Afghanistan News December 30, 2005

December 30, 2005

Suspected Taliban bomb kills four Afghan policemen
Kandahar (AFP) - Four Afghan policemen were killed and seven others were injured when a bomb planted by suspected Taliban militants exploded near a checkpoint, an official said.

The blast happened late Thursday in the Hazar Joft district of the insurgency-prone southern province of Helmand, local police commander Bahadur Khan told AFP. "Four policemen were killed, seven others were wounded," Khan said on Friday.

Violence blamed on the Taliban regime, which was ousted by a US-led military operation in late 2001 for sheltering Osama bin Laden, has soared this year in southern and eastern Afghanistan.

A purported Taliban spokesman, Mohammad Yousuf Ahmadi, called AFP from an unknown location and said his guerrillas had planted the remotely detonated device.

"It was our work," said Ahmadi, who often calls the media to claim responsibility for attacks on Afghan and foreign troops on behalf of the hardline Islamic militia. "One of our mujahedin (holy warriors) succeeded in planting the bomb just outside the checkpost," he added.

Taliban rebels have pledged to topple the US-backed government of President Hamid Karzai and violence this year alone has claimed more than 1,500 lives, the majority of them militants. A US-led force of around 19,000 troops is trying to tame the insurgency.

Also on Thursday two US soldiers were injured by a roadside bomb in Helmand, while a similar attack in neighbouring Kunar province on Wednesday killed a US soldier and an Afghan national working with the coalition.

Afghan Interior Ministry selecting general officers
December 30, 2005 COMBINED FORCES COMMAND – AFGHANISTAN COALITION PRESS INFORMATION CENTER
Story by Air Force Capt. Dave Huxsoll Office of Security Cooperation-Afghanistan Public Affairs
KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghanistan’s Ministry of the Interior, with the assistance of the Office of Security Cooperation-Afghanistan, has entered the second phase of a rank reform process that will make the Afghan National Police a more efficient and streamlined organization, with clearer chains of command.

The ministry is in the middle of a three-step process that will select ANP senior officers to fill 86 general-level positions in the force. The first phase of rank reform concluded last month when Afghan President Hamid Karzai approved generals to fill the 31 highest ranking positions in the MOI and ANP.

Rank reform is designed to reduce the number of senior level positions in the ANP and increase the number of junior officers, sergeants and patrolmen. Currently the number of general and field grade officers outnumber police sergeants by a ratio of almost three to two.

“We want to increase the number of the low ranking officers and decrease the number of high ranking officers to make our working environment more efficient,” said Maj. Gen. Sakhi Muhammad Baiani, ANP Administration Chief.

A concurrent process of pay reform within the ANP will result in significant salary increases for almost all members of the police force, so although some members may not maintain their current rank, if they remain on the force they will be making substantially more money.

Phase Two kicked off in Kabul Nov. 23 and 24, when more than 180 general officers filled out applications and took a written exam. Following the Kabul session, a team from the Afghan MOI and OSC-A’s Police Reform Directorate traveled to the regional training centers in Gardez, Jalalabad, Mazar-E Sharif, Kunduz, Herat and Kandahar to brief ANP officers on the reform process, accept applications from interested candidates and administer the written exams.

“The current general officers of the ANP are taking a very courageous step forward in the rank reform process,” explained Army Col. Paul Calbos, chief of OSC-A’s PRD Ministry Reform Division. “The generals have to consider this as a necessary step for Afghanistan ’s internal security and the safe future of their grandchildren.”

“We know many officers are strongly opposed to losing rank,” Baiani said, “but this is necessary for the good of the country. We have a fair process to select the qualified officers for the top positions.”

Those not selected in Phase Two can compete for lower ranking positions during Phase Three. They are not fired, and we value their experience.”

The team completed the application and testing portion Dec. 14. The remainder of the selection process mirrors that of the first stage, with a candidate file review and interview. The file review will examine each candidate’s education, variety and depth of experience, and professional training. A board of officers from the MOI, along with a representative from OSC-A’s PRD and the German Special Ambassador for Police Reform will review the files and conduct the interviews.

The board will recommend a list of names to Interior Minister Zarar Ahmad Moqbil, who will forward the final list to President Karzai for approval.

“The reform process is going well,” Baiani said. “The goal is that after we implement the reforms we will have an educated and professional police force that serves the people the way they deserve to be served.”

The selection process for Phases Three (field grade) and Four (company grade) will be similar to the first two phases, Baiani said. “We want to select the most talented and professional officers for these positions.”

Afghanistan's Arezo TV Channel Set To Go On Air
MAZAR-E-SHARIF, Dec 30 Asia Pulse - Arzo, a new private TV channel would formally begin its broadcasting in the northern Balkh province in two months, officials said on Thursday.

The new channel will cover an area of 100 square kilometer and will broadcast in other provinces including capital Kabul.

Publication director of the channel Mohammad Ismail Taimor told Pajhwok Afghan News:" We want to strengthen culture with setting up this new TV channel that will help in promoting our literature."

About one thousand both male and female candidates had applied for jobs for different programs of the new channel, officials said.

Kamal Nabizada, a national trader would grant fund of this TV, he said, adding the budget of the TV was yet to be estimated.
(Pajhwok Afghan News)

France Provides Bikes For Afghanistan's Takhar Agri Dept
TALOQAN, Dec 30 Asia Pulse - The government of France has provided motorbikes, bicycles, mates, furniture and computers for the agriculture department in the northern Takhar province, officials said on Thursday.

Nazarullah Yousaf, official of the French Embassy here, told Pajhwok Afghan News the bikes and bicycles worth US$48,000 would be distributed among officials of the agriculture department.

Head of the Agriculture and Livestock Department Moeenuddin said this would address transportation problems faced by officials, who perform duties in far-flung areas.

Staffers usually face with problems as public transports rarely ply the unpaved and uneven roads. Majority of people are doing farming in rural areas of Takhar province.
(Pajhwok Afghan News)

Pakistani "Taliban" gain sway in tribal region
December 30, 2005
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani followers of Afghanistan's Taliban have gained sway in a sensitive border area where they have been killing their opponents with impunity despite the heavy presence of government forces.

The word of the militants, who call themselves Taliban, has virtually become law in parts of the semi-autonomous North Waziristan tribal area while the military appears loathe to intervene.

"The situation is no longer under their control," Rahimullah Yusufzai, a prominent journalist and expert on the region, said of the Pakistani army.

The government had "totally abdicated" its authority in North Waziristan, he said.

"It seems it's Taliban raj (rule) there."

Waziristan is part of Pakistan's tribal belt that stretches through rugged mountains and deserts along the Afghan border.

Many al Qaeda and Afghan Taliban members fled to the remote region from Afghanistan after U.S.-led forces ousted the Taliban in late 2001 and were given shelter by militants from the ethnic Pashtun tribes that inhabit both sides of the border.

The army launched an offensive to clear foreign militants from the region two years ago and hundreds of people -- militants and government troops -- have been killed.

The latest violence follows a December 1 blast in a house near the region's main town, Miranshah, where officials said an al Qaeda commander, Abu Hamza Rabia, and four others were killed,

Although Rabia's body was not found, authorities say he died when explosives at his hideout detonated accidentally. Villagers said the blast was caused by a missile from an aircraft, possibly a U.S. drone.

While there does not appear to be a direct link between Rabia's reported death and subsequent violence, the widespread belief that U.S. forces attacked Rabia has added to the tension, residents say.

Despite the militants' brazen killing of more than 20 rivals this month, the government says the situation is under control.

Authorities were "fully cognisant" of the situation, said military spokesman Major-General Shaukat Sultan. "But at this moment, rather than taking hard military action, political developments are being allowed to take precedence."

The area's civil administrator, Zaheerul Islam, dismissed the violence as a tribal dispute. "The situation is under government control," he said.

Despite such assurances, law and order seem a long way off.

"Elements linked to al Qaeda rule the territory and not the Pakistan army," the Daily Times said in a recent editorial.

"FILLING THE VACUUM"
British colonial rulers gave the fiercely independent Pashtun tribes a large degree of autonomy, and administered the region through officials known as political agents.

Pakistan stuck with the system after independence.

But the September 11 attacks and Pakistan's support for the U.S.-led war on terrorism and invasion of Afghanistan threw the traditional system into question.

Vowing to bring the area under the control of the government, the army sent in 70,000 troops but some analysts blame the violence on the army's intervention.

"The military has mishandled the situation," said analyst Ayaz Amir, a former army officer, diplomat and politician.

The army has made deals with some tribal leaders, while going after others seen as backing al Qaeda-linked militants.

"The result has been a lack of trust and the situation has deteriorated instead of improving," Amir said.

About 50 tribal leaders who supported the campaign against the militants have been killed, while the army seems no closer to imposing authority.

"In effect, the army is confined to fortified bases while the Taliban are filling the vacuum outside," Amir said.

The result has been brutal gun law.

The latest violence began on December 6 with a clash between the militants and rivals led by tribal leader Hakim Khan, whose men, residents said, had adopted the common practice of extorting "taxes" from motorists.

Ten of Khan's men, branded bandits by the militants, were killed in the initial clash along with five militants whose comrades mutilated and strung up several bodies of their rivals, decapitating one and putting his head on a pole.

For days the militants drove around Miranshah brandishing weapons and hunting, killing and beheading several more rivals.

Emboldened, the militants have started appealing for funds they say they need to fight crime, a nervous resident said this week.

Sneering at laws against displaying weapons, the militants have been accorded authority by some people who have turned to them with complaints that should be dealt with by the administration, residents say.

Military spokesman Sultan said action would be taken if things got of hand but another officer said that wouldn't happen yet. "When two tribes are fighting we can't take sides," said the officer, who declined to be identified.

Twenty Development Projects Launched in Afghan Province
Asia Pulse 12/30/2005
MAHMOODRAQI - The National Solidarity Programme (NSP) Wednesday launched work on 20 different uplift projects in the northern Kapisa province.

In charge of the NSP Saifur Rahman Haris told Pajhwok Afghan News the projects would be completed at the cost of nine million afghanis, which would address numerous problems, including scarcity of clean drinking water.

These projects included construction of water tanks, establishment of a diesel-powered flourmills, river embankments, digging of wells and launching of literacy and tailoring courses for people of the area, he explained.

The official said provincial NSP would provide amount for those projects, which would benefit 3,728 families in Kohistan, Mahmoodraqi and Nijrab districts. Aga Gul, 54, resident of the provincial capital said: "We are faced with several problems like scarcity of clean drinking water and hope the NSP will address our demands." (Pajhwok Afghan News)

UN concern at Guantanamo feeding
Friday, 30 December 2005 BBC News
There are credible allegations that Guantanamo hunger strikers are being force-fed in a cruel manner, the UN special rapporteur on torture has said.

Manfred Nowak's comments came after it emerged that the number of detainees refusing food at the prison camp had more than doubled since 25 December.

Some 84 inmates are now refusing food, according to the US military.

But a Pentagon official said there was no evidence that they had been treated in an inappropriate way.

'Bleeding'

Mr Nowak has not been to Guantanamo, and turned down an invitation to the camp because the US refused to give him unrestricted access to the detainees.

He told the BBC that he had received reports that some hunger strikers had had thick pipes inserted through the nose and forced down into the stomach.

This was allegedly done roughly, sometimes by prison guards rather than doctors. As a result, some prisoners had reported bleeding and vomiting he said.

"If these allegations are true then this definitely amounts to an additional cruel treatment," Mr Nowak said.

The allegations were rejected by Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Brian Maker.

"To suppose that these people are being left bleeding - I know of no instance of that, there's been no reports of that, there's been no credible evidence produced by any investigation of that fact," he told the BBC.

All those receiving what he called "internal nutrition" were being monitored by trained medical personnel, Lt Col Maker said.

Concern

The US military defines a hunger strike as missing nine consecutive meals.

Lawyers for some of the detainees have said the hunger strikers are protesting against their continued detention without trial and against the conditions in which they are being held, he adds.

About 500 prisoners remain at Guantanamo, many of them captured in Afghanistan. Some have been held for nearly four years without charge.

Human rights campaigners have expressed growing concern about the treatment of inmates at Guantanamo.

The Bush administration has denied allegations of abuse at Guantanamo, insisting it does not torture prisoners.

AFGHAN FIRM EXPORTS 40 PCT OF ITS COOKIE PRODUCE
HERAT CITY, Dec 30 Asia Pulse - A biscuit company in western Herat that manufactures quality produce has exported 40 per cent of its commodity to foreign countries this year. The none-governmental food manufacturing company (Mujtam-e-Ghizaie-e-Sadaf) gained US$240,000 by exporting its produce to the neighbouring Pakistan this year. Likewise, Pakistani and Iranian biscuits are also affluently imported in the country.

President of the private company Abdul Zahir Bahadiry told Pajhwok Afghan News they produced 300 tons of five different types of Anatab biscuits a month, while they decreased the number to 100 tons last year to upbeat the quality. Mohmud, 36, said: "I use this biscuits for a long time, and it is one of the best products of our country."

Mohammad Anwar (45), a shopkeeper said: "I have different Iranian biscuits in my shop, but people are buying Anatab, however it was three rupees more expensive than other biscuits."

By the same token, deputy director of provincial Mines and Industries Department Gul Ahmad Ghori also appreciated Anatab biscuit for high quality. This was the first factory in the province that exported its commodity abroad, he added.

He also urged the owners of other factories to enhance the quality of their products for meeting the requirements of the country that would help in cutting reliance on foreign import. Director of provincial Mines and Industries Department Ghulam Mohammad Mudabir said there were 41 different factories and more than hundred were passing through registration process.

However, owners of factories facing different problems and had warned of closing their mills if their problems were not addressed by the government. Earlier, a motorcycle company was also closed as government gave only a short shrift to their hurdles. (Pajhwok Afghan News)