra-Afghan negotiations regarding a political settlement to be successful, the statement said.

Lawmakers worry, though, that Trump may still pull U.S. troops from Afghanistan without gaining concessions from the Taliban in an effort to make good on his campaign promises to end forever wars, especially ahead of the 2020 election.

Menendez and Youngsbill, if enacted, would stipulate that any action to curtail or remove U.S. military forces from Afghanistan include regular consultation with Congress, and require that the administration allow lawmakers to review a final agreement with the Taliban, including a description of counterterrorism assurances, U.S. troop withdrawal, the status of direct Afghan negotiations and progress towards reaching a comprehensive ceasefire.

In addition, it requires an initial assessment report to be sent to Congress within 60 days after a finalized peace deal that lays out how the State Department can verify that the Taliban are complying with their side of the agreement and whether the group has broken ties with al-Qaeda. A similar, quarterly report would also be required.

Roughly 13,000 U.S. troops are in Afghanistan. The conflict has taken the lives of more than 2,300 Americans and cost hundreds of billions of dollars.

Excerpt from:
Bipartisan bill requires Congressional oversight of Afghanistan peace process | TheHill - The Hill

Photo for representation. Image- Reuters

After training men from the Afghan National Army (ANA) for years the Indian Army wants to make the training of women officers from strife hit Afghanistan a regular affair.

Twenty women officers from the Afghan army will be part of a special training module at the Officers Training Academy (OTA) Chennai for the next three weeks.

The training is scheduled to take place from November 25 to December 21.

This is the third consecutive year when women officers are part of such training at OTA, Chennai.

Even though this is not an annual training capsule but as part of military diplomacy between the two countries, its become a regular affair. Every year 20 officers have been part of the training. In time to come the numbers could even go up, said an army source.

The Officers Training Academy or OTA in Chennai gives military training to short service commission officers who have the option of being part of the permanent commission after serving for 10 years.

The permanent commission officers are trained in the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun.

Both IMA and OTA have been giving full training to men from the Afghan National Army in the past but the special capsule course for women officers is new, sources said.

OTA trains about 40 foreign men cadets every year and on average 12-15 are from Afghanistan.

The aim is to train these women officers in small arms weapon handling, tactical knowledge for military operations, administrative skills and also enhance their communication skills, said an army officer.

Other than women from Afghanistan, women from the Kyrgyzstan army were trained in OTA but that was only a group of 5-6 officers for a shorter duration.

The women officers after being trained in various military skills could either be part of several operations in war-torn Afghanistan, be used as trainers or even pass on the learning to instructors back in their country.

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Excerpt from:
Women officers from war torn Afghanistan to be part of frequent military training by Indian Army - India Today