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Tag: Afghanistan

  • NATO Secretary General welcomes U.S. approach to Afghanistan

    NATO Secretary General welcomes U.S. approach to Afghanistan

    NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday welcomed the new strategy announced by U.S. President Donald Trump for Afghanistan and South Asia, noting that NATO remained “fully committed” to Afghanistan.

    “I welcome President Trump’s new conditions-based approach to Afghanistan and the region.

    “NATO allies and partners have already committed to increasing our presence in Afghanistan,” Stoltenberg said in a statement.

    The NATO chief called on the people of Afghanistan to work toward a political settlement and urged countries in the region “to do their utmost to shut down sanctuaries for extremist groups”.

    “Our aim remains to ensure that Afghanistan never again becomes a safe haven for terrorists who would attack our own countries.

    “NATO has 12,000 troops in Afghanistan, and 15 countries have pledged more,’’ Stoltenberg said.

  • Trump to allow 4,000 additional troops to Afghanistan

    Trump to allow 4,000 additional troops to Afghanistan

    President Donald Trump’s strategy for Afghanistan is expected to allow sending around 4,000 additional U.S. troops to the country, local media reported, citing officials.

    On Sunday, the White House released a statement saying that Trump will address the U.S. troops and American people on Monday “to provide an update on the path forward for America’s engagement in Afghanistan and South Asia.”

    Following the White House’s statement, officials expect Trump to announce the strategy that would meet the requests of commanders in the field and authorize the deployment of around 4,000 more US troops in Afghanistan, the CBS broadcaster reported.

    On July 14, U.S. Defence Secretary James Mattis said the Pentagon was close to completing its policy review for a new strategy in Afghanistan.

    On Aug. 3, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham said the United States could turn the tide of the war in Afghanistan with just 3,000-4,000 additional troops and boosted air capacity.

    On Aug. 19, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Trump was considering his options in Afghanistan after an extensive meeting with his national security team.

    The U.S. and its allies launched a military operation in Afghanistan in 2001, just after the 9/11 terror attacks.

    The mission in Afghanistan ended in 2014.

    On Jan. 1, 2015, NATO announced its new mission in the country, called Resolute Support, to train and assist the Afghan security forces.

  • Pakistan begins documentation of unregistered Afghans refugees

    Pakistan begins documentation of unregistered Afghans refugees

    Pakistan has commenced documentation of one million unregistered Afghan refugees in the country, officials of the two countries said on Wednesday in Islamabad.

    According to the UN refugee agency, Pakistan is host to about 1.45 million registered Afghan refugees.

    The refugees were given Proof of Registration (POR) cards to stay legally in Pakistan until Dec. 31 this year.

    Pakistani officials said the documentation would enable the authorities to know the exact number of unregistered refugees, where they live and what they do in Pakistan.

    They would also be given cards for their identification.

    Officials said that 21 registration centres had been set up across Pakistan, including its capital Islamabad for the registration.

    Pakistan’s National Data Base Registration Authority is providing technical support to the government in the documentation process.

    The Afghan government had also sent officials to monitor the process.

    The registration follows three years of consultations between the governments of Afghanistan, Pakistan and UNHCR.

    It forms part of Pakistan’s Comprehensive Policy on Voluntary Repatriation and Management of Afghans, which was endorsed by its cabinet in February this year.

    The UNHCR said the programme seeks to register undocumented Afghans living in the country, many of whom had lived in Pakistan for nearly four decades and raised their children there.

    Under the scheme, Afghans would be issued with Afghan citizen (AC card) to provide legal protection from arbitrary arrest, detention or deportation under Pakistan’s Foreigner’s Act.

    The documentation process is expected to be completed in six months, Pakistani officials said.

    The Afghan government had already launched the passport programme for the refugees in Pakistan and Iran.

    The registration would help to regularise the stay for many refugees at a time when they could not return to their home country.

  • EFA goals: ‘Nigeria, Afghanistan, others unlikely to meet target’

    United Nations International Children’s Education Fund(UNICEF) has  listed Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan as countries unlikely to meet Education for All (EFA) for children of school age by year 2020, unless collective practical involvement of stakeholders with political will is encouraged.

    “The number of out-of-school children (OOSC) in Nigeria constitutes 20 per cent of the global total. We have datas of the almajiris, girls of school age not enrolled, same with nomadic herdsmen and fishermen children; as well as those displaced by the insurgency in the Northeast. If Nigeria gets it right, Africa gets it, “UNICEF stated last weekend at a one-day planning meeting with reporters as a prelude to the flag-off for the 2017 National Enrolment and Birth Registration Campaign billed for October.

    UNICEF’s official, Mrs Azuka Menkiti, said statistical records have shown that over nine million children are still in Quranic system of education, adding that UNICEF still considers this lot under OOSC.

    The three aforementioned countries top the globe’s ranking with alarming proportion of OOSC, necessitating the need to have EFA goals attained by them come 2030.

    “Research has identified that more girls than boys are out of school in the North,” Menkiti noted

    “What we are concerned about is equity, fairness and justice for every child of school age. Every child has a right to be educated without gender disparity.

    “UNICEF is passionate about children in the Northeast whose education foundation has been threatened,” he added.

    The meeting, which had as its theme: For a better tomorrow, enrol your child in school today and get free birth registration certificate from the National Population Commission, was organised by the Federal Ministry of Education, and the Universal Basic Education Commission in collaboration with UNICEF, Nigeria

    Menkiti, however, identified socio-cultural norms and practice, religious beliefs, lack of qualified teachers, inadequate infrastructure, and poor governance, among other factors responsible for denying the child the right to education.

    In her brief presentation titled: ‘Objectives, expected results and rationale for expanded partnerships,” she attributed the poor level of enrolment to poverty, distance and parental ignorance on the benefits of educating their wards.

    UNICEF noted that 70 per cent of Nigeria’s children were not registered, stressing the need for data and records on early childhood population to determine the size for adequate and responsive planning for children education through active partnership.

    “Nigeria has the highest number of both absolute birth and child population with a projected figure of 136 million babies to be born between now and 2030. Also, from 2031until mid-century, there will be 224 million more.”

    Representative of the Federal Ministry of Education Mr Elisha Francis, who spoke on the Federal Government’s  framework on enrolment, said the first tier of government had designed a responsive drive to reaching out to OOSC for integration into the formal school system through effective campaign implementation drive at all levels.

    Francis added: “The drive would consider parental demand for education, influence of change of attitude, inherent benefits, promotion of equity in basic education delivery, stakeholders participation as well facilitate Nigeria’s attainment of education related goals.

    Nonetheless, Francis said other strategic approaches would include; advocacy, collaboration with traditional and religious leaders, social mobilisation, community engagement and interpersonal communication.

  • Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan may not meet 2020 education target, says UNICEF

    Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan may not meet 2020 education target, says UNICEF

    Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan may not meet the 2020 target  of  education for children of school age unless a collective involvement of stakeholders with political will is encouraged, the United Nations International Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) has said.

    The UN agency said: “The number of Out of School Children (OOSC) in Nigeria constitutes 20 per cent of the global total and therefore, we have strata of the Almajiris, girls of school age not enrolled, nomadic herdsmen and fishermen children. And those displaced by the insurgency in the Northeast.

    “If Nigeria gets it right, Africa gets it.”

    A UNICEF official, Mrs. Azuka Menkiti, spoke at the weekend in Kaduna at a one-day planning meeting with journalists as a prelude to the flag off of 2017 National Enrolment and Birth Registration Campaign slated for October.

    The meeting was themed: “For a better tomorrow, enrol your child in school today and get free birth registration certificate from the National Population Commission (NPC)”.

    It was organised by the Federal Ministry of Education and Universal Basic Education Commission in collaboration with UNICEF, Nigeria.

    Mrs. Menkiti, in her presentation, titled: “Objectives, expected results and rationale for expanded partnerships, NPopC”, said statistical records showed that over nine million were in Qur’anic system of education, who she noted were also considered OOSC.

    She said the three countries facing the challenge topped the global ranking with alarming proportion of OOSC.

    The UNICEF official added that girls and boys of school age in Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan are expected by 2030 to access free education.

    According to Mrs. Menkiti, research identified more girls as being out of school than boys in the North.

    “What we are concerned about is equity, fairness and justice for every child of school age. Every child has a right to be educated without gender disparity.

    “UNICEF is passionate about children in the Northeast, whose education foundation has been threatened,” she said.

    The UNICEF official, however, identified socio-cultural norms and practice, religious beliefs, lack of qualified teachers, inadequate infrastructure and poor governance as responsible for denying the child the right to education among other factors.

    Mrs. Menkiti attributed the poor level of enrolment to poverty, distance and parental ignorance on the benefits of educating their wards.

    Representative of the Federal Ministry of Education Mr. Elisha Francis, who spoke on the Federal Government’s  framework on enrolment, said the first tier of government had designed a responsive drive to reaching out to OOSC for integration into the formal school system through effective campaign implementation drive at all levels.

    Francis said: “The drive would consider parental demand for education, influence of change of attitude, inherent benefits, promote equity in basic education delivery, stakeholders participation as well facilitate Nigeria’s attainment of education related SDGs”.

  • Airstrikes kill 143 insurgence, including nine commanders in N. Afghanistan

    Airstrikes kill 143 insurgence, including nine commanders in N. Afghanistan

    Afghan Army said on Tuesday that 143 insurgence, including nine commanders, have been killed and 17 others wounded during airstrikes in the northern Faryab province.

    The security forces launched airstrikes on Taliban positions in Khairabad, Qudughak, Qarugh, lash, Chashma-e-Sangin areas of Kohistanat district, as well as in the neighboring Qaisar and Shirin Tagab districts Monday night.

    The airstrikes killed about 143 insurgents and injuring 17 others, the statement said.

    Kohistanat district was captured by Taliban militants on Sunday and since then the government forces have been fighting to regain control.

    “Some of Taliban’s commanders, including Abdul Rahim, Yosuf, Zabehullah, Salam and Sayed Ismail, are among those killed in the air raids,’’ the army said without providing information on possible casualties of security forces.

    Militants loyal to the Taliban outfit have not commented.

    The Taliban militants have intensified activities since April and have captured at least three districts over the past week.

  • WHO, UNICEF laud $1.2bn polio eradication fund for Nigeria, others

    WHO, UNICEF laud $1.2bn polio eradication fund for Nigeria, others

    The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have commended the 1.2 billion dollars funding initiative to eradicate polio disease in Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

    UNICEF Executive Director, Anthony Lake, and WHO Director-General, Margaret Chan, gave the commendations as global health leaders reaffirmed their commitment to fund the eradication of polio in the countries.

    The major pledges included 75 million dollars from Canada, 61.4 million dollars from the European Commission, 55 million dollars from Japan, and 30 million dollars from Sheikh Mohamed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

    Others pledges were 30 million dollars from the Dalio Foundation, 25 million dollars from Bloomberg Philanthropies, 15 million dollars from an anonymous donor, and 13.4 million dollars from Australia.

    There were also 11.2 million dollars from Germany, five million dollars each from EasyJet and Italy while the Republic of Korea pledged four million dollars.

    The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), a public-private partnership dedicated to ending the disease, announced the pledges at the Rotary Convention in Atlanta.

    Lake said “today’s funding commitments will enable the programme to continue to improve performance and overcome challenges to reach every child, including vaccinating children in conflict areas.

    “We are truly on the verge of eradicating polio from the planet, but only if we work relentlessly to reach the children we have not yet reached.

    “We cannot fail to make this last effort.

    “If we do not now make history, we will be judged harshly by history’’.

    The UNICEF chief commended efforts towards ending the disease, saying polio has been eliminated from some of the most remote and challenging areas in the world.

    “For example, India, once considered the most difficult place in the world to stop the disease, hasn’t reported a case in more than six years.

    “No fewer than 16 million children worldwide, who would otherwise have been paralysed by the disease, are walking today,’’ he said.

    Similarly, Chan pointed out that polio resources in countries around the world were helping to advance other national health goals.

    “The key to ending polio will be to ensure that millions of health workers, some of whom work in the most challenging environments in the world, are able to reach every child, everywhere in the world,’’ Chan said.

    She noted that eradicating polio would be a perpetual gift to coming generations.

    “Today’s contributions and the continued commitment of all donors and partners will help end this devastating disease.

    “It will also ensure that the infrastructure and assets used to fight polio lay the foundation for better health outcomes for children everywhere for years to come.’’

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that financing of polio eradication has been remarkably successful over the past years.

    Between 1988 and 2013, donors have voluntarily contributed more than 9.5 billion dollars to polio eradication.

  • Three Afghan civilians killed as U.S. troops open fire after bomb attack

    Three Afghan civilians killed as U.S. troops open fire after bomb attack

    Officials said as three Afghan civilians were killed early on Monday morning when American troops opened fire after their vehicle struck a roadside bomb.

    Attaullah Khogyani, spokesperson for the eastern Nangarhar provincial governor, said a man and his two sons were killed at their home in Ghani Khel, a district in the south of Nangarhar, on the border with Pakistan.

    “After the bomb blast hit them, the American forces then started shooting and killed one man and two children nearby,” he said.

    The U.S. military command in Kabul said it was investigating the reports.

    Civilian casualties have running at near record highs as fighting spreads to more areas of Afghanistan, according to the United Nations.

    Afghan President Ashraf Ghani generally has been less vocal than his predecessor, Hamid Karzai, in publicly criticizing the U.S. military when troops are involved in incidents where civilians are killed.

    On Saturday, three American soldiers were killed and one wounded when an Afghan soldier opened fire on them in Nangarhar, where elite U.S. troops have been helping Afghan forces battle Islamic State militants.

    Also over the weekend, an American airstrike in southern Afghanistan killed at least three Afghan policemen and wounded several others during a joint operation by Afghan and U.S. special forces.

    U.S. and Afghan troops have been battling militants in Nangarhar province for months.

    Islamic State, or Daesh as it is generally known in Afghanistan, has established a stronghold in the region, which borders Pakistan.

    U.S. military officials estimate there are about 600 to 800 Islamic State fighters in Afghanistan, mostly in Nangarhar, but also in the neighboring province of Kunar.

    The increase in involvement by U.S troops and warplanes comes as U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration weighs whether to deploy more troops in the war-torn country.

    Reuters reported in late April that the U.S. administration was carrying out a review of Afghanistan and there were conversations over whether to send between 3,000 and 5,000 U.S. and coalition troops to Afghanistan.

    Deliberations include giving more authority to forces on the ground and taking more aggressive action against Taliban fighters.

    A U.S. official said this could allow U.S. advisers to work with Afghan troops below the corps level, potentially putting them closer to fighting.

  • U.S. defence secretary visits Afghanistan to craft policy

    U.S. Defence Secretary Jim Mattis arrived in Afghanistan on Monday as President Donald Trump’s administration looks to construct its strategy for the war-torn country, where resurgent Taliban militants continue to make gains.

    Mattis is expected to meet Afghan officials and U.S. troops while in Kabul, but his arrival coincided with an announcement that his Afghan counterpart, Defence Minister Abdullah Habibi, and the Afghan army chief of staff had resigned after more than 140 Afghan soldiers were killed in a Taliban attack on Friday.

    NAN reports that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani declared Sunday a day of mourning for those who died in Friday’s attack, ordering flags to be flown at half staff.

    The attack came just over a week after the United States dropped a 22,000 pound bomb, known as the “mother of all bombs”, against a series of Islamic State caves and tunnels near the border with Pakistan.

    U.S. officials say they were surprised by the level of attention that particular bomb got, since it does little to change the overall situation ground where the larger threat remained the Taliban, not Islamic State.

    The Afghan army is preparing for what is expected to be a year of hard fighting against Taliban militants, who now control or contest more than 40 per cent of the country.

    Nearly 9,000 U.S. troops remain in Afghanistan, in addition to thousands of international coalition forces.

    Gen. John Nicholson, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, recently told a Congressional hearing that he needed several thousand more international troops in order to break a stalemate in the long war with Taliban insurgents.
    U.S. officials say that Nicholson’s request was making its way through the chain of command.

    Conversations, however, according to current and former officials, were revolving around 3,000 to 5,000 additional troops.

  • U.S. asks Pakistan to shun terrorist proxies in Afghanistan

    U.S. asks Pakistan to shun terrorist proxies in Afghanistan

    The U.S. has called on Pakistan to fight all terrorist groups equally and avoid using some of them as proxies in Afghanistan.

    Lt.-Gen. H. R. McMaster, U.S. National Security Advisor made the call during meetings with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and military chief Qamar Bajwa on the final leg of his visit to the region before flying out late Monday.

    McMaster arrived in Islamabad on Monday on an unannounced visit, a day after he hinted the U.S. could take a tougher stance on Pakistan.

    It was the first visit by a top member of President Donald Trump’s administration to the militancy-hit South Asian country.

    The visit also came after a stop in neighbouring Afghanistan where he suggested Washington may take a stronger line on Islamabad, for years seen as an unreliable U.S. ally.

    According to a statement from the U.S. Embassy, during the meetings, McMaster “stressed the need to confront terrorism in all its forms”.

    “The U.S. hopes Pakistani leaders will understand that it is in their interest to go after terrorist groups less selectively than they have in the past,” McMaster told Afghanistan’s Tolonews before the visit.

    “The best way to pursue their interest in the country and elsewhere is through diplomacy not through the use of proxies and engaging violence,” McMaster said.

    The visit was first high-level interaction between the U.S. and Pakistan since President Donald Trump was inaugurated in January.

    During the meeting, Sharif welcomed Trump’s willingness to help India and Pakistan resolve their differences particularly in relation to the disputed Kashmir region.

    The Trump administration is reportedly considering new policies regarding Afghanistan including a proposal to send additional troops to the country to end a stalemate with Taliban insurgents.