The former President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai calls on PM Modi
The former President of Afghanistan, Mr. Hamid Karzai calling on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on November 20, 2014.
By: Narendra Modi
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The former President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai calls on PM Modi - Video
In less than two weeks, Afghanistans new president, Ashraf Ghani, will head to London to meet with international donors. At the conference, scheduled for Dec. 4, he will seek billions of dollars to develop Afghanistan in a new era, as U.S. and international combat troops are preparing to withdraw by year's end. Afghanistan is facing a fiscal crisis; it recently ran out of money to pay salaries of civil servants.
Heres what the donors will factor into their decisions.
Shaping a new political order
Ghani has missed his own 45-day deadline for naming a cabinet, raising concerns of potential bureaucratic gridlock. In the local media and within the diplomatic community, many wonder if Ghani is getting along with his former rival, Abdullah Abdullah who now holds the post of chief executive, similar to being prime minister and whether they can agree on who should get cabinet posts.
A Western ambassador, in a briefing with journalists this week, said he expects the cabinet to be mostly formed by the time Ghani arrives for the London conference. Donors will closely watch the makeup of the Afghan government for signs of whetherit remains a body formed of nepotism and patronage, asit wasfor 13 years under Ghanis predecessor, Hamid Karzai.
If you want to convince people that this is a country thats going to be different in the future, youve got to convince them that youve got a government that can deliver that, said the ambassador, who spoke on condition of anonymity to freely discuss Ghani and his government.
Containing the Taliban
Security remains a concern. In recent days, the Taliban insurgency hasstepped up attacks in Kabul. They nearly assassinated the police chief and an outspoken womens rights activist, as well as targeted compounds where many foreigners live. Donors will want to see whetherGhani has a plan to contain the insurgency, either by fighting it effectively or engaging in peace talks.
Since taking office, Ghani has repeatedly called upon the Taliban to join a national peace dialogue. And hes actively engaging Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and other international partners to support such a peace initiative. But the Taliban have rejected Ghanis offers.
Improving the status of women
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WorldViews: What Afghanistan must do to get billions more in aid
Published November 22, 2014
OCt. 27, 2014: This handout photo provided Defense Department shows Marines and sailors with Marine Expeditionary Brigade(AP)
President Obama approved guidelines allowing the Pentagon to target the Taliban in Afghanistan and to conduct air strikes supporting Afghan operations when needed, U.S. officials said Friday.
The move expands on plans originally setup for next year. One U.S. official said the military could only go after the Taliban if it endangered American forces or if it directly supported Al Qaeda.
The U.S. plans to end the American combat mission in Afghanistan and prepare for a much narrower counterterrorism operation in the next two years. Previous plans limited the military to only counterterrorism operations.
"To the extent that Taliban members directly threaten the United States and coalition forces in Afghanistan or provide direct support to Al Qaeda, however, we will take appropriate measures to keep Americans safe," the official said
The Taliban's presence in Afghanistan far exceeds that of Al Qaeda, adding significance to Obama's authorization. The president's came in response to requests from military commanders who wanted troops to be allowed to continue to battle the Taliban, the U.S. officials said.
The New York Times first reported the new guidelines. Officials confirmed details to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss Obama's decisions by name.
The decision to expand authority will not impact the number of U.S. troops that will remain in Afghanistan. The president wants all U.S. troops to be out of Afghanistan a year later, prior to the end of his presidency.
Some of the Obama administration's planning for the post-2014 mission was slowed by a political stalemate in Afghanistan earlier this year. It took months for the winner of the country's presidential election to be certified, delaying the signing of a bilateral security agreement that was necessary in order to keep U.S. forces in the country after December.
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Official: Obama approves guidelines to broaden operation in Afghanistan
President Obama has quietly ordered an expanded role for US troops in Afghanistan through 2015, including permission to target Taliban fighters in the war-torn country.
Earlier plans had limited US soldiers to counterterrorism strikes against al Qaeda after this year.
The decision wont affect the total number of US troops in Afghanistan, which will be about 9,800 by years end and half that by the end of 2015.
The earlier plan would have only allowed attacks on Taliban if they threatened US forces or gave direct support to al Qaeda.
To the extent that Taliban members directly threaten the United States and coalition forces in Afghanistan or provide direct support to al Qaeda, however, we will take appropriate measures to keep Americans safe, a US official said.
The Taliban is much more powerful in Afghanistan than al Qaeda.
The presidents decision was made after military commanders said they wanted to be able to continue battling the Taliban.
The president wants all US troops out of Afghanistan by 2016 when his presidency will come to an end.
The US war in Afghanistan began in 2001 and has resulted in more than 3,400 US and coalition casualties.
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Obama expands US military role in Afghanistan
Children enjoy a spinning teacup ride at Afghanistan's first amusement park called City Park in Kabul, Nov. 14, 2014. AP
KABUL, Afghanistan -- Excitement builds in the queue forming behind the barbed-wire security fence outside Afghanistan's first amusement park as children in bright clothes clutch their parents' hands and hop from foot to foot in anticipation of the pleasures waiting behind the high concrete blast walls.
For the thousands of families who have visited Kabul's City Park since it opened during a national religious holiday weekend in October, it is a rare escape from lives blighted by war, death and misery.
Squealing children hardly know where to look as they race through the gates. Inside, they find large friendly characters that look almost, but not quite, like Minnie Mouse and Tom the cat from Tom and Jerry - all dancing together and dispensing hugs.
Traditional fairground rides - including a Ferris wheel and bumper cars - attract the older kids, while a carousel, face painting and games keep younger children happy.
"It's very nice, everything is very beautiful, the carousel horse ride is nice," said 6-year-old Sadaf through a gap-toothed grin as she had her face decorated like a mouse.
Set at the foot of the snow-capped Hindu Kush mountains, next to the filthy Kabul River and near a zoo famous only for its abused, one-eyed lion, City Park is one of few places residents of the Afghan capital can take their children for a relaxing day out.
The city of almost 6 million people is a virtual fortress. Major buildings are protected by concrete and barbed wire, roads are choked with traffic as former thoroughfares are blocked to prevent suicide bombers reaching potential targets like the Presidential Palace. Gun-toting security forces guard almost every street corner.
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U.S. Marines and British forces ended their combat mission in one of Afghanistan's most troubled regions. It happened in Helmand province, where ...
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Teacups and carousel rides in war-torn Afghanistan