In this bulletin:

• USGS Assessment Significantly Increases Afghanistan Petroleum Resource Base
• Afghanistan’s untapped oil and gas underestimated
• Karzai says world unsafe without Pakistan’s help
• Afghanistan wants Pakistan to assist Taliban fight
• Afghan FM calls on Prime Minister
• Malaysia announces more financial aid for Afghanistan
• Taliban a steady threat to Afghanistan: UN envoy
• Pakistan officials 'gave missile parts' to Taliban
• Nato finds Stinger in Taleban tail
• Pakistan Islamic school destroyed
• Taliban office in Miranshah
• Taleban gain strength in NWFP: Report
• Arms in Dera Bugti come from Afghanistan: Ghani
• Govt should revise Afghan policy: ANP
• First Pakistan-Afghanistan bus service runs
• Canadian troops fire on Afghan car, one killed
• PM rules out parliamentary vote on Afghan mission
• EDITORIAL: Pak-Afghan relations continue to sour BIGGEST EVER CACHE OF WEAPONS SEIZED
• UNAMA Press Briefing Press Briefing

USGS Assessment Significantly Increases Afghanistan Petroleum Resource Base - Source:United States Geological SurveyPosted: March 15, 2006

The USGS and the Government of Afghanistan Ministry of Mines and Industry have completed the first-ever assessment of Afghanistan´s undiscovered petroleum resources and have determined that the resource base is significantly greater than previously understood. The assessment was conducted over the past two years, with funding provided by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.

The estimates increase the oil resources by 18 times and more than triple the natural gas resources.

Undiscovered petroleum resources in the assessed region of northern Afghanistan range from 3.581 to 36.462 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of natural gas, with a mean of 15.687 TCF. Estimates of oil range from 0.391 to 3.559 billion barrels (BBO), with a mean of 1.596 BB0. Estimates for natural gas liquids range from 126 to 1,325 million barrels (MMB) with a mean of 562 MMB.

When presented with the resource assessment results, Afghanistan President Karzai commented, "I am delighted that the work of the survey of Afghanistan´s mineral and underground resources is proceeding well, and that some very positive findings about our petroleum resources are being reported. Knowing more about our country´s petroleum resources will enable us to take steps to develop our energy potential which is crucial for our country´s growth. I thank the United States, the U.S. Geological Survey and their Afghan counterparts in supporting this survey, which I believe is a significant undertaking."

The country currently imports most of its energy, including electricity. The petroleum resource assessment provides Afghanistan with information needed for conducting future lease sales and is likely to be of interest to oil and gas exploration companies.

Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton commented, "As President Bush´s recent trip to Afghanistan demonstrates, the United States highly values its relationship with the Afghan people. We are pleased to be able to assist their government in evaluating Afghanistan´s petroleum resources. By working jointly, we are helping Afghanistan lay the foundation for better understanding and managing their nation´s natural resources."

Much of the petroleum resource potential of Afghanistan and all of the known crude oil and natural gas reserves are in northern Afghanistan, located in parts of two geologic basins – the Amu Darya Basin to the west and the Afghan-Tajik Basin to the east. Most of the undiscovered crude oil is in the Afghan-Tajik Basin, and most of the undiscovered natural gas is in the Amu Darya Basin.

The assessment follows the widely-accepted, standard USGS methodology and protocol. It is based on the geologic elements of a total petroleum system and data from detailed studies of geochemistry, petroleum geology, geophysics, and tectonics combined with historical exploration and production analyses were used to aid in the estimation of the number and sizes of undiscovered petroleum accumulations. The total area assessed is approximately 86,000 sq km.

Afghanistan is a land-locked country, bordering Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan to the north, Iran to the west and Pakistan to the east and south.

Afghanistan’s untapped oil and gas underestimated - Financial Times, 03/15/2006 By Alexander Kliment in Washington

Afghanistan's untapped oil and natural gas reserves may be significantly larger than previously thought, according to the results of a survey by the US Geological Survey (USGS) and the Afghan Ministry of Mining and Industry released in Washington on Tuesday.

The survey, the first by the USGS in Afghanistan, shows that two northern regions could contain as much as 1.5bn barrels of oil, and 15.6tr cubic feet of natural gas.

These figures represent the mean of several estimates of unproved reserves. The higher range of Afghanistan's unproven oil reserves roughly match Sudan's, according to Patrick Leahy, acting director of USGS.

The Afghan government, according to an official plan presented in London last year, places hydrocarbon development and exports, alongside expansion of the private sector and foreign investment, at the heart of its economic growth agenda. Kabul envisions using hydroelectric power to satisfy its growing domestic energy demand, while exporting oil and gas to voracious markets in South and East Asia.

Yet scepticism remains about how much of these new estimated resources can be profitably extracted, as well as about the risks of investing in Afghanistan. Four years after the US-led toppling of the Taliban, the country's infrastructure remains patchy, and Kabul is still struggling to establish control over the country's restive outlying regions.

Anna Belkina, an energy analyst at the consultancy Eurasia Group, cautions that while the new survey is encouraging, at present Afghanistan's "proved reserves are not significant enough for companies to go in and put a lot of money and time and technology and personnel on the ground to explore. There are far more lucrative areas with much larger reserves and smaller risks."

To help mitigate these risks, the Afghan government in 2005 passed a hydrocarbons law that grants the Afghan state full control over these resources, but allows fully foreign-owned companies to lease, explore, and develop oil and gas fields, subject to negotiable royalties contracts.

In remarks accompanying the presentation of the new survey at the Afghan embassy in Washington, Kabul's ambassador, Said Tayib Jawad, expressed optimism about the likely response of foreign investors to the new findings.

"For visionary investors who assume some limited risk and join us during this period of exceptional growth," he said, "the rewards are huge." He said "oil companies from South Asia, from Europe, and from the US" had expressed interest in developing Afghanistan's energy resources, but "so far the interest has been general, and with the announcement of these new figures we are awaiting specifics."

Karzai says world unsafe without Pakistan’s help - Daily Times 15 March 2006

KABUL: Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday demanded Pakistan’s full cooperation in the fight against terrorism, saying that without Islamabad’s help the world would never be safe.

The Afghan leader said at a media conference with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper that the world must unite against militancy because “terrorism can affect any one, anytime and anywhere”. “Pakistan and Afghanistan are the central pieces in this war against terror and unless there is sincere, intense, systematic cooperation from all sides, the world would not be safe,” Karzai said.

“Therefore it is extremely important that our brothers in Pakistan join us in the most intense manner — that is the need of the hour in the fight against terrorism,” he said.

Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam criticized Karzai’s comments and said he should direct his concerns to Pakistani authorities and not the media. “It doesn’t help the United States, the war against terror and Pakistan-Afghan relations,” Aslam said. “Nobody should doubt Pakistan’s sincerity to fight terrorism.”

Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah on Tuesday played down the row with Pakistan over efforts to fight cross-border terrorism, calling only for continued cooperation.

Abdullah, visiting Malaysia to seek greater business investment, acknowledged Pakistan had contributed “a lot” to the fight against militants blamed for a surge of attacks in his country.

Pakistan has “arrested many members of Al Qaeda which, had they not been arrested, they would have been a problem for Pakistan, and they would have been a problem for Afghanistan, and for stability in our region,” he told a press conference. “But I think we need to continue to work together in order to overcome this problem,” he said.

“Has there been cooperation? Yes. Do we need to continue our cooperation in this field? Yes, of course.” Asked about the recent suicide attack on Afghan Senate chief Sebghatullah Mujadidi, which the target has blamed on Pakistan, Abdullah refused to address the allegations.

“There is no doubt that terrorists are behind these things. In anything on the specifics of it, of course once the investigation is done, the official position of the government will be said,” he said. AFP

Afghanistan wants Pakistan to assist Taliban fight - 15 Mar 2006 
Source: Reuters By Clarence Fernandez

KUALA LUMPUR, March 15 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's foreign minister urged neighbour Pakistan on Wednesday to demonstrate consistency and sincerity in its policy of helping to defeat Taliban and al Qaeda militants.

Abdullah Abdullah, who is visiting Malaysia to attract investment to help rebuild his war-shattered country's economy, said relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan in the area of security had to move forward in a more robust manner.

"But what is needed is a policy of consistency and continuity and sincerity that will help us overcome this challenge," Abdullah told Reuters in an interview in the Malaysian capital.

The comments come days after a suicide car bomb attack aimed at a former Afghan president who blamed the attempt to kill him on Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence agency.

Sibghatullah Mojadidi, who leads a panel to encourage Taliban defections, escaped with slight wounds, but two suicide bombers and two civilians were killed in the attack, for which the Taliban have claimed responsibility. Pakistan has denied the accusation that its nationals were involved.

Mojadidi's charge against Pakistan follows repeated complaints by Afghanistan's government that militants plan and organise attacks from sanctuaries inside Pakistan.

Abdullah sidestepped questions on whether he believed the charges had any basis, saying the government would announce its findings once it completed its investigation into the attack. Cooperation rather than finding fault with other countries was the swiftest way to resolve the problem, Abdullah said.

"Cooperation is something that we need to continue and we need to continue to work together," he said, adding that the elimination of Taliban and al Qaeda militants was a challenge for the international community and Afghanistan's neighbours.

"So it's important that we get to the business of dealing with this issue, rather than getting diverted in blaming Pakistan, for example, for what is happening here."

Pakistan, which officially ended its support for the Taliban after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, says it does all it can to stop cross-border movement by militants.

Last week, Afghan President Hamid Karzai called for more Pakistani cooperation in fighting militants after Islamabad derided Kabul's accusations that Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar was in Pakistan. Asked if he knew where the Taliban leader was, Abdullah said, "Mullah Omar is not in Afghanistan, that's as much as I can say with a degree of certainty."

Afghanistan has been rocked by a series of suicide attacks aimed at foreign troops and government officials in recent months. Civilians have borne the brunt of the attacks.

The Taliban, waging an insurgency against Karzai's government since their overthrow by U.S.-led forces in late 2001, have taken responsibility for most of the attacks.

Afghan FM calls on Prime Minister

PUTRAJAYA, March 15 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi received Afghan Foreign Minister Dr Abdullah Abdullah at the Prime Minister's Office, here Wednesday. The prime minister warmly greeted his guest upon his arrival at Bangunan Perdana Putra for their discussion.

Dr Abdullah is leading a 27-member delegation here to create awareness and update on the investment and trade opportunities in Afghanistan, a landlocked country of 30 million people.

He arrived on Monday night for a two-day visit. Speaking at a seminar on business opportunities in his country in Kuala Lumpur, Tuesday, Dr Abdullah said there were opportunities in different sectors such as oil and gas, handicraft and hospitality industry.

Malaysia announces more financial aid for Afghanistan

KUALA LUMPUR, March 14 (Xinhuanet) -- Malaysia on Tuesday announced its decision to provide more financial assistance for Afghanistan in the latter's reconstruction efforts.

"The government of Malaysia remains committed to assist Afghanistan in its nation building efforts within our means and capacity," Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said here.

The Malaysian government established an Afghanistan Trust Fund in October 2001 with an initial governmental contribution of 1 million U.S. dollars, and later public as well as private sectors in this country have also contributed, said Syed.

In addition to a sum of 550,000 U.S. dollars already spent on humanitarian goods, the Malaysian government has decided to "disburse all the money in the Fund to Afghanistan," said Syed at the opening ceremony of a seminar entitled "Business Opportunitiesfor Malaysia in Afghanistan's Reconstruction and Development Program."

"In this regard, about 376,000 U.S. dollars will be given to the Afghanistan Trust Fund for Reconstruction. Another 349,000 U.S.dollars will be handed over to Mercy Malaysia to fund social projects in Kandahar, namely, the Vocational Training Center for Women, Mother and Child Healthcare Center and Little Caliph Kindergartens," said Syed.

He added that trade between Malaysia and Afghanistan, though relatively small, had shown a big increase over the last few years.In 2005, bilateral trade expanded by about 40 percent compared with the previous year.

Later in a joint press conference with visiting Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, Syed said his country would continue to assist Afghanistan, especially in capacity building and social engineering programs.

Abdullah on Tuesday started his three-day official visit to this southeast Asian nation. This is his first official visit to Malaysia since Afghanistan held its presidential and parliamentary elections in 2004 and 2005 respectively. Enditem

Taliban a steady threat to Afghanistan: UN envoy - By Bill Rigby
Tue Mar 14, 7:05 PM ET

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - A revitalized Taliban is the main threat to Afghanistan, the head of the United Nations mission there said on Tuesday, as a wave of violence sweeps the country struggling to become a viable democracy.

Lack of security and weakness of Afghanistan's new government institutions, especially in outlying areas, are the major problems facing the country, the top U.N. envoy in Afghanistan, Tom Koenigs, told the U.N. Security Council.

"The major challenge at this moment is to prevent the Taliban reconfigurate and create an environment of insecurity and threat all over the country," Koenigs later told reporters. "There is always the presence of suicide bombers who create an insecure environment."

A wave of suicide bombings and attacks on schools have rocked Afghanistan as insurgents step up their battle to oust foreign forces and overthrow the Western-backed government.

Four Afghan policemen and six Taliban insurgents were killed in the latest violence on Tuesday, as authorities searched for four Macedonians the Taliban said it kidnapped and killed.

The Taliban, which harbored al Qaeda and was ousted by U.S.-led forces in 2001 after the September 11 attacks on the United States, is regrouping in some areas, Koenigs said, but details were scarce.

"We only know that not all the Taliban leaders have been captured and there are incidents where the Taliban claimed responsibility," said Koenigs. "So they are still there, and people fear -- particularly in the southern region -- that they hide either on this or the other side of the border."

"It will be vital for the Afghan government to extend its reach to underserved areas of Afghanistan," Koenigs said in his briefing to the council.

Koenigs asked the Security Council to expand the mission he heads, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), so it can support the government better in the field in outlying areas. The Security Council is discussing a 12-month renewal of UNAMA's mandate, which expires March 24.

Pakistan officials 'gave missile parts' to Taliban - , Kim Sengupta, Irish Independent 15 March 2006

US AND Nato forces are following up reports that the Taliban has received vital component parts for shoulder-fired Stinger missiles from Pakistani officials enabling them to be used against helicopters in Afghanistan.

It is claimed that the missiles - originally supplied to the Afghan Mujaheddin by the US during the war against the Russians - have been fitted with new battery packs allegedly provided by the Pakistani intelligence service, ISI, in the last four months.

Western sources say they are not sure whether the supplies, needed to make the American-made missiles operational, were provided by rogue elements within the Pakistani secret service or approved at a high level.

However, the effect of rearming the Stingers could be to make Nato aircraft vulnerable at a time when Britain is carrying out the deployment of a force of almost 6,000 in southern Afghanistan.

It is believed that the battery packs had been fitted to between 18 and 20 heat-seeking Stingers which can hit targets at around 12,000 feet. They are reported to have been handed over in the Quetta region in Pakistan, known to be used by the Taliban to launch attacks in southern Afghanistan.

US and Nato forces have carried out a series of searches along the border areas in the hunt for the missiles with one large-scale operation taking place a month ago.

No British forces were involved in the raid. It is not known whether any of the Stingers have been recovered. The Pakistan government yesterday denied accusations it was involved as "baseless".

"Pakistan has lost more security personnel in the fight against terror than any other country," a spokesman said. "We make no distinction between al-Qa'ida and the Taliban. These [allegations] are just rumours, unsubstantiated allegations and innuendo."

The Pakistan government also rejected suggestions of involvement by ISI rogue elements. "Our military and security services are disciplined forces," the spokesman said.

Reports that the batteries being fitted to the missiles began to surface at the end of last year along the border areas between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Taliban fighters have yet to successfully use antiaircraft missiles against US and Nato forces. One American helicopter has been brought down in the conflict, but that was through the use of a rocket-propelled grenade.

However, both US and British pilots report that ground to air missiles have been fired at them. Western diplomats and military are extremely sensitive about the Stinger allegations as it comes at a time when Afghanistan and Pakistan are engaged in an escalating feud over insurgent attacks inside Afghanistan.

The director of the US Defence Intelligence Agency, Lieutenant General Michael Maples, recently claimed that a resurgent Taliban were now at their most powerful since the official end of the war five years ago.

Nato finds Stinger in Taleban tail - New Zealand Herald 3/15/06

KABUL - American and Nato forces are following up reports that the Taleban have received vital components for shoulder-fired Stinger missiles from Pakistani officials enabling them to be used against helicopters in Afghanistan.

It is claimed that the missiles have been fitted with new battery packs allegedly provided by the Pakistani intelligence service, ISI, in the past four months.

Western sources say they are not sure whether the supplies, needed to make the United States-made missiles operational, were provided by rogue elements within the Pakistani secret service, or approved at a high level.

However, the effect of re-arming the Stingers could be to make Nato aircraft vulnerable while Britain is deploying almost 6000 soldiers in southern Afghanistan.

It is believed that the battery packs had been fitted in between 18 and 20 heat-seeking Stingers which can hit targets at around 3600m. They are reported to have been handed over in the Quetta region in Pakistan known to be used by the Taleban to launch attacks in southern Afghanistan.

US and Nato forces have carried out a series of searches along the border areas in the hunt for the missiles, with a large-scale operation a month ago. It is not known if Stingers have been recovered. The Pakistan Government yesterday denied the accusation as "baseless".

Pakistan Islamic school destroyed - BBC News 15 March 2006

Security forces in Pakistan have demolished an Islamic seminary in the country's north-western tribal region, close to the Afghan border. The privately-run Khalifa Islami Madrassa in North Waziristan is alleged to have links with fugitive Taleban leader, Jalaluddin Haqqani.

No-one was inside the school when it was destroyed. The region has witnessed deadly clashes between government forces and suspected pro-Taleban militias. Local tribesmen are said to have helped the security forces carry out the demolition of the Islamic school near the main town of North Waziristan, Miranshah.

The Associated Press news agency reports that soldiers removed books from the school before placing dynamite inside and blowing it up. The school was apparently mainly used by Afghan students but had been closed since October.

Separately, a spokesman for pro-Taleban militants in North Waziristan has denied reports that they have offered a ceasefire to the government in Miranshah, scene of the recent fighting.

The spokesman, Tariq Jamil, said they would continue to fight the security forces until "the government abandons military operations against the Taleban or al-Qaeda".

The BBC's Haroon Rashid in Peshawar says this is the first time that local militants in North Waziristan have come out with a statement to clarify their position on the recent fighting.

Earlier this month, more than 120 militants had been killed after three days of heavy clashes with security forces in North Waziristan, the Pakistani army said.

Correspondents say they were the fiercest clashes between army and pro-Taleban militants since the army went into the lawless tribal regions three years ago. The fighting forced thousands of local villagers to flee the area and journalists were prevented from entering Miranshah.

Thousands of Pakistani soldiers have been deployed in the volatile tribal region along the Afghan border to flush out Taleban and al-Qaeda militants believed to be hiding in the area.

Observers say North Waziristan is among the last bases for the resurgent Taleban in their battle against the Afghan government. Many foreign militants are believed to be fighting alongside heavily armed local tribesmen, most of them students at local Islamic schools.

Taliban office in Miranshah - Daily Times 15 March 2006

MIRANSHAH: Local Taliban in South Waziristan have been allowed to establish an office in Wana to “help restore law and order” in the area. According to the BBC, the decision was taken in a meeting held here in the Jamia-ul-Aloom madrassa run by former MNA Maulana Noor. The participants of the meeting noted that crime was rising in Wana, particularly murder, robbery and drug trafficking.

Local cleric Maulvi Abass said the Taliban office will work to restore peace in the area and not to impose Sharia law, according to sources privy to the meeting. Locals can take their grievances to the office and they will be heard by a qazi, or Islamic judge, he said. The government did not oppose the establishment of the Taliban office because it knows it will improve the situation in the area, he said.

Maulvi Abass was wanted by the government until he signed an agreement last year not to participate in or encourage attacks on security forces. police arrested 22 Afghan refugees in North Waziristan on Tuesday, a day after ordering them to leave the country amid accusations they were sheltering militants, AP reported. Clashes this month between militants and security forces in North Waziristan have killed more than 100 militants and eight soldiers.

The Afghan refugees “give shelter to their own people from across the border who create problems for us,” regional security official Sikandar Qayyum told Geo television.

Security forces have erected roadblocks along roads to Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan, checking private cars and public transport for Afghans, officials said.

The refugees have been ordered to go back to Afghanistan until authorities can determine if they are involved in “disturbing the situation” in the region, a Miranshah-based intelligence official told AP.

It was not immediately clear if any Afghans had crossed into their homeland since the order was issued. Staff report adds: The government on Tuesday released Rs 213 million for compensation handouts to families of people killed in military operations in South Waziristan.

The payment of compensation will begin immediately, NWFP Governor Khalilur Rehman said in a statement. “With this, the longstanding demand of the people of South Waziristan Agency who were killed in attacks from militants or cross-fire between law enforcing agencies and militants shall be fulfilled,” he said.

Vice Chief of Army Staff General Ahsan Salim Hayat called on Rehman to discuss the situation in North Waziristan. Peshawar Corp Commander Lt Gen Mohammad Hamid Khan was also present.

Three paramilitary soldiers who went missing in South Waziristan last month returned to their base on Tuesday. The soldiers were initially reported to have been kidnapped, but a senior government official denied that the government had paid a ransom to get secure their release.

Taleban gain strength in NWFP: Report - 3/15/2006 Source Internews

PESHAWAR: After completing their sway in South Waziristan agency, the local Taleban movement is gaining strength in North Waziristan in the face of ant-terrorists military operations in restive tribal belt of Pakistan.

Miranshah, North Waziristan’s headquarters and hub of bloody clashes between security forces and local Taleban, is still under curfew even after the passage of nine days.

According to officials quoted by The Nation newspaper yesterday, so far over 150 militants including foreigners have been killed besides deaths of 10 security personnel but there is no letup in the sporadic gunfight forcing locals to shift to safer areas.

Apparently, the Taleban have retreated from Miranshah after remaining engaged in battle with the security forces for days but they seemed determined to fight back.

“We are in the hundreds backed by Allah and all the tribesmen. The forces of infidelity will be wiped out from Waziristan,” said a young local Taleban who did not want to be named. There are hundreds of others like him being led by Abdul Khaliq, Sadiq Noor and Noor Muhammad, all local fiery clerics.

They have declared ‘Jihad’ against the government through their audio and video speeches being openly sold all over the tribal belt and nearby cities of Bannu, Tank, D I Khan, Karak and Kohat.

On last Sunday, the suspected Taleban shot dead two tribesmen near Miranshah leaving behind a note with one of the bodies giving a warning that anyone who spied for the US would meet the same fate.

Around 120 tribesmen have been killed so far by militants for supporting the government against the Taleban movement. Most of the inhabitants of North Waziristan are in support of Pakistan but at the same time they resent military operations.

“We are not in favour of terrorists but we want the issue to be resolved peacefully through talks,” said Ahmed Wali, a resident of Mirali. “Military action is not the solution to current imbroglio as armed clashes always lead to destruction of property and human life,” a resident of Miranshah, Muzamil Wazir, commented.

Most of the shops in Miranshah bazaar are destroyed with two of the markets and madrassa of Khaliq totally collapsed due to heavy exchange of rockets between militants and security forces. The agency’s main hospital, schools, college and a bus stand also received heavy shelling leading to closure of several roads for indefinite time.

Arms in Dera Bugti come from Afghanistan: Ghani

The News International 15 2006

QUETTA: Balochistan governor Owais Ahmed Ghani has said that the availability of a large number of weapons with miscreants is proof that foreign hands are involved in the province and the arms in Dera Bugti have been brought from abroad.

In an interview with a private television channel here on Tuesday, he said all these weapons are brought from Afghanistan. "The Afghan government has failed to check the arms trafficking due to its internal turmoil and anarchy."

The governor said: "The provision of financial assistance [to miscreants] also proves that there are some foreign forces engaged in activities to destabilise Pakistan."

The majority of people in the province were pleased with the government’s development steps, he said, resolving that the uplift process would continue at any cost and none of the Sardars or tribal leaders would be allowed to hamper it.

"There is no problem of law and order in the province except in two and three Tehsils where the situation worsened due to a few self-interested Sardars who instigated the people against the government to achieve their nasty goals," he said.

They killed poor and helpless people by torturing them to death and even did not spare women and children by blasting a landmine near Bekar, Ghani said and asked what services these Sardars were rendering to the people and the province by committing such cowardly acts.

"Balochistan people are now very well aware of motives behind such bestial acts and are no more being deceived by these two, three Sardars whose grip on the province in weakening."

The governor held the view that these Sardars are afraid of losing their political and social status, so they are opposing the development process and creating hurdles in its way. They would not be allowed to commit "inhuman acts in future," he added.

"There is no option left with the government except to eliminate all the negative forces once and for all which are adamant to kill the innocent people," he said, adding that taking necessary steps to ensure its writ was an obligation of the government.

Ghani said law-enforcement agencies personnel had been directed to ensure the safety of life and property while taking action against the miscreants. He assured that the government would leave no stone unturned to provide security to the people and check subversive acts aimed at taking precious lives of innocent people and destroying their properties.

Govt should revise Afghan policy: ANP - Daily Times 15 March 2006

PESHAWAR: Awami National Party (ANP) Central President Asfandyar Wali Khan has demanded the federal government reconsider its Afghan policy to stop lawlessness in tribal areas from spilling over into the rest of the country.

Speaking at a party meeting on Monday, he said the government should not use force to deal with tribal issues. The government is repeating the same mistake made by General Yahya Khan and the consequences would be no different this time, he said. He alleged that the government was using gunship helicopters against the tribal people instead of any external threat.

He alleged that foreign terrorists hiding in south and North Waziristan were “forced guests” for the tribesmen and had been brought there by the government. He said he had warned the government not to support Taliban during Benazir Bhutto’s rule, as it would also bring Taliban to the tribal areas.

“Pukhtoons are being made to pay for the government’s policies,” he said.

He urged people to launch protests to pressurise the government to reassess its Afghan policy and give maximum autonomy to provinces. “Unless these steps are taken, the country’s future would remain at risk,” he said. He alleged a guerilla war had been launched in a 40-kilometre belt on both sides of the

Durand Line against Pukhtoons.

First Pakistan-Afghanistan bus service runs - Mar 15

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AFP) - The first ever bus from Afghanistan to Pakistan carried out a trial run, despite recent tensions between the key allies in the US-led war on terrorism.

With the slogan "Long live Afghanistan-Pakistan friendship" written on the side, the bus carrying around a dozen local government officials left Jalalabad city in eastern Afghanistan early Wednesday, officials said.

It crossed over the mountainous Khyber Pass into Pakistan some four hours later and stopped for a brief ceremony at the border, before continuing to the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, its eventual destination.

A return trial bus from Pakistan is due to run on Friday and full services are likely to start in mid-April, said Inamullah Shah, spokesman for the transport ministry of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province.

Authorities plan to run six buses from Peshawar and six buses from Jalalabad daily, he added. Islamabad and Kabul agreed almost exactly one year ago to start the buses in a bid to boost growing bilateral trade, economic and commercial links.

There are also plans for buses between Quetta in southwestern Pakistan and the southern Afghan city of Kandahar. Mohammad Asif Qazizada, deputy governor of Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, of which Jalalabad is the capital, said, "It would have been better if it included other provinces, particularly Kabul.

"The bus goes from Jalalabad but Jalalabadis have no problem getting to Pakistan anyway." Currently trucks from both sides carry goods across the border but there is no regular transport for passengers.

The trial run went ahead despite recent tensions between the two countries over Islamic militants who allegedly launch attacks in Afghanistan from bases across the border in Pakistan.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his Pakistani counterpart Pervez Musharraf have been engaged in a war of words over intelligence provided by Kabul about Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants on Pakistani soil. Pakistan said Tuesday that it was stepping up security at its embassy in Kabul to guard against possible protests.

Pakistan said it took the step following "baseless" allegations made at the weekend by former Afghan president and current senate chief Hazrat Sebghatullah Mujadidi that Musharraf had ordered an attempt on his life. Mujadidi escaped with minor injuries from a suicide bombing on Sunday that killed two bystanders.

Canadian troops fire on Afghan car, one killed

Kabul (Reuters) - Canadian forces on patrol in Afghanistan opened fire on a vehicle, apparently in the belief it was a suicide bomb attempt, killing a passenger, a Canadian forces spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

An investigation had been launched by an independent Canadian service into the shooting in Kandahar city in the Afghan south late on Tuesday, said the spokeswoman, Captain Julie Roberge.

"A man was shot yesterday while Canadian forces were doing a routine patrol .... he died this morning in hospital," Roberge said. "This is being investigated, we take it very seriously," she said.

Canada has 2,300 soldiers in Kandahar, where it commands a multinational task force. Taliban insurgents and their militants allies have stepped up attacks in recent months in a bid to drive out foreign forces and defeat the Western-backed government.

Suicide bomb attacks have soared with at least 12 this year, compared with 17 last year. A Canadian diplomat was killed and three Canadian soldiers wounded in a suicide attack in Kandahar in January.

Roberge said because of the danger of suicide car bombs, drivers are told to keep clear from Canadian convoys and patrols. The investigation would determine if the driver ignored warnings to stay away or if the firing was no warranted, she said.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper made a surprise visit to Kandahar on Monday to rally the troops and shore up support at home for the Afghan mission. Ten Canadian soldiers and the diplomat have been killed and 33 soldiers wounded since Canada first deployed soldiers in Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks.

PM rules out parliamentary vote on Afghan mission - 14 Mar 2006 CBC News

Prime Minister Stephen Harper does not intend to have MPs vote on extending Canada's mission in Afghanistan, he said after ending his visit to the country on Tuesday.

"We're not going to have votes on commitments already made," he said at a news conference in Islamabad after meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

Harper had triggered some confusion on the issue earlier in the day in Kabul, Afghanistan, when he cited a Conservative election promise to hold a vote on all future military deployments.

"These things obviously will be put to votes in the future. That's a commitment we've made," Harper told a news conference after meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul.

He also suggested that if the opposition parties vote against an extension, they could undercut Canada's commitment to the military mission.

"As I said to the president, we have a parliamentary system. I don't control the majority," Harper said. "I don't control the other parties." Afghanistan grateful for Canadian sacrifice: Karzai

Before leaving Afghanistan where he'd been visiting since Sunday, Harper met with Karzai at his presidential palace. Karzai was the first head of state the prime minister has met since his Conservative government won the January federal election.

With U.S. military helicopters buzzing overhead, Karzai asked Harper to deliver a message of thanks to Canadians for their financial and military aid since the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan following the Sept. 11 attacks.

"Please convey to your people, to the people of Canada, the immense gratitude of the Afghan people for what your country, your people have done for us," said Karzai.

"For giving the lives of your sons, for contributing in money, for contributing in soldiers and for being one of the biggest helpers in Afghanistan." Harper responded by inviting Karzai to visit Canada. "I've said to the president I hope to see him in Canada," said Harper.

In his unannounced visit to Afghanistan, Harper met with Canadian troops in the country. He repeated his government's commitment to the mission and assured the more than 2,200 soldiers stationed there that their work is important.

The morale-boosting visit comes amid growing questions in Canada over its role in Afghanistan. Ten soldiers and one diplomat have been killed since the mission started in 2002. Karzai defended the Canadian presence, saying it would help Afghanistan achieve stability and independence, which will in turn, support the long-term security of Canada.

EDITORIAL: Pak-Afghan relations continue to sour - Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan took another turn for the worse last Sunday when Sebghatullah Mujadidi, a former Afghan president and current head of Afghanistan’s upper house of parliament, accused Pakistan of plotting the suicide attack in Kabul against him in which at least four people were killed, including the two bombers. Afghan President Hamid Karzai, while not naming Pakistan, blamed “foreigners” for the car bombing. Elsewhere in Afghanistan a roadside bomb killed three US soldiers while the Taliban kidnapped four Albanians in southern Afghanistan.

The violence, especially the attack on Mr Mujadidi, has further soured the atmosphere between Islamabad and Kabul. Mr Mujadidi has reportedly been saying that the attack was planned by Pakistan’s intelligence agencies. Mr Karzai, on the other hand, told the media that the Afghanistan government had been warned a couple of months ago that senior Afghan government officials, including Mr Mujadidi, would be targeted. “With no doubt, Afghanistan in the past 30 years has been destroyed by the hands of foreigners...there is no doubt that this attack too is by foreigners,” Mr Karzai told the media in Kabul and said that Mr Mujadidi’s claim of Pakistani involvement would be investigated.

The attack on Mr Mujadidi is condemnable and regrettable. But what he and Mr Karzai have said indicates that the war of words between Pakistan and Afghanistan is unlikely to end soon, especially if Islamabad chooses to hit back. It also indicates that those who thought they were wronged by Pakistan — Mr Mujadidi being one such — are straining at the leash to speak out. There is great temptation for Pakistan to retaliate but that is precisely what is so inimical to preventing the current slide in relations and then building them.

The present dispensation in Kabul has shown itself to be anti-Pakistan but not without reason. Islamabad has meddled in Afghanistan for more than three decades. Some of its actions and policies were justified; others were not. It is now in the unenviable position of being under attack not only from its erstwhile proxies, the Taliban, who it has had to ditch, but also from those like the Northern Alliance that were opposed to the Taliban — and to Pakistan — and are now in the driving seat in Afghanistan.

Kabul has correctly estimated that it can blame everything on Pakistan and get away with it because there are not many buyers for Pakistan’s viewpoint. The Indians are propagating against Pakistan; the US military commanders and intelligence officials say the Taliban are entering Afghanistan from Pakistani territory; the Europeans are not convinced that Pakistan is doing enough; the US media is projecting the view that General Pervez Musharraf is double-crossing the Bush administration, and so on. There is pressure on Pakistan from all sides even as Islamabad has deployed nearly 70,000 troops along the Durand Line in its tribal agencies.

On this side, there have been many skirmishes between Pakistani troops and roaming Taliban-Al Qaeda elements and hundreds of people have died. Yet the focus constantly shifts from military operations on the Pakistani side to acts of violence in Afghanistan. Even the sympathetic view maintains that while General Musharraf might be interested in cleansing the area, some elements within the Pakistani intelligence security may be playing a different game. All this can be traced back to Pakistan’s misplaced Afghanistan policy in the 1990s that it had to reverse after 9/11 ahead of America’s invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001.

Retaliation is not in Pakistan’s interest. The most important thing for the Pakistanis is to decide whether we are trying to purge the tribal areas of extremist elements because we want to do this or whether we have to do it under pressure from the United States. Our view is that cleaning up the area is in Pakistan’s interest, first and foremost. We reported on Sunday that local Taliban commanders in Waziristan asked the clerics to announce the end of the jirga system in the area.

This means that the Taliban are not only present in the area but that they are strong enough to issue directives and force the local tribesmen to follow them. This is not a happy sign and Islamabad needs to do something about it. Pakistan’s policy must move from the short- to medium- to the long-term. First, it must win adherents in the US and Europe for its policy of fencing the Durand Line. Emphasis on erecting the fence would show that it is sincere in creating hurdles in the way of those elements which are interested in a porous border. Along with this, Islamabad should start reforming FATA. Its best bet is to focus on the educated youth of the area. These young men have despaired of a good future. Islamabad needs to co-opt them and give them employment and hope. The hated Frontier Crimes Regulations must be replaced with municipal laws that can be enforced. Simultaneously, Islamabad should continue with its military operations and take out leaders of the extremist elements.

But what Islamabad must not do, despite the temptation, as we have earlier noted, is to strike back at Afghanistan. It would serve no purpose and merely exacerbate the problem.

Even weaker neighbours, if and when they choose to defy stronger states, can become a nuisance. Within the region we have the recent examples of India-Bangladesh and India-Nepal relations. Even Nepal has decided to hit back at New Delhi and there is not much that India can do about it except fulminate. That lesson should not be lost on us. BIGGEST EVER CACHE OF WEAPONS SEIZED - Release Date 14 March 2006 SHEBERGHAN - Afghanistan: This week in Sheberghan the largest cache of weapons ever found in Afghanistan has been handed over as part of the Disarmament of Illegally Armed Groups (DIAG) initiative.

The recovery of this cache represents a major achievement for the Government of Afghanistan (GOA) and the Afghanistan New Beginnings Programme (ANBP) who, assisted by the ISAF Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Mazar-e-Sharif, negotiated the voluntary handover. ISAF experts have assessed the contents of the cache and initial findings suggest the presence of 1 bunker of detonators, 2 bunkers containing a total of 80 tonnes of Russian TNT, 1 bunker with 15,000 Anti Personnel and 10,000 Anti Tank mines, however, this is not confirmed at this time. A fifth bunker is also in the process of being assessed and examined. In addition to this cache, a local Commander has also handed in a significant amount of weapons and ammunition to the DIAG.

The Sheberghan Governor, Joma Khan Hamdard said, "There are illegal weapons all over Afghanistan, not just in Sheberghan. We are trying to inform everyone to hand in illegal weapons." The Governor went onto state that he will vigorously pursue the handover of all illegal weapons. The safety of the people of Sheberghan has increased due to the destruction of these high explosives, whilst it has also decreased the risk of these weapons being used against the local population and international community. Members of the ANBP will destroy the cache.

The recovery of such a large cache is a significant step towards the disarmament of illegally armed groups, which is the primary aim of the DIAG, in the Balkh and Jawzjan provinces and ensures greater security in the region. ISAF is supporting the DIAG process with second tier security and logistics support for the Government's collection of weapons and ammunitions. The handing over of this cache is a validation of the commitment of the GOA and the ANBP to bring sustainable security to the country, thus setting the conditions for good governance and the rule of law. These conditions will assist all the Afghan people in building a better future for their country.

UNAMA Press Briefing Press Briefing

Adrian Edwards Spokesperson for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General Kabul – 13 March, 2006

Written Announcements

UNCHR and Iran extend Voluntary Repatriation of Afghan Refugees

Representatives of the Governments of Iran, Afghanistan and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) have agreed to extend the voluntary repatriation programme for Afghan refugees until March 2007. The agreement was reached at joint meeting held in Mashad in north-eastern Iran.

By extending the Tripartite Agreement the parties reaffirmed their commitment to the voluntary and gradual nature of repatriation. They also pledged to renew efforts to remove obstacles to Afghan repatriation and to enhance regional cooperation and coordination. The parties also expressed their hopes that the international community’s continuing commitment to the reconstruction of Afghanistan, as seen in the Afghanistan Compact, would improve the prospects for the return and reintegration of Afghan refugees in Iran.

Since the signing of the first Tripartite Agreement in 2002 some 1.4 million Afghans have returned home from Iran. The results of a recent government registration exercise showed there are more than 900,000 Afghan refugees remaining in Iran.

New Vaccine storage facility in Mazar-I-Sharif to boost immunization efforts

Just one week after a major nationwide drive to immunize 7 million Afghan children against polio, child health programmes in northern Afghanistan will further benefit from a new vaccine storage facility that was officially inaugurated in Mazar-i-Sharif this morning. The facility will support immunization programmes reaching more than 1 million children every year.

The new storage centre, which has been established by the Afghan Ministry of Public Health with the support of UNICEF, will be able to hold 750,000 vials of various vaccines at any given time. This capacity is sufficient to meet both immediate and longer term vaccine needs for five provinces – Balkh, Samangan, Jawzjan, Saripul and Faryab. Typical vaccines that can be stored safely at the new centre include those against DPT (diphtheria, pertussis/whooping cough and tetanus), tuberculosis, measles, and polio. In addition the centre will manage the storage of tetanus toxoid vaccine, used in the Ministry’s campaigns to vaccinate women of child-bearing age against maternal and neo-natal tetanus in the northern provinces.

With up to 600 children under the age of five dying every day in Afghanistan, mostly due to preventable causes, safe storage of vaccine is essential in the battle against childhood mortality.

The opening of the Mazar centre follows the establishment in 2005 of similar facilities in Kandahar and Nangarhar, serving the southern and eastern regions respectively. The country’s first vaccine storage facility was opened in Kabul in March 2004.

Human Rights Training for Teachers and Police

UNAMA’s human rights section in conjunction with the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) have just completed training for thirty teachers at Bibi Hawa girls high school in Jalalabad. The training focused on children rights and the conventon on women’s rights. This is a UNAMA funded initiative and will be continued by the AIHRC over the coming months. Elsewhere we have started human rights training for the Kunar district Afghan National Police. 23 Police officers in Nurgal district were trained on basic human rights, arbitrary detention and the rights of vulnerable people. On 8 and 9 March Kunar ANP delivered similar training to colleagues in Narang and Nari distrcts. Both these projects are an important part of our on-going efforts to raise the visibility and consideration of human rights issues amongst state institutions.

Disability Workshop held in Mazar

In Mazar UNAMA hosted a workshop last week on mainstreaming disability into development policy and programmes. This workshop is part of the United Nations Development Program’s (UNDP) National Programme for Action on Disability (NPAD) that aims to ensure that the international community and the Government of Afghanistan consider the needs and requirements of Afghanistan’s two million disabled people.

The NPAD for Afghanistan is the single largest disability programme currently underway by any UNDP office globally and recognizes that it is vital to mobilize and harness the talent of all Afghans, including those with disabilities.

Over twenty participants from the Government of Afghanistan, UN agencies and NGOs attended and plans have began to be drawn up to ensure that the needs of disabled people are considered as programmes and projects are implemented. A training needs of audit of disabled people, increased advocacy and awareness campaigns are just some of the activities planned as part of this effort.

The NPAD plans to conduct similar workshop’s in Kabul, Jalalabad, Kandahar and Herat over the coming months.

General Atta Mohamad Supports Women

General Atta Mohammad Noor, governor of Balkh province, opened a UNFPA funded women on women photo exhibition in Mazar on International Women’s Day (IWD) on 8 March 2008. He studied the photos and expressed his support for the project by the NGO Pamir in giving women business and photography training.

General Atha Mohammad Noor, in his opening speech, highlighted the importance of important role of women in the reconstruction of the country. He said: “All women should get education and training in modern technology, which will ensure their equal rights to participate in social, economic and political lives in the country, which is essential in ending violence against women.” He emphasized the need and his commitment to end all types of violence against women including child marriage, giving women away in marriage to settle disputes and all other bad traditional practices.

Kabul memorial service for slain UN-Habitat contract worker

A memorial service will be held later today at Kabul’s Eid Ghah mosque for Mohammad Hashim, the Afghan national murdered in Farah province earlier this month while on contract with the UN Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat.

The 90-minute ceremony is scheduled to begin at 2pm and will be attended by family members, government representatives and staff members of UN-Habitat. Media are also permitted to attend the service.

Mr. Hashim worked on the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development’s flagship National Solidarity Programme (NSP). He was undertaking a monitoring visit to NSP communities and project sites in Bala Buluk district of Farah province on the morning of March 4th when six armed men stopped the vehicle he was travelling in. Mr. Hashim was dragged from the car and shot dead.

[Disclaimer: The content of this news bulletin does not necessarily reflect the view or policy of the Afghan Government, unless specifically stated as such. The collection of articles and commentaries from Afghan and international news sources is provided for informational purposes, and accuracy of the news is the responsibility of the original source.]