RSS Feed
July 14th, 2016 
Awake Goy 
nsnbc : The spokesman for Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani, Haroon Chakansuri, informed the press that there is no time set for another meeting of the four nation group and that the resumption of talks with the Taliban is unlikely. Several countries, including China, India, and the USA have recently increased their support of the government in Kabul.
Haroon Chakhansuri noted that the four-nation Coordination Group comprising Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States has not set a date for another meetings and stressed that previous rounds of talks did not produce any results. Both China and Pakistan have lobbied for the resumption of talks between the government in Kabul and the Taliban, even though the two countries motivations differ.
Delegates from Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the USA have met five times in Islamabad and Kabul and called on the Taliban to participate in peace talks. Attempts to start talks between the government and the Taliban within the context of the Coordination Group in March failed. The breakdown was followed both by increased military activity and by a series of high-profile terrorist attacks in April.
One of the most deadly attack targeted a VIP unit in Kabul, killing 64 and injuring about 300. The Afghan government subsequently argued that it was forced to start a military crackdown against groups that pursue violence. The government in Kabul also urged Pakistan to take actions against armed groups on its soil.
Several Taliban groups use western Pakistan for strategic depth. Conversely, the volatile relationship between Pakistan and India has prompted Pakistani military and intelligence planners to consider Afghanistan as a fallback and as an “asset” that can provide strategic depth in a major conflict with India.
International Support
Earlier this month China delivered the first batch of military aid to Afghanistan in an effort to help the country fight terrorism. The batch of Chinese military equipment was delivered by a Russian cargo plane and handed to Afghanistan’s National Security Adviser Hanif Atmar by Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing. The first batch of military equipment contained, among others, logistical equipment, parts for military vehicles, ammunition as well as weapons for the Afghan National Defense Security Forces (ANDSF).
The Afghan National Security Adviser noted that the next delivery was due later this year and would include equipment such as scanners for Afghanistan’s police that would enable them to detect bombs and vehicle born improvised explosive devices.
The latter must be greeted welcome by Afghani police after they previously had been equipped with a bogus “wand” that had absolutely no function and arguably cost the lives of scores of ordinary people as well as police officer who put their lives on the line. Similar bogus devices were sold to Iraq, the Philippines, Thailand and Mexico, and in part with the endorsement of British government officials. Ambassador Jing added: “Both China and Afghanistan, we don’t have any ambitions … But we do have our own duty to safeguard our own peace and the sovereignty. So, in this regard China and Afghanistan are on the same front. We will fight together.”
This week U.S. President Barack Obama announced that the United States would increase its role in the engagement of militant groups in Afghanistan, including the Taliban. Obama’s promise manifested, among others, in a drone strike against a pro-Islamic State radio station.
Officials in eastern Nangarahr reported that the radio station, located in the Kharawa area of Achin district had been targeted. Provincial governor spokesman Ataullah Khogyani told the press that at least 12 ISIS loyalists were killed in separate drone strikes in Momad Dara. He added that the airstrikes were carried out on Wednesday and several weapons and ammunition belonging to the loyalists of the terror group were also destroyed.
Meanwhile, India has chosen a less militant approach to supporting Afghanistan. The government of India pledged a new aid package of $25 million to Afghanistan.
The aid is to be used to provide micro-funds for several development projects throughout Afghanistan. In the presence of Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah, Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Manpreet Vohra and several Afghan ministers, the two countries signed ten Memorandums of Understanding (MoU).
Abdullah told the press that the government of India pledged support to 87 micro development projects after consultations with the representatives of the relevant provinces and thorough assessments of the needs of the people. He added that the implementation of these projects will have a positive impact on the living conditions of the people.
Indian Ambassador Manpreet Vohra, for his part, said the government of India is committed to long-term support and will continue supporting Afghanistan in various sectors.
Afghanistan’s Minister of Economy Abdul Satar Muradzai said the projects include the construction of schools, bridges, and other important local infrastructure. Muradzai stressed that he will cooperate with government institutions to properly implement the projects and to secure positive results.
F/AK – nsnbc 14.07.2016
Source Article from http://nsnbc.me/2016/07/14/afghanistan-has-no-plans-to-resume-talks-with-taliban/
Related posts:
Views: 0
Posted in 
Tags: 
