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Air strike kills 4 Taliban mine planters in southern Afghan town
LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Four Taliban mine planters were killed as they came under air attack in Helmand province 555 km south of Kabul on Wednesday, the provincial administration said in a statement released here on Thursday.
"The security forces identified four Taliban militants who were busy in planting mine on a road in Gereshk district on Wednesday to target security forces, and launched air attack, leaving all the four rebels dead on the spot," the statement said.
Taliban militants who are largely relying on suicide and roadside bombing have yet to make comment.
Taliban district leader killed in N. Afghanistan: ISAF
KABUL, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) on Thursday confirmed the death of a Taliban district leader in Afghanistan's northern Sar-e-Pul province.
"Afghan and coalition officials confirmed today that Assadullah, a top district-level Taliban leader, was killed during an operation in Sar-e Pul province, Tuesday,"said a statement of the alliance released Thursday.
According to the statement, Assadullah had led a group of Taliban fighters and had planned and executed numerous attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.
During the operation, the security force detained one suspected insurgent, seized several rocket propelled grenades and a large quantity of assault rifles and ammunition, it added.
Taliban militants who have been fighting the Afghan and NATO- led ISAF troops over the past few years have yet to make comment.
20 Taliban militants give up fighting in N. Afghanistan
PUL-E-KHUMRI, Afghanistan, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- A Taliban group composed of 20 fighters Thursday gave up fighting and laid down their arms in Afghanistan's Baghlan province, 160 km north of Kabul. "Twenty Taliban fighters under Mullah Sayed Ahmad who were active in Nahrin district over the past couple of years gave up fighting and handed over their weapons to authorities today," security official Abdul Hafiz Karimi told the press while welcoming the former militants in a ceremony.
He said that giving up fighting by these former fighters would further strengthen security in Baghlan province.
The government would spare no efforts to provide job opportunities to the former fighters and ensure their security, the official said.
According to government officials, more than 3,000 Taliban fighters have laid down arms and joined the government-backed peace process over the past year. However, Taliban militants have rejected the claim as baseless.
British Government Halts Transfer Of Afghan Detainees
November 29, 2012 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
The British government has halted the transfer of detainees captured in Afghanistan to Afghan custody, citing the risk of torture.
A Defense Ministry spokesman has confirmed that a moratorium on transfers went into effect on November 28.
On November 29, a lawyer told a London court she had been informed of the temporary ban in a letter sent to her by Defense Secretary Philip Hammond.
The lawyer is acting on behalf of an Afghan farmer who wants the court to declare there is a "real risk" that detainees are in danger of being abused and tortured in Afghan jails.
The 24-year-old Afghan farmer says he was captured by British forces in Afghanistan in 2010 and transferred to Afghan custody, where he was tortured.
Based on reporting by dpa and BBC
Afghan Clerics Want Power To Issue Legally Binding Fatwas
RFE/RL By Ron Synovitz and Ahmad Shebar November 28, 2012
Islamic clerics on Afghanistan's Ulema Council are the country's religious authorities, but their opinions on questions of Islamic law are treated as guideposts rather than legally binding decrees.
The Ulema Council wants to change that.
Clerics have asked President Hamid Karzai to establish a new Dar al-Ifta in Afghanistan -- an institute of Islamic scholars with authority to issue Shari'a-based decrees. Unlike the nonbinding declarations from the Dar al-Ifta in countries like Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Afghan clerics want their fatwas to be enforced by the courts and national police.
Mawlawi Abdul Rahim Shah Agha, one of the Ulema clerics asking Karzai for expanded powers, says the Dar al-Ifta must be independent from Afghanistan's government and foreign influence.
"Afghanistan's clerics want to prevent Afghans from being forced to ask foreign [clerics questions about Islamic issues] so that foreign clerics won't be issuing fatwas against Afghanistan's interests in the future," Agha says.
Constitutional Implications
It's not yet clear if Karzai has the power to expand the council's authority. Presidential spokesman Siamak Heravi told RFE/RL that Karzai must first consider the constitutional implications of the request. "It needs consideration because the work of a Dar al-Ifta and the Afghan Supreme Court may overlap. The clerics know this, so they left it for the president to consider," Heravi said. "This issue will be discussed more in the future. But as for now, no decision has been made."
According to Afghanistan's UN-backed constitution, all laws in the country must be "in accordance with Islam." But the constitution also created a balance of power between lawmakers in parliament, judges in the courts, and the presidential administration.
Lawmaker Baktash Siyawash argues that empowering the Ulema Council with legally binding fatwa authority would transform the clerics into a powerful, unelected fourth branch of government.
"Afghanistan's government structure is based on three branches of government -- the legislative, judicial, and executive. The demand of the Ulema Council to create a Dar al-Ifta is an attempt to gain legislative powers," Siyawash says. "In fact, this demand would create another branch of government and we do not have any provision for this within our constitution."
Reminiscent Of Iran
Rights advocates say the move could put Afghanistan back on a path reminiscent of the Taliban era.
The clerics already have renounced Article 22 of the constitution, which says, "The citizens of Afghanistan -- whether man or woman -- have equal rights and duties before the law."
According to Ulema Council edicts issued in March, "men are fundamental and women are secondary," women should not interact with men in the workplace or in schools, and women must always be accompanied by a male guardian when traveling.Critics also warn that empowering the clerics could lead to a system reminiscent of Iran's powerful Guardians Council.
Under Iran's 1979 constitution, the Guardians Council serves as a constitutional court and must approve all proposed legislation in parliament. Since 1991, the Guardians Council also has been empowered to reject or accept all candidates for parliament and the presidency.
"These people are demanding a Dar al-Ifta within the Supreme Court. We tell them that this is not Tehran. This is Afghanistan," says Shukria Barakzai, a prominent women's rights activist from Kabul and a member of Afghanistan's lower house of parliament. "Our law is Islamic and it is our Supreme Court that issues fatwas."
'Stifle Dissent'
Analysts say the issue puts Karzai in a difficult position because he needs the Ulema Council's support to maintain his political base and its influence to advance the peace-and-reconciliation process.
Wadir Safi, a law professor at Kabul University, says he worries that Karzai will ultimately agree to the Ulema Council's proposal, creating an institution that could reverse many of the internationally backed reforms achieved during the past decade.
"This suggestion was something the Ulema Council and the president had discussed before," Safi says. "Behind this request, there are political goals and they want to achieve these goals 1 1/2 years from now, when foreign troops have left Afghanistan. The Ulema Council wants to stifle dissent from everyone who opposes the government by using this power."
Reza Shah-Kazemi, a research associate at the Institute of Ismaili Studies in London, says the powers held by Afghanistan's Ulema Council will have major implications for democracy and human rights in the country after most foreign troops leave in 2014.
He says the Ulema Council also faces internal challenges over theological disputes between Sunnis and Shi'a and other issues that divide moderate and extremist clerics.
Pakistan, China back Afghan-owned peace process
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan and China Thursday reiterated their support to the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process in a trilateral meeting in Islamabad that also attended by Afghanistan, the Foreign Ministry said.
The second meeting of Pakistan-Afghanistan-China Trilateral Dialogue agreed that an intra-Afghan inclusive dialogue would ensure durable peace and stability in Afghanistan, a Foreign Ministry statement said.
The three sides reviewed the progress since the first trilateral dialogue and believe that the dialogue plays a positive role in enhancing friendly cooperation between the three countries and maintaining peace and stability in the region.
The meeting discussed regional situation with special reference to Afghanistan, efforts for peace and reconciliation and trilateral cooperation in various fields.
The participants agreed that regular trilateral consultations between the three countries were important in order to further promote peace and stability in the region and to strengthen trilateral friendly exchanges and cooperation.
The meeting welcomed the Afghan High Peace Council's visit to Islamabad and the joint press statement issued after the visit. It also appreciated the steps taken by Pakistan in response to their request.
The three countries agreed that close and consistent cooperation among regional countries is essential to overcome the trends of violence. They reiterated their commitment to cooperate in fight against terrorism, extremism and separatism.
The meeting highlighted the importance of counter-narcotics campaign especially due to the nexus between terrorism and drug money. In this context, the participants welcomed the outcome of the Regional Ministerial Conference on Counter-Narcotics held in Islamabad on Nov. 12-13, 2012.
The three sides support the United Nations' leading role in the context of international cooperation. They agreed that the SCO can play an important role in peace and stability in the region and that the SCO regional mechanism can provide better solutions to the emerging new security, political and economic challenges.
The meeting took note of the successful visit of a joint media delegation from Afghanistan and Pakistan to China in June 2012, and appreciated China's efforts in hosting this visit. The Meeting welcomed the Chinese proposals for hosting a Pakistan- Afghanistan joint parliamentary delegation to China, and initiating counter-narcotics consultations and exchanges among the three sides in due time.
The participants gratefully accepted the offer of the Afghan delegation to host the next meeting in Kabul. The date will be communicated through diplomatic channels.
The meeting was chaired by Syed Abrar Hussain, Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan. The Afghan and Chinese delegations were led by Mr. Azizuddin Ahmadzada, Director General, First Political Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan and Mr. Huang Xilian, Counsellor of the Department of Asian Affair of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, respectively.
Afghan Clerics Want Power To Issue Legally Binding Fatwas
By Ron Synovitz and Ahmad Shebar November 28, 2012 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Islamic clerics on Afghanistan's Ulema Council are the country's religious authorities, but their opinions on questions of Islamic law are treated as guideposts rather than legally binding decrees.
The Ulema Council wants to change that.
Clerics have asked President Hamid Karzai to establish a new Dar al-Ifta in Afghanistan -- an institute of Islamic scholars with authority to issue Shari'a-based decrees. Unlike the nonbinding declarations from the Dar al-Ifta in countries like Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Afghan clerics want their fatwas to be enforced by the courts and national police.
Mawlawi Abdul Rahim Shah Agha, one of the Ulema clerics asking Karzai for expanded powers, says the Dar al-Ifta must be independent from Afghanistan's government and foreign influence.
"Afghanistan's clerics want to prevent Afghans from being forced to ask foreign [clerics questions about Islamic issues] so that foreign clerics won't be issuing fatwas against Afghanistan's interests in the future," Agha says.
Constitutional Implications
It's not yet clear if Karzai has the power to expand the council's authority. Presidential spokesman Siamak Heravi told RFE/RL that Karzai must first consider the constitutional implications of the request.
"It needs consideration because the work of a Dar al-Ifta and the Afghan Supreme Court may overlap. The clerics know this, so they left it for the president to consider," Heravi said. "This issue will be discussed more in the future. But as for now, no decision has been made."
According to Afghanistan's UN-backed constitution, all laws in the country must be "in accordance with Islam." But the constitution also created a balance of power between lawmakers in parliament, judges in the courts, and the presidential administration.
Lawmaker Baktash Siyawash argues that empowering the Ulema Council with legally binding fatwa authority would transform the clerics into a powerful, unelected fourth branch of government.
"Afghanistan's government structure is based on three branches of government -- the legislative, judicial, and executive. The demand of the Ulema Council to create a Dar al-Ifta is an attempt to gain legislative powers," Siyawash says. "In fact, this demand would create another branch of government and we do not have any provision for this within our constitution."
Reminiscent Of Iran
Rights advocates say the move could put Afghanistan back on a path reminiscent of the Taliban era.
The clerics already have renounced Article 22 of the constitution, which says, "The citizens of Afghanistan -- whether man or woman -- have equal rights and duties before the law."
According to Ulema Council edicts issued in March, "men are fundamental and women are secondary," women should not interact with men in the workplace or in schools, and women must always be accompanied by a male guardian when traveling.
Critics also warn that empowering the clerics could lead to a system reminiscent of Iran's powerful Guardians Council.
Under Iran's 1979 constitution, the Guardians Council serves as a constitutional court and must approve all proposed legislation in parliament. Since 1991, the Guardians Council also has been empowered to reject or accept all candidates for parliament and the presidency.
"These people are demanding a Dar al-Ifta within the Supreme Court. We tell them that this is not Tehran. This is Afghanistan," says Shukria Barakzai, a prominent women's rights activist from Kabul and a member of Afghanistan's lower house of parliament. "Our law is Islamic and it is our Supreme Court that issues fatwas."
'Stifle Dissent'
Analysts say the issue puts Karzai in a difficult position because he needs the Ulema Council's support to maintain his political base and its influence to advance the peace-and-reconciliation process.
Wadir Safi, a law professor at Kabul University, says he worries that Karzai will ultimately agree to the Ulema Council's proposal, creating an institution that could reverse many of the internationally backed reforms achieved during the past decade.
"This suggestion was something the Ulema Council and the president had discussed before," Safi says. "Behind this request, there are political goals and they want to achieve these goals 1 1/2 years from now, when foreign troops have left Afghanistan. The Ulema Council wants to stifle dissent from everyone who opposes the government by using this power."
Reza Shah-Kazemi, a research associate at the Institute of Ismaili Studies in London, says the powers held by Afghanistan's Ulema Council will have major implications for democracy and human rights in the country after most foreign troops leave in 2014.
He says the Ulema Council also faces internal challenges over theological disputes between Sunnis and Shi'a and other issues that divide moderate and extremist clerics.
Afghan Women Make Their Mark On The Soccer Field
NPR By Sean Carberry November 28, 2012
Afghanistan first established a national women's soccer team just five years ago, and while they aren't yet World Cup material, they are making strides.
Last week, they got a little help from former U.S. Olympic soccer player Lorrie Fair, who staged a clinic in Kabul that was set up by the State Department.
Clad in her blue U.S. national team sweatsuit, Fair led the Afghan women through a series of exercises on the tennis court at the U.S. Embassy.
"I'm constantly inspired by the things they do, because we're very lucky in the U.S. to have support for women's sports," Fair said. "We can't even grasp what they're going through. They're fighting an uphill battle."
The Afghan team has been playing internationally since 2008 and has mostly competed against teams in the region, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. There have been some rough defeats, like an 11-0 drubbing by India earlier this year.
Making Strides
During the Taliban era in Afghanistan, women were barely able to leave the house, let alone play sports. But since 2001, women have been running, kicking and punching their way onto the international sports scene, including the Olympics.
There are Afghan women playing soccer, basketball, volleyball and even cricket, though some still have to do it in secret. And they continue to face countless obstacles.
"Some pretended to be boys when they were kids so that they could play," says Fair. "Others just kind of got together secretly. There are so many stories. Each person has their individual story. What they do have in common is that they do have a love for the game."
Hadissa Wali, 19, has loved the game since she started playing in fourth grade.
"It was challenging. We practiced in school, and the level [of play] was really low, and we weren't able to practice well with the coaches that we had," says Wali, who dreams of playing in the World Cup and eventually becoming a lawyer.
"It's quite important for me to play in the World Cup. I just want to play as a world player like [U.S. star] Alex Morgan," she adds. "I'm really a fan of her playing. That's my dream — to be like those players. Not that famous, just to play like them."
The team captain is Zahra Mahmoudi, who was born and raised in Iran. Her family returned to Afghanistan in 2004, and she taught the girls in her neighborhood how to play.
"It doesn't matter for us if we lose the game. It's not important for us. The [important] matter is being a team and existing, because being a soccer player in Afghanistan is a fight against the Taliban and all the people who don't want females to be in society or to work or to study," Mahmoudi says.
Still Seeking Acceptance
Afghan society as a whole is still not accepting of female athletes. Many families don't want their daughters to face the security risks associated with being a female athlete, and women often lack resources and safe places to train.
Still, many are persevering. Sadaf Rahimi is a female boxer who was planning to fight at the London Olympics.
But, at the last minute, the International Boxing Association barred her from the games, saying she was overmatched by the competition and was in danger of injury.
Instead, Afghanistan sent sprinter Tahmina Kohistani to London. She failed to advance beyond her initial heat, but she has vowed to promote women's sports in Afghanistan.
Mahmoudi says her family supports her but worries for her safety.
"It's very difficult [for me] and also for some of my friends," Mahmoudi says. "There are females who say, 'Please don't play soccer. It's for boys.' Because they have traditional minds."
Still, she's hopeful about the future.
"I'm studying coaching football now, and I hope in the future I can become a coach, because it's very essential for Afghan culture that a woman teach girls," Mahmoudi says.
At the end of the clinic, Fair says the Afghan women taught her more than she taught them.
"I can say that I'm definitely impressed," Fair says. "They're skilled, they're passionate. They're pretty courageous to even be here. If this country has a future, it's going to be in these women here, because they were pretty amazing."
Afghan police 'ignored Interpol arrest warrant for Kabul Bank founder'
Sherkhan Farnood built up luxury property portfolio and lined pockets of senior officials from $900m in deposits, court hears
Guardian.co.uk By Emma Graham-Harrison Wednesday 28 November 2012
Kabul - The founder of a failed Afghan bank that operated as a $900m (£560m) Ponzi scheme was wanted by Interpol for money-laundering and illegal banking, but Afghan authorities ignored his arrest warrant for years, leaving him free to plunder his home country, a special court investigating the scandal has found.
Background checks made on Sherkhan Farnood when he founded Kabul Bank in 2004 might not have uncovered his murky past, but three years later police in Afghanistan were told that Russia wanted to prosecute him for financial crimes, including purchasing property for illegal use.
The Interpol arrest warrant came as Farnood was just starting to use bank money to build up a portfolio of luxury villas and other property in Dubai worth $151m, and help other shareholders, friends and political connections line their own pockets, a public inquiry into the crisis found.
If authorities had followed up the request, or simply taken it as a warning to look more closely into the finances of Farnood and his bank they might have staved off a banking scandal that, relative to the size of Afghanistan's puny national economy, is the worst the world has seen.
"Interpol sent out an arrest warrant for him for illegal banking activities, organising a criminal group, money-laundering, which means basically he did the same thing there," said Drago Kos, chair of the joint Afghan and international anti-corruption committee behind the public inquiry.
"Then he came over here, and what was funny was that since 2007, Interpol Afghanistan knew about it and did nothing. Even today they do nothing and he is still wanted by the Russians."
Farnood and the bank's CEO, Khalilullah Ferozi, both went on trial this month for their part in the bank's collapse, but the hearings were suspended after the first week. The head of the special court said it was not clear when the trials would resume.
During his time in charge of Kabul Bank, Farnood presided over theft staggering in its scale and audacity, the inquiry found. The fraud did not begin until around 2006, Kos said, but Farnood probably never intended to run Kabul Bank as a conventional business. "To have a Ponzi scheme you need a certain amount of money," he said. "They just didn't have the money to do it from the beginning."
An array of forged documents and fake official stamps for non-existant companies helped managers keep one set of books for auditors and another for themselves; more than $800m of the stolen money went to just 12 people and seven companies connected to them.
Hundreds of millions of dollars were sent abroad, some in the food trays of an airline owned by shareholders linked to the bank, with staff salaries of $320,000 booked as "Pilots of Cash Delivery". Other sums were sent more mundanely through international wire transfers.
Members of Kabul's elite, including the brothers of President Hamid Karzai and the vice-president, Mohammad Fahim, were among the shareholders. Both have repaid money and deny any wrongdoing.
At one point the then-chief executive drove around the Afghan capital handing out money in envelopes. "It was almost worse than corruption," said Kos. "In corruption you give the money and ask for something in return. Here the money was given without asking for anything in return."
Khalilullah Ferozi has declined to say how much he handed out, or to whom exactly. But among the banks' creditors are a group who got $3.1m in loans but are so powerful that receivers for Kabul Bank have declined to even ask for the money back. Political meddling by the country's elite also delayed efforts to put those responsible on trial and recover lost assets.
"Many of the primary actors carry on their business in Afghanistan without fear of ever being held accountable, not to mention prosecuted," the public inquiry found, warning of "impunity for powerful Afghans" along with "scapegoating of the less powerful".
Receivers will be lucky to get back half of the missing cash, Kos said. So as the government bailed out Kabul Bank, ultimately it is the ordinary people of a country – with an average yearly income of less than $500 – who will have to pay for the massive theft by greedy members of the elite.
"Every citizen in Afghanistan will bear the cost of the hundreds of millions of dollars required to secure deposits and the tens of millions of dollars required to deal with the aftermath," the report on the public inquiry found. "This is real money from the annual budget of the government that could be much better spent on other priorities such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, or security."
Afghan graft buster vows to crack Kabulbank scandal
Reuters By Martin Petty and Hamid Shalizi 28/11/2012
KABUL - The chief investigator probing Afghanistan's biggest financial scandal says he will stop at nothing to put the perpetrators in a multi-million dollar bank fraud behind bars.
As a result, Judge Shamsul Rahman Shams worries for his own safety.
Even for a country ranked as one of the world's most corrupt, the theft of about $935 million from the Kabulbank two years ago and the subsequent foot-dragging in prosecuting those responsible underlines concerns about Afghanistan's ability to manage its finances and enforce the rule of law.
The tough-talking Shams, conscious his country is under close scrutiny over how it handles the embarrassing case, says no-one -- regardless of political or business connections -- will be spared in his investigations.
"We are flexing our muscles with the big guys who could easily get rid of us, but we are committed to solve this case," said Shams, who heads a special court investigating 22 people in the scam that brought the commercial bank to its knees.
"We know it's a dangerous task but we're not scared. I don't have a bodyguard and as soon as I announce the rulings I'll be in trouble," Shams told Reuters in his bunker-like office in a basement of a fortified Kabul house.
The bank's collapse triggered a financial crisis, civil disorder and a run on deposits, worrying foreign donors and embarrassing the U.S. and Afghan governments, which had touted its credentials as a modern lender integral to developing a tiny economy crippled by war and mismanagement.
The government bailed out the country's then biggest lender, and relaunched it as the state-run New Kabul Bank.
Among those who have been linked to the scandal, according to investigators, are the bank's current and former chiefs, its founder and the brothers of President Hamid Karzai and his first vice-president, Mohammad Qasim Fahim, who were both shareholders.
A report released on Wednesday detailed for the first time allegations of poor or reluctant law enforcement, political interference, questionable oversight by foreign auditors and institutionalized fraud by Kabulbank officials.
The outcome of the case is seen as a crucial barometer of Afghanistan's commitment to stabilizing the economy and its fight against corruption, two years out from the withdrawal of most foreign troops and a possible winding down of billions of dollars in international aid.
PROXIES, FORGERIES, FAKES
The probe by the government-funded Independent Joint Anti-Corruption and Evaluation Committee named no individuals but revealed two sets of books were kept by Kabulbank, one to satisfy regulators and another tracking the real disbursement of funds through a loan-book scheme for proxy borrowers. They used forged supporting documents, fake business stamps and statements provided by accounting firms complicit in the scam.
The report was also critical of "clean assessments" from independent auditors, which include Dubai-based Behl, Lad and Al Sayegh and Pakistan-registered AF Ferguson, a company that comes under the umbrella of Pricewaterhousecoopers (PwC). AF Ferguson did not appear to follow up on breaches identified during central bank examinations, the report said.
Contacted by Reuters for comment, a PwC official said in an email AF Ferguson's policy was not to disclose details of its clients or the projects that it has worked on.
The report also showed how stolen funds were concealed -- disguised as large expenses, bonuses, rents and salary payments to ghost staffers. Some funds were siphoned out of the country either electronically or in cash aboard Pamir Airways, owned by shareholders linked to the bank.
Those handling the bank investigation have been accused of being sluggish. Shams, the judge leading the probe, said the process is extremely complex, but criminal proceedings would be wrapped up "very soon". "We want to reassure everyone that we'll spare no one," he added.
But two have already been spared thanks to a presidential decree in April that granted immunity from prosecution to any of those implicated who returned funds within two months. The two who responded were Mahmoud Karzai, the president's brother, who has paid back $22 million and Haji Hasseen, the vice-president's sibling, who returned $18 million, according to Shams. Both have denied any wrongdoing.
Only two of those charged with fraud are in detention. They are bank's founder Sherkhan Farnoon, and its former chief executive, Khalil Fruzi, who Afghan officials believe were the masterminds behind the scandal.
Five other suspects have fled the country and the rest are on bail, including New Kabul Bank Chairman Masood Musa Ghazi.
Abdullah Dowrani, chief of the Financial Disputes Resolution Commission, says around $140 million in capital has been recovered, on top of more than $200 million in property assets and $218 million in debt to be returned by borrowers.
Aside from the $560 million in unpaid interest, Dowrani said much of the rest should not be difficult to recover.
Contrary to popular assumption that most of the money ended up in Dubai, he said, as little as 10 percent was smuggled overseas and channeled into luxury villas.
The rest was invested in Afghanistan, from an oil storage facility, a television station and a gas firm to large-scale property developments, some of which the government had agreed to purchase.
"The important thing is for us is to overcome this challenge and prove to the world that there is a system in place, though it is new, it is weak for the time being, it has tomorrow," Dowrani told Reuters.
(Additional reporting by Katharine Houreld in Islamabad; Editing by Jeremy Laurence)
Good News from Kabul: A More Peaceful Ashura This Year
TIME By John Wendle Nov. 28, 2012
KABUL - Last year we were late, so we were there when the bomb went off in the Afghan capital.
Suddenly I was nearly thrown off my feet by crowds of men running away, from the Ashura Shia holy day rites, some screaming “Ya Hussein!” I thought about running, took cover behind a car, then considered following dozens of others who had jumped down a retaining wall and were wading across the filthy Kabul River.
Then I realized I had not seen Joel, a photographer friend of mine, for a few minutes and that I needed to capture what was going on. I fought my way through the terrified crowd only to find the street slick with blood and dozens and dozens of bodies laid out, blown out into a near perfect semi-circle.
I wrote then that it was, “as if a giant scythe had reached out, cutting people down like wheat in its sweep.” The image of the perfect geometry stays with me today. So does the memory of the feeling of being walled in by blood.
It has taken me a year to be able to write this without choking up. I still do, from time to time. Sometimes I have problems with what I saw. Mostly, though, it is a memory – or something not to be touched (see photos, some graphic, from Ashura 2012 here.)
This year it was hard, but different. On the night before this Ashura, I sent Joel a text, asking him what he would be doing on Saturday. We had talked around the topic, but had not come up with any plan. He said he would go back down to the river. I was anxious and had doubts, but told him I’d meet him the next morning.
I met him early this Saturday morning. I dropped off my bike and we started walking down towards the river. We walked through the diplomatic quarter of the city – the area’s high gray blast walls just starting to be tipped by the orange of the morning light. The snow-capped peaks around Kabul glowed with the same color.
As we walked, we talked about last year. Part of the reason for going back down to the river, to photograph the men flagellating themselves, was to overcome fear. “If you don’t go, you’ll just get more afraid,” he told me. Part of the reason, on my end, was to see if security had improved. So, we were not just going to photograph a news event – it was also some sort of way to help ourselves.
This year security was much tighter. Ropes were strung out, blocking off one quadrant of the square in front of the Central Bank, while others blocked off roads heading towards the river. A big man walked over and asked us who we were and where did we think we were going. I made a few jokes in Russian and the big guy answered.
For all of the security – and there was a lot – all it took was to have a shared foreign language to get us through. After 15 minutes, we were finally down on the strip of road running between the Abul Faz Mosque and the Kabul River.
We stood joking with a couple other journalists who had come down early. Groups of women in chadors – black or colorful as rainbows – streamed into the mosque to pray. Later, groups of men began to arrive.
The crowds came through a gate some 300 feet away and were frisked by armed police. The crowds were orderly – and the police professional – almost resembling the gates at the Afghan Premier League soccer finals a few weeks before – though much more somber.
In a three-story house still under construction and overlooking the normally busy road, a policeman was stationed with a machinegun. He wore belts of machinegun rounds wrapped around his belly in a shimmering gold cummerbund and drank tea from a golden teapot, but seemed aware enough. Trucks with machineguns mounted in their beds were parked along the edges of the road and police and border police were stationed every few meters along the top of the river’s retaining wall.
Indeed, the only frenzy, the only disorder of the day, was when the flagellations and chanting started. Drops of blood flew through the air, spattering onlookers and flagellants alike, as everyone from young boys to old men beat themselves. The crowd thumped the rhythm of the chants on their chests. Dozens and dozens of onlookers had a mobile phone out, filming the event.
After a few hours, the rite had finished, all of the different mosque delegations had come through, and the square emptied. We walked home down the same road we had walked down the year before – this time through two police checkpoints. There was the familiar feeling of having put in a good day’s work – but also a lot of relief that things had changed this year.
Afghan girl's throat slit over refusal to wed
AFP November 29, 2012
Kunduz - Two men have been arrested for slitting the throat of a 15-year-old Afghan girl after her family refused a marriage proposal, police said Thursday. The girl was carrying water from a river to her village home in northern Kunduz province on Wednesday when she was murdered, police spokesman Sayed Sarwar Hussaini told AFP.
"The two men attacked her and slit her throat with a knife," he said. "They were arrested and are in police custody."
Hussaini said one of the suspects had proposed marriage to the girl but her family had rejected the offer.
Extreme violence against women and girls remains a major problem in the conservative Muslim nation more than a decade after US-led troops brought down the notoriously brutal Taliban Islamist regime.
According to figures by British charity organisation Oxfam, 87% of Afghan women report having experienced physical, sexual or psychological violence or forced marriage.
Last month a 20-year-old woman was beheaded by her husband's family in the western province of Herat after she refused to become a prostitute, police said. Four people were arrested over the brutal killing.
And in September, five people were arrested over the public flogging of a 16-year-old girl for allegedly having an affair.
The girl was whipped 100 times in front of village elders and family members in central Ghazni province. Her alleged boyfriend was fined.
Unmarried girls are often confined to the home and forbidden from maintaining any contact with men outside the immediate family.
Afghanistan prepares for an uncertain future
DW 28/11/2012
The German cabinet has approved plans to reduce forces in Afghanistan to 3,300 by February 2012 and withdraw troops completely by the end of that year. What happens after that is what many Afghans wonder.
More than 200,000 Afghan soldiers have completed training at the military training center in Kabul.
They've learned how to fight the Taliban and defend Afghanistan after 2014, when only a small number of Western troops are expected to remain in the country.
"Everything will be normal after 2014. In fact, the security situation will be even better," says Aminullah Patyani, commander of the Kabul military training center. "The warnings that our enemies are firing off about this date are just psychological warfare. The Afghans have experienced a civil war; they don't want another one. They want peace. And it will come. Government collapse?Patyani is optimistic. But should he be?
Critics have painted a picture of Afghanistan's future that is dominated by dark colors. A recently published paper by the respected International Crisis Group, for instance, has caused a stir. It claims that Afghanistan is far from being in a position to ensure its own security and that a government collapse is possible.
"The challenges will get bigger," says Abdul Waheed Wafa, a policy expert in Kabul. "We Afghans will suffer economically and casualties will rise. But overall, I don't think there will be a collapse."
Afghans have changed, adds Wafa. They are now better educated and embrace, in many ways, a civil society. They also have media and don't want to lose all of this.
Afghan security forces
But the question is: What does the country want? How about the local power players outside the capital? Do they want something else?
"The concern that I have isn't a civil war in Kabul in the 90s. I think the political elite, although very problematic, is probably able to prevent completely falling out with each other and starting to fire rockets at each other," says Fabricio Foschini with the Afghanistan Analysts' network. "But at the local level, we could have some incidents, like commanders vying for control of an area."
The number of casualties among Afghan security forces is already alarmingly high: the police and army report more than 500 deaths or injuries per month. Many fear this statistic is a sign of worse to come.
"But most of it depends on the developments inside the Afghan political realm," says Foschini, adding that the various roles played by neighboring states, the security forces and the insurgents should not be underestimated. "It depends on a lot of factors but I think Afghan politics and the future election are possibly the major test."
Electronic IDs Ready in 2 Months: Officials
TOLOnews.com By Saleha Soadat Wednesday, 28 November 2012
The distribution of electronic identification cards will begin nationwide in two months but may only reach 80 percent of the population within three years, Afghan security and IT officials said on Wednesday.
The Communications and IT Minister Amirzai Sangin said before parliament on Wedensday that the plan for the distribution is ready but they are waiting for a proper design for the cards.
"The process is almost complete – we are only waiting for the design of the ID cards. We hope to start the distribution in two months," Sangin said.
He said the electronic cards will include finger print data, eye scan and other necessary information which will avoid any kind of possible fraud.
However, the distribution will not be complete by the time of the 2014 presidential election, slated for April 5.
Interior Minister Mujtaba Patang warned that the lack exact demographic statistics will be a major challenge ahead of the new ID card distribution.
"Lack of precise demographic statistics is a significant challenge for the distribution of electronic ID cards. We still don't know the exact population of every province," Patang said, but added that he hoped more than 80 percent of the populations will have electronic IDs within three years.
He emphasised that the remaining 20 percent will eventually get an electronic ID but it may take more than three years because of significant security challenges.
Despite mentions of a lack of precise demographic statistics, the Central Statistics Department Deputy Director Hasibullah Mouwahed said that Afghanistan will have a population of 27 million by the end of this Persian year (March 2013).
"Afghanistan's exact population is 27 million people, this is very precise and the counting process is implemented every ten years not every year," he said.
Security Forces Free Kidnapped Boys in Balkh
TOLOnews.com Wednesday, 28 November 2012
Two boys kidnapped in separate incidents in northern Balkh province have been released and their captors detained after successful operations conducted by special forces, Balkh police said.
The two boys – one 12-years-old and one in grade 12 in high school – were both kidnapped in different incidents and freed in a space of 24 hours, Balkh Police Commander Gen. Abdulrazaq Qaderi said Wednesday.
"Two incidents took place in the city of Mazar-e-Sharif over the last 24 hours, both kidnappings. Five have been arrested in association with the incidents," Qaseri told TOLOnews.
Ramez, the high school student, was allegedly kidnapped by classmates who first drugged him.
He told TOLOnews he went with a classmate to the Shrine of Hazrat Ali after preparing for a university entrance exam. The classmate, who Ramez said is from the Khogian district of eastern Nangarhar province, drugged him and kidnapped with the help of two other people.
"There were two glasses of banana milkshake - one had an anesthetic in it which he gave to me and he drank from the other glass. I fell unconscious a few moments after that and he kidnapped me," Ramez said.
The father of the 12-year-old expressed his gratitude for the return of his son.
"I am so happy that my son is released after a few days. I thank the security forces," said Waissuddin.
The reasons for the kidnappings were not clear.
Both parties called for the kidnappers to be punished according to the law.
Article 420 of the Afghanistan Penal Code says a person kidnapping an under-18 individually or along with someone else will be sentenced to not more than seven years prison.
No Guarantee for Fair Election Without Registrations: IEC
TOLOnews.com By Shakeela Ahbrimkhil Wednesday, 28 November 2012
There is no guarantee for a transparent and fair presidential election in 2014 if the registration of voters is not complete, the head of Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission (IEC) said on Wednesday.
Fazel Ahmad Manawe said at a press conference in Kabul that the registration process is expected to get underway by the start of April next year.
"The most important task ahead of us is the registration of voters, this has to be done. Without it, the transparency of elections will not be guaranteed," Manawe said.
According to the IEC estimates, the cost of registering voters is expected to reach $30m.
Lack of clarity on the election law and the IEC's organisational structure are other challenges ahead of the election, Manawe noted, pointing out the Election Law is still pending approval from the Council of Ministers and the question of foreign commissioners is unresolved in the National Assembly.
"I am concerned about the lack of election law and our organisational structure – we need a law to perform based on that. I don't believe the presence or absence of the two foreign advisors in the Election Complaints Commission (ECC) will make any difference in the election process," he said.
"We will not allow any government official to intervene in the election affairs. We will have some advice from the president but we will maintain our independence," he added.
The Lower House approved the election last month including the article allowing two foreigners to be appointed to the ECC, but the article was rejected by the Upper House last week.
According to the timetable announced by IEC, both the presidential and the provincial council polls will be held on April 5 2014.
Govt Housing Project to be Built by Private Sector
TOLOnews.com By Shahla Murtazaie Wednesday, 28 November 2012
The construction of the second stage of government residential blocks in Kabul worth $1 billion has been awarded to a private company, the Ministry of Urban Development Affairs and Housing said on Wednesday.
The Khwaja Rawash Project stage 2 includes 175 blocks with over 14,000 apartments, Minister Hassan Abdullahi said, and signals one of the first public-private partnerships for the Afghan government in the housing sector.
"The ministry policy in housing is to support the private sector. The private sector is to build the houses and give to the people at a low price according to their incomes," Abdullahi said.
The joint investment by the government and private sector is being constructed in Kabul's Kasaba area and is based no strict engineering criteria, he said.
Executive Head of Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries Mohammad Qurban Haqju welcomed the project.
"It is great that a big project is going to be built according to modern housing in the 21st century like housing in the US and Europe. Also the handicapped and disabled should have access to the apartments," he said.
The project is expected to be finished in four years, according to the ministry.
www.afghanistannewscenter.com
LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Four Taliban mine planters were killed as they came under air attack in Helmand province 555 km south of Kabul on Wednesday, the provincial administration said in a statement released here on Thursday.
"The security forces identified four Taliban militants who were busy in planting mine on a road in Gereshk district on Wednesday to target security forces, and launched air attack, leaving all the four rebels dead on the spot," the statement said.
Taliban militants who are largely relying on suicide and roadside bombing have yet to make comment.
Taliban district leader killed in N. Afghanistan: ISAF
KABUL, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) on Thursday confirmed the death of a Taliban district leader in Afghanistan's northern Sar-e-Pul province.
"Afghan and coalition officials confirmed today that Assadullah, a top district-level Taliban leader, was killed during an operation in Sar-e Pul province, Tuesday,"said a statement of the alliance released Thursday.
According to the statement, Assadullah had led a group of Taliban fighters and had planned and executed numerous attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.
During the operation, the security force detained one suspected insurgent, seized several rocket propelled grenades and a large quantity of assault rifles and ammunition, it added.
Taliban militants who have been fighting the Afghan and NATO- led ISAF troops over the past few years have yet to make comment.
20 Taliban militants give up fighting in N. Afghanistan
PUL-E-KHUMRI, Afghanistan, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- A Taliban group composed of 20 fighters Thursday gave up fighting and laid down their arms in Afghanistan's Baghlan province, 160 km north of Kabul. "Twenty Taliban fighters under Mullah Sayed Ahmad who were active in Nahrin district over the past couple of years gave up fighting and handed over their weapons to authorities today," security official Abdul Hafiz Karimi told the press while welcoming the former militants in a ceremony.
He said that giving up fighting by these former fighters would further strengthen security in Baghlan province.
The government would spare no efforts to provide job opportunities to the former fighters and ensure their security, the official said.
According to government officials, more than 3,000 Taliban fighters have laid down arms and joined the government-backed peace process over the past year. However, Taliban militants have rejected the claim as baseless.
British Government Halts Transfer Of Afghan Detainees
November 29, 2012 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
The British government has halted the transfer of detainees captured in Afghanistan to Afghan custody, citing the risk of torture.
A Defense Ministry spokesman has confirmed that a moratorium on transfers went into effect on November 28.
On November 29, a lawyer told a London court she had been informed of the temporary ban in a letter sent to her by Defense Secretary Philip Hammond.
The lawyer is acting on behalf of an Afghan farmer who wants the court to declare there is a "real risk" that detainees are in danger of being abused and tortured in Afghan jails.
The 24-year-old Afghan farmer says he was captured by British forces in Afghanistan in 2010 and transferred to Afghan custody, where he was tortured.
Based on reporting by dpa and BBC
Afghan Clerics Want Power To Issue Legally Binding Fatwas
RFE/RL By Ron Synovitz and Ahmad Shebar November 28, 2012
Islamic clerics on Afghanistan's Ulema Council are the country's religious authorities, but their opinions on questions of Islamic law are treated as guideposts rather than legally binding decrees.
The Ulema Council wants to change that.
Clerics have asked President Hamid Karzai to establish a new Dar al-Ifta in Afghanistan -- an institute of Islamic scholars with authority to issue Shari'a-based decrees. Unlike the nonbinding declarations from the Dar al-Ifta in countries like Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Afghan clerics want their fatwas to be enforced by the courts and national police.
Mawlawi Abdul Rahim Shah Agha, one of the Ulema clerics asking Karzai for expanded powers, says the Dar al-Ifta must be independent from Afghanistan's government and foreign influence.
"Afghanistan's clerics want to prevent Afghans from being forced to ask foreign [clerics questions about Islamic issues] so that foreign clerics won't be issuing fatwas against Afghanistan's interests in the future," Agha says.
Constitutional Implications
It's not yet clear if Karzai has the power to expand the council's authority. Presidential spokesman Siamak Heravi told RFE/RL that Karzai must first consider the constitutional implications of the request. "It needs consideration because the work of a Dar al-Ifta and the Afghan Supreme Court may overlap. The clerics know this, so they left it for the president to consider," Heravi said. "This issue will be discussed more in the future. But as for now, no decision has been made."
According to Afghanistan's UN-backed constitution, all laws in the country must be "in accordance with Islam." But the constitution also created a balance of power between lawmakers in parliament, judges in the courts, and the presidential administration.
Lawmaker Baktash Siyawash argues that empowering the Ulema Council with legally binding fatwa authority would transform the clerics into a powerful, unelected fourth branch of government.
"Afghanistan's government structure is based on three branches of government -- the legislative, judicial, and executive. The demand of the Ulema Council to create a Dar al-Ifta is an attempt to gain legislative powers," Siyawash says. "In fact, this demand would create another branch of government and we do not have any provision for this within our constitution."
Reminiscent Of Iran
Rights advocates say the move could put Afghanistan back on a path reminiscent of the Taliban era.
The clerics already have renounced Article 22 of the constitution, which says, "The citizens of Afghanistan -- whether man or woman -- have equal rights and duties before the law."
According to Ulema Council edicts issued in March, "men are fundamental and women are secondary," women should not interact with men in the workplace or in schools, and women must always be accompanied by a male guardian when traveling.Critics also warn that empowering the clerics could lead to a system reminiscent of Iran's powerful Guardians Council.
Under Iran's 1979 constitution, the Guardians Council serves as a constitutional court and must approve all proposed legislation in parliament. Since 1991, the Guardians Council also has been empowered to reject or accept all candidates for parliament and the presidency.
"These people are demanding a Dar al-Ifta within the Supreme Court. We tell them that this is not Tehran. This is Afghanistan," says Shukria Barakzai, a prominent women's rights activist from Kabul and a member of Afghanistan's lower house of parliament. "Our law is Islamic and it is our Supreme Court that issues fatwas."
'Stifle Dissent'
Analysts say the issue puts Karzai in a difficult position because he needs the Ulema Council's support to maintain his political base and its influence to advance the peace-and-reconciliation process.
Wadir Safi, a law professor at Kabul University, says he worries that Karzai will ultimately agree to the Ulema Council's proposal, creating an institution that could reverse many of the internationally backed reforms achieved during the past decade.
"This suggestion was something the Ulema Council and the president had discussed before," Safi says. "Behind this request, there are political goals and they want to achieve these goals 1 1/2 years from now, when foreign troops have left Afghanistan. The Ulema Council wants to stifle dissent from everyone who opposes the government by using this power."
Reza Shah-Kazemi, a research associate at the Institute of Ismaili Studies in London, says the powers held by Afghanistan's Ulema Council will have major implications for democracy and human rights in the country after most foreign troops leave in 2014.
He says the Ulema Council also faces internal challenges over theological disputes between Sunnis and Shi'a and other issues that divide moderate and extremist clerics.
Pakistan, China back Afghan-owned peace process
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan and China Thursday reiterated their support to the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process in a trilateral meeting in Islamabad that also attended by Afghanistan, the Foreign Ministry said.
The second meeting of Pakistan-Afghanistan-China Trilateral Dialogue agreed that an intra-Afghan inclusive dialogue would ensure durable peace and stability in Afghanistan, a Foreign Ministry statement said.
The three sides reviewed the progress since the first trilateral dialogue and believe that the dialogue plays a positive role in enhancing friendly cooperation between the three countries and maintaining peace and stability in the region.
The meeting discussed regional situation with special reference to Afghanistan, efforts for peace and reconciliation and trilateral cooperation in various fields.
The participants agreed that regular trilateral consultations between the three countries were important in order to further promote peace and stability in the region and to strengthen trilateral friendly exchanges and cooperation.
The meeting welcomed the Afghan High Peace Council's visit to Islamabad and the joint press statement issued after the visit. It also appreciated the steps taken by Pakistan in response to their request.
The three countries agreed that close and consistent cooperation among regional countries is essential to overcome the trends of violence. They reiterated their commitment to cooperate in fight against terrorism, extremism and separatism.
The meeting highlighted the importance of counter-narcotics campaign especially due to the nexus between terrorism and drug money. In this context, the participants welcomed the outcome of the Regional Ministerial Conference on Counter-Narcotics held in Islamabad on Nov. 12-13, 2012.
The three sides support the United Nations' leading role in the context of international cooperation. They agreed that the SCO can play an important role in peace and stability in the region and that the SCO regional mechanism can provide better solutions to the emerging new security, political and economic challenges.
The meeting took note of the successful visit of a joint media delegation from Afghanistan and Pakistan to China in June 2012, and appreciated China's efforts in hosting this visit. The Meeting welcomed the Chinese proposals for hosting a Pakistan- Afghanistan joint parliamentary delegation to China, and initiating counter-narcotics consultations and exchanges among the three sides in due time.
The participants gratefully accepted the offer of the Afghan delegation to host the next meeting in Kabul. The date will be communicated through diplomatic channels.
The meeting was chaired by Syed Abrar Hussain, Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan. The Afghan and Chinese delegations were led by Mr. Azizuddin Ahmadzada, Director General, First Political Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan and Mr. Huang Xilian, Counsellor of the Department of Asian Affair of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, respectively.
Afghan Clerics Want Power To Issue Legally Binding Fatwas
By Ron Synovitz and Ahmad Shebar November 28, 2012 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Islamic clerics on Afghanistan's Ulema Council are the country's religious authorities, but their opinions on questions of Islamic law are treated as guideposts rather than legally binding decrees.
The Ulema Council wants to change that.
Clerics have asked President Hamid Karzai to establish a new Dar al-Ifta in Afghanistan -- an institute of Islamic scholars with authority to issue Shari'a-based decrees. Unlike the nonbinding declarations from the Dar al-Ifta in countries like Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Afghan clerics want their fatwas to be enforced by the courts and national police.
Mawlawi Abdul Rahim Shah Agha, one of the Ulema clerics asking Karzai for expanded powers, says the Dar al-Ifta must be independent from Afghanistan's government and foreign influence.
"Afghanistan's clerics want to prevent Afghans from being forced to ask foreign [clerics questions about Islamic issues] so that foreign clerics won't be issuing fatwas against Afghanistan's interests in the future," Agha says.
Constitutional Implications
It's not yet clear if Karzai has the power to expand the council's authority. Presidential spokesman Siamak Heravi told RFE/RL that Karzai must first consider the constitutional implications of the request.
"It needs consideration because the work of a Dar al-Ifta and the Afghan Supreme Court may overlap. The clerics know this, so they left it for the president to consider," Heravi said. "This issue will be discussed more in the future. But as for now, no decision has been made."
According to Afghanistan's UN-backed constitution, all laws in the country must be "in accordance with Islam." But the constitution also created a balance of power between lawmakers in parliament, judges in the courts, and the presidential administration.
Lawmaker Baktash Siyawash argues that empowering the Ulema Council with legally binding fatwa authority would transform the clerics into a powerful, unelected fourth branch of government.
"Afghanistan's government structure is based on three branches of government -- the legislative, judicial, and executive. The demand of the Ulema Council to create a Dar al-Ifta is an attempt to gain legislative powers," Siyawash says. "In fact, this demand would create another branch of government and we do not have any provision for this within our constitution."
Reminiscent Of Iran
Rights advocates say the move could put Afghanistan back on a path reminiscent of the Taliban era.
The clerics already have renounced Article 22 of the constitution, which says, "The citizens of Afghanistan -- whether man or woman -- have equal rights and duties before the law."
According to Ulema Council edicts issued in March, "men are fundamental and women are secondary," women should not interact with men in the workplace or in schools, and women must always be accompanied by a male guardian when traveling.
Critics also warn that empowering the clerics could lead to a system reminiscent of Iran's powerful Guardians Council.
Under Iran's 1979 constitution, the Guardians Council serves as a constitutional court and must approve all proposed legislation in parliament. Since 1991, the Guardians Council also has been empowered to reject or accept all candidates for parliament and the presidency.
"These people are demanding a Dar al-Ifta within the Supreme Court. We tell them that this is not Tehran. This is Afghanistan," says Shukria Barakzai, a prominent women's rights activist from Kabul and a member of Afghanistan's lower house of parliament. "Our law is Islamic and it is our Supreme Court that issues fatwas."
'Stifle Dissent'
Analysts say the issue puts Karzai in a difficult position because he needs the Ulema Council's support to maintain his political base and its influence to advance the peace-and-reconciliation process.
Wadir Safi, a law professor at Kabul University, says he worries that Karzai will ultimately agree to the Ulema Council's proposal, creating an institution that could reverse many of the internationally backed reforms achieved during the past decade.
"This suggestion was something the Ulema Council and the president had discussed before," Safi says. "Behind this request, there are political goals and they want to achieve these goals 1 1/2 years from now, when foreign troops have left Afghanistan. The Ulema Council wants to stifle dissent from everyone who opposes the government by using this power."
Reza Shah-Kazemi, a research associate at the Institute of Ismaili Studies in London, says the powers held by Afghanistan's Ulema Council will have major implications for democracy and human rights in the country after most foreign troops leave in 2014.
He says the Ulema Council also faces internal challenges over theological disputes between Sunnis and Shi'a and other issues that divide moderate and extremist clerics.
Afghan Women Make Their Mark On The Soccer Field
NPR By Sean Carberry November 28, 2012
Afghanistan first established a national women's soccer team just five years ago, and while they aren't yet World Cup material, they are making strides.
Last week, they got a little help from former U.S. Olympic soccer player Lorrie Fair, who staged a clinic in Kabul that was set up by the State Department.
Clad in her blue U.S. national team sweatsuit, Fair led the Afghan women through a series of exercises on the tennis court at the U.S. Embassy.
"I'm constantly inspired by the things they do, because we're very lucky in the U.S. to have support for women's sports," Fair said. "We can't even grasp what they're going through. They're fighting an uphill battle."
The Afghan team has been playing internationally since 2008 and has mostly competed against teams in the region, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. There have been some rough defeats, like an 11-0 drubbing by India earlier this year.
Making Strides
During the Taliban era in Afghanistan, women were barely able to leave the house, let alone play sports. But since 2001, women have been running, kicking and punching their way onto the international sports scene, including the Olympics.
There are Afghan women playing soccer, basketball, volleyball and even cricket, though some still have to do it in secret. And they continue to face countless obstacles.
"Some pretended to be boys when they were kids so that they could play," says Fair. "Others just kind of got together secretly. There are so many stories. Each person has their individual story. What they do have in common is that they do have a love for the game."
Hadissa Wali, 19, has loved the game since she started playing in fourth grade.
"It was challenging. We practiced in school, and the level [of play] was really low, and we weren't able to practice well with the coaches that we had," says Wali, who dreams of playing in the World Cup and eventually becoming a lawyer.
"It's quite important for me to play in the World Cup. I just want to play as a world player like [U.S. star] Alex Morgan," she adds. "I'm really a fan of her playing. That's my dream — to be like those players. Not that famous, just to play like them."
The team captain is Zahra Mahmoudi, who was born and raised in Iran. Her family returned to Afghanistan in 2004, and she taught the girls in her neighborhood how to play.
"It doesn't matter for us if we lose the game. It's not important for us. The [important] matter is being a team and existing, because being a soccer player in Afghanistan is a fight against the Taliban and all the people who don't want females to be in society or to work or to study," Mahmoudi says.
Still Seeking Acceptance
Afghan society as a whole is still not accepting of female athletes. Many families don't want their daughters to face the security risks associated with being a female athlete, and women often lack resources and safe places to train.
Still, many are persevering. Sadaf Rahimi is a female boxer who was planning to fight at the London Olympics.
But, at the last minute, the International Boxing Association barred her from the games, saying she was overmatched by the competition and was in danger of injury.
Instead, Afghanistan sent sprinter Tahmina Kohistani to London. She failed to advance beyond her initial heat, but she has vowed to promote women's sports in Afghanistan.
Mahmoudi says her family supports her but worries for her safety.
"It's very difficult [for me] and also for some of my friends," Mahmoudi says. "There are females who say, 'Please don't play soccer. It's for boys.' Because they have traditional minds."
Still, she's hopeful about the future.
"I'm studying coaching football now, and I hope in the future I can become a coach, because it's very essential for Afghan culture that a woman teach girls," Mahmoudi says.
At the end of the clinic, Fair says the Afghan women taught her more than she taught them.
"I can say that I'm definitely impressed," Fair says. "They're skilled, they're passionate. They're pretty courageous to even be here. If this country has a future, it's going to be in these women here, because they were pretty amazing."
Afghan police 'ignored Interpol arrest warrant for Kabul Bank founder'
Sherkhan Farnood built up luxury property portfolio and lined pockets of senior officials from $900m in deposits, court hears
Guardian.co.uk By Emma Graham-Harrison Wednesday 28 November 2012
Kabul - The founder of a failed Afghan bank that operated as a $900m (£560m) Ponzi scheme was wanted by Interpol for money-laundering and illegal banking, but Afghan authorities ignored his arrest warrant for years, leaving him free to plunder his home country, a special court investigating the scandal has found.
Background checks made on Sherkhan Farnood when he founded Kabul Bank in 2004 might not have uncovered his murky past, but three years later police in Afghanistan were told that Russia wanted to prosecute him for financial crimes, including purchasing property for illegal use.
The Interpol arrest warrant came as Farnood was just starting to use bank money to build up a portfolio of luxury villas and other property in Dubai worth $151m, and help other shareholders, friends and political connections line their own pockets, a public inquiry into the crisis found.
If authorities had followed up the request, or simply taken it as a warning to look more closely into the finances of Farnood and his bank they might have staved off a banking scandal that, relative to the size of Afghanistan's puny national economy, is the worst the world has seen.
"Interpol sent out an arrest warrant for him for illegal banking activities, organising a criminal group, money-laundering, which means basically he did the same thing there," said Drago Kos, chair of the joint Afghan and international anti-corruption committee behind the public inquiry.
"Then he came over here, and what was funny was that since 2007, Interpol Afghanistan knew about it and did nothing. Even today they do nothing and he is still wanted by the Russians."
Farnood and the bank's CEO, Khalilullah Ferozi, both went on trial this month for their part in the bank's collapse, but the hearings were suspended after the first week. The head of the special court said it was not clear when the trials would resume.
During his time in charge of Kabul Bank, Farnood presided over theft staggering in its scale and audacity, the inquiry found. The fraud did not begin until around 2006, Kos said, but Farnood probably never intended to run Kabul Bank as a conventional business. "To have a Ponzi scheme you need a certain amount of money," he said. "They just didn't have the money to do it from the beginning."
An array of forged documents and fake official stamps for non-existant companies helped managers keep one set of books for auditors and another for themselves; more than $800m of the stolen money went to just 12 people and seven companies connected to them.
Hundreds of millions of dollars were sent abroad, some in the food trays of an airline owned by shareholders linked to the bank, with staff salaries of $320,000 booked as "Pilots of Cash Delivery". Other sums were sent more mundanely through international wire transfers.
Members of Kabul's elite, including the brothers of President Hamid Karzai and the vice-president, Mohammad Fahim, were among the shareholders. Both have repaid money and deny any wrongdoing.
At one point the then-chief executive drove around the Afghan capital handing out money in envelopes. "It was almost worse than corruption," said Kos. "In corruption you give the money and ask for something in return. Here the money was given without asking for anything in return."
Khalilullah Ferozi has declined to say how much he handed out, or to whom exactly. But among the banks' creditors are a group who got $3.1m in loans but are so powerful that receivers for Kabul Bank have declined to even ask for the money back. Political meddling by the country's elite also delayed efforts to put those responsible on trial and recover lost assets.
"Many of the primary actors carry on their business in Afghanistan without fear of ever being held accountable, not to mention prosecuted," the public inquiry found, warning of "impunity for powerful Afghans" along with "scapegoating of the less powerful".
Receivers will be lucky to get back half of the missing cash, Kos said. So as the government bailed out Kabul Bank, ultimately it is the ordinary people of a country – with an average yearly income of less than $500 – who will have to pay for the massive theft by greedy members of the elite.
"Every citizen in Afghanistan will bear the cost of the hundreds of millions of dollars required to secure deposits and the tens of millions of dollars required to deal with the aftermath," the report on the public inquiry found. "This is real money from the annual budget of the government that could be much better spent on other priorities such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, or security."
Afghan graft buster vows to crack Kabulbank scandal
Reuters By Martin Petty and Hamid Shalizi 28/11/2012
KABUL - The chief investigator probing Afghanistan's biggest financial scandal says he will stop at nothing to put the perpetrators in a multi-million dollar bank fraud behind bars.
As a result, Judge Shamsul Rahman Shams worries for his own safety.
Even for a country ranked as one of the world's most corrupt, the theft of about $935 million from the Kabulbank two years ago and the subsequent foot-dragging in prosecuting those responsible underlines concerns about Afghanistan's ability to manage its finances and enforce the rule of law.
The tough-talking Shams, conscious his country is under close scrutiny over how it handles the embarrassing case, says no-one -- regardless of political or business connections -- will be spared in his investigations.
"We are flexing our muscles with the big guys who could easily get rid of us, but we are committed to solve this case," said Shams, who heads a special court investigating 22 people in the scam that brought the commercial bank to its knees.
"We know it's a dangerous task but we're not scared. I don't have a bodyguard and as soon as I announce the rulings I'll be in trouble," Shams told Reuters in his bunker-like office in a basement of a fortified Kabul house.
The bank's collapse triggered a financial crisis, civil disorder and a run on deposits, worrying foreign donors and embarrassing the U.S. and Afghan governments, which had touted its credentials as a modern lender integral to developing a tiny economy crippled by war and mismanagement.
The government bailed out the country's then biggest lender, and relaunched it as the state-run New Kabul Bank.
Among those who have been linked to the scandal, according to investigators, are the bank's current and former chiefs, its founder and the brothers of President Hamid Karzai and his first vice-president, Mohammad Qasim Fahim, who were both shareholders.
A report released on Wednesday detailed for the first time allegations of poor or reluctant law enforcement, political interference, questionable oversight by foreign auditors and institutionalized fraud by Kabulbank officials.
The outcome of the case is seen as a crucial barometer of Afghanistan's commitment to stabilizing the economy and its fight against corruption, two years out from the withdrawal of most foreign troops and a possible winding down of billions of dollars in international aid.
PROXIES, FORGERIES, FAKES
The probe by the government-funded Independent Joint Anti-Corruption and Evaluation Committee named no individuals but revealed two sets of books were kept by Kabulbank, one to satisfy regulators and another tracking the real disbursement of funds through a loan-book scheme for proxy borrowers. They used forged supporting documents, fake business stamps and statements provided by accounting firms complicit in the scam.
The report was also critical of "clean assessments" from independent auditors, which include Dubai-based Behl, Lad and Al Sayegh and Pakistan-registered AF Ferguson, a company that comes under the umbrella of Pricewaterhousecoopers (PwC). AF Ferguson did not appear to follow up on breaches identified during central bank examinations, the report said.
Contacted by Reuters for comment, a PwC official said in an email AF Ferguson's policy was not to disclose details of its clients or the projects that it has worked on.
The report also showed how stolen funds were concealed -- disguised as large expenses, bonuses, rents and salary payments to ghost staffers. Some funds were siphoned out of the country either electronically or in cash aboard Pamir Airways, owned by shareholders linked to the bank.
Those handling the bank investigation have been accused of being sluggish. Shams, the judge leading the probe, said the process is extremely complex, but criminal proceedings would be wrapped up "very soon". "We want to reassure everyone that we'll spare no one," he added.
But two have already been spared thanks to a presidential decree in April that granted immunity from prosecution to any of those implicated who returned funds within two months. The two who responded were Mahmoud Karzai, the president's brother, who has paid back $22 million and Haji Hasseen, the vice-president's sibling, who returned $18 million, according to Shams. Both have denied any wrongdoing.
Only two of those charged with fraud are in detention. They are bank's founder Sherkhan Farnoon, and its former chief executive, Khalil Fruzi, who Afghan officials believe were the masterminds behind the scandal.
Five other suspects have fled the country and the rest are on bail, including New Kabul Bank Chairman Masood Musa Ghazi.
Abdullah Dowrani, chief of the Financial Disputes Resolution Commission, says around $140 million in capital has been recovered, on top of more than $200 million in property assets and $218 million in debt to be returned by borrowers.
Aside from the $560 million in unpaid interest, Dowrani said much of the rest should not be difficult to recover.
Contrary to popular assumption that most of the money ended up in Dubai, he said, as little as 10 percent was smuggled overseas and channeled into luxury villas.
The rest was invested in Afghanistan, from an oil storage facility, a television station and a gas firm to large-scale property developments, some of which the government had agreed to purchase.
"The important thing is for us is to overcome this challenge and prove to the world that there is a system in place, though it is new, it is weak for the time being, it has tomorrow," Dowrani told Reuters.
(Additional reporting by Katharine Houreld in Islamabad; Editing by Jeremy Laurence)
Good News from Kabul: A More Peaceful Ashura This Year
TIME By John Wendle Nov. 28, 2012
KABUL - Last year we were late, so we were there when the bomb went off in the Afghan capital.
Suddenly I was nearly thrown off my feet by crowds of men running away, from the Ashura Shia holy day rites, some screaming “Ya Hussein!” I thought about running, took cover behind a car, then considered following dozens of others who had jumped down a retaining wall and were wading across the filthy Kabul River.
Then I realized I had not seen Joel, a photographer friend of mine, for a few minutes and that I needed to capture what was going on. I fought my way through the terrified crowd only to find the street slick with blood and dozens and dozens of bodies laid out, blown out into a near perfect semi-circle.
I wrote then that it was, “as if a giant scythe had reached out, cutting people down like wheat in its sweep.” The image of the perfect geometry stays with me today. So does the memory of the feeling of being walled in by blood.
It has taken me a year to be able to write this without choking up. I still do, from time to time. Sometimes I have problems with what I saw. Mostly, though, it is a memory – or something not to be touched (see photos, some graphic, from Ashura 2012 here.)
This year it was hard, but different. On the night before this Ashura, I sent Joel a text, asking him what he would be doing on Saturday. We had talked around the topic, but had not come up with any plan. He said he would go back down to the river. I was anxious and had doubts, but told him I’d meet him the next morning.
I met him early this Saturday morning. I dropped off my bike and we started walking down towards the river. We walked through the diplomatic quarter of the city – the area’s high gray blast walls just starting to be tipped by the orange of the morning light. The snow-capped peaks around Kabul glowed with the same color.
As we walked, we talked about last year. Part of the reason for going back down to the river, to photograph the men flagellating themselves, was to overcome fear. “If you don’t go, you’ll just get more afraid,” he told me. Part of the reason, on my end, was to see if security had improved. So, we were not just going to photograph a news event – it was also some sort of way to help ourselves.
This year security was much tighter. Ropes were strung out, blocking off one quadrant of the square in front of the Central Bank, while others blocked off roads heading towards the river. A big man walked over and asked us who we were and where did we think we were going. I made a few jokes in Russian and the big guy answered.
For all of the security – and there was a lot – all it took was to have a shared foreign language to get us through. After 15 minutes, we were finally down on the strip of road running between the Abul Faz Mosque and the Kabul River.
We stood joking with a couple other journalists who had come down early. Groups of women in chadors – black or colorful as rainbows – streamed into the mosque to pray. Later, groups of men began to arrive.
The crowds came through a gate some 300 feet away and were frisked by armed police. The crowds were orderly – and the police professional – almost resembling the gates at the Afghan Premier League soccer finals a few weeks before – though much more somber.
In a three-story house still under construction and overlooking the normally busy road, a policeman was stationed with a machinegun. He wore belts of machinegun rounds wrapped around his belly in a shimmering gold cummerbund and drank tea from a golden teapot, but seemed aware enough. Trucks with machineguns mounted in their beds were parked along the edges of the road and police and border police were stationed every few meters along the top of the river’s retaining wall.
Indeed, the only frenzy, the only disorder of the day, was when the flagellations and chanting started. Drops of blood flew through the air, spattering onlookers and flagellants alike, as everyone from young boys to old men beat themselves. The crowd thumped the rhythm of the chants on their chests. Dozens and dozens of onlookers had a mobile phone out, filming the event.
After a few hours, the rite had finished, all of the different mosque delegations had come through, and the square emptied. We walked home down the same road we had walked down the year before – this time through two police checkpoints. There was the familiar feeling of having put in a good day’s work – but also a lot of relief that things had changed this year.
Afghan girl's throat slit over refusal to wed
AFP November 29, 2012
Kunduz - Two men have been arrested for slitting the throat of a 15-year-old Afghan girl after her family refused a marriage proposal, police said Thursday. The girl was carrying water from a river to her village home in northern Kunduz province on Wednesday when she was murdered, police spokesman Sayed Sarwar Hussaini told AFP.
"The two men attacked her and slit her throat with a knife," he said. "They were arrested and are in police custody."
Hussaini said one of the suspects had proposed marriage to the girl but her family had rejected the offer.
Extreme violence against women and girls remains a major problem in the conservative Muslim nation more than a decade after US-led troops brought down the notoriously brutal Taliban Islamist regime.
According to figures by British charity organisation Oxfam, 87% of Afghan women report having experienced physical, sexual or psychological violence or forced marriage.
Last month a 20-year-old woman was beheaded by her husband's family in the western province of Herat after she refused to become a prostitute, police said. Four people were arrested over the brutal killing.
And in September, five people were arrested over the public flogging of a 16-year-old girl for allegedly having an affair.
The girl was whipped 100 times in front of village elders and family members in central Ghazni province. Her alleged boyfriend was fined.
Unmarried girls are often confined to the home and forbidden from maintaining any contact with men outside the immediate family.
Afghanistan prepares for an uncertain future
DW 28/11/2012
The German cabinet has approved plans to reduce forces in Afghanistan to 3,300 by February 2012 and withdraw troops completely by the end of that year. What happens after that is what many Afghans wonder.
More than 200,000 Afghan soldiers have completed training at the military training center in Kabul.
They've learned how to fight the Taliban and defend Afghanistan after 2014, when only a small number of Western troops are expected to remain in the country.
"Everything will be normal after 2014. In fact, the security situation will be even better," says Aminullah Patyani, commander of the Kabul military training center. "The warnings that our enemies are firing off about this date are just psychological warfare. The Afghans have experienced a civil war; they don't want another one. They want peace. And it will come. Government collapse?Patyani is optimistic. But should he be?
Critics have painted a picture of Afghanistan's future that is dominated by dark colors. A recently published paper by the respected International Crisis Group, for instance, has caused a stir. It claims that Afghanistan is far from being in a position to ensure its own security and that a government collapse is possible.
"The challenges will get bigger," says Abdul Waheed Wafa, a policy expert in Kabul. "We Afghans will suffer economically and casualties will rise. But overall, I don't think there will be a collapse."
Afghans have changed, adds Wafa. They are now better educated and embrace, in many ways, a civil society. They also have media and don't want to lose all of this.
Afghan security forces
But the question is: What does the country want? How about the local power players outside the capital? Do they want something else?
"The concern that I have isn't a civil war in Kabul in the 90s. I think the political elite, although very problematic, is probably able to prevent completely falling out with each other and starting to fire rockets at each other," says Fabricio Foschini with the Afghanistan Analysts' network. "But at the local level, we could have some incidents, like commanders vying for control of an area."
The number of casualties among Afghan security forces is already alarmingly high: the police and army report more than 500 deaths or injuries per month. Many fear this statistic is a sign of worse to come.
"But most of it depends on the developments inside the Afghan political realm," says Foschini, adding that the various roles played by neighboring states, the security forces and the insurgents should not be underestimated. "It depends on a lot of factors but I think Afghan politics and the future election are possibly the major test."
Electronic IDs Ready in 2 Months: Officials
TOLOnews.com By Saleha Soadat Wednesday, 28 November 2012
The distribution of electronic identification cards will begin nationwide in two months but may only reach 80 percent of the population within three years, Afghan security and IT officials said on Wednesday.
The Communications and IT Minister Amirzai Sangin said before parliament on Wedensday that the plan for the distribution is ready but they are waiting for a proper design for the cards.
"The process is almost complete – we are only waiting for the design of the ID cards. We hope to start the distribution in two months," Sangin said.
He said the electronic cards will include finger print data, eye scan and other necessary information which will avoid any kind of possible fraud.
However, the distribution will not be complete by the time of the 2014 presidential election, slated for April 5.
Interior Minister Mujtaba Patang warned that the lack exact demographic statistics will be a major challenge ahead of the new ID card distribution.
"Lack of precise demographic statistics is a significant challenge for the distribution of electronic ID cards. We still don't know the exact population of every province," Patang said, but added that he hoped more than 80 percent of the populations will have electronic IDs within three years.
He emphasised that the remaining 20 percent will eventually get an electronic ID but it may take more than three years because of significant security challenges.
Despite mentions of a lack of precise demographic statistics, the Central Statistics Department Deputy Director Hasibullah Mouwahed said that Afghanistan will have a population of 27 million by the end of this Persian year (March 2013).
"Afghanistan's exact population is 27 million people, this is very precise and the counting process is implemented every ten years not every year," he said.
Security Forces Free Kidnapped Boys in Balkh
TOLOnews.com Wednesday, 28 November 2012
Two boys kidnapped in separate incidents in northern Balkh province have been released and their captors detained after successful operations conducted by special forces, Balkh police said.
The two boys – one 12-years-old and one in grade 12 in high school – were both kidnapped in different incidents and freed in a space of 24 hours, Balkh Police Commander Gen. Abdulrazaq Qaderi said Wednesday.
"Two incidents took place in the city of Mazar-e-Sharif over the last 24 hours, both kidnappings. Five have been arrested in association with the incidents," Qaseri told TOLOnews.
Ramez, the high school student, was allegedly kidnapped by classmates who first drugged him.
He told TOLOnews he went with a classmate to the Shrine of Hazrat Ali after preparing for a university entrance exam. The classmate, who Ramez said is from the Khogian district of eastern Nangarhar province, drugged him and kidnapped with the help of two other people.
"There were two glasses of banana milkshake - one had an anesthetic in it which he gave to me and he drank from the other glass. I fell unconscious a few moments after that and he kidnapped me," Ramez said.
The father of the 12-year-old expressed his gratitude for the return of his son.
"I am so happy that my son is released after a few days. I thank the security forces," said Waissuddin.
The reasons for the kidnappings were not clear.
Both parties called for the kidnappers to be punished according to the law.
Article 420 of the Afghanistan Penal Code says a person kidnapping an under-18 individually or along with someone else will be sentenced to not more than seven years prison.
No Guarantee for Fair Election Without Registrations: IEC
TOLOnews.com By Shakeela Ahbrimkhil Wednesday, 28 November 2012
There is no guarantee for a transparent and fair presidential election in 2014 if the registration of voters is not complete, the head of Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission (IEC) said on Wednesday.
Fazel Ahmad Manawe said at a press conference in Kabul that the registration process is expected to get underway by the start of April next year.
"The most important task ahead of us is the registration of voters, this has to be done. Without it, the transparency of elections will not be guaranteed," Manawe said.
According to the IEC estimates, the cost of registering voters is expected to reach $30m.
Lack of clarity on the election law and the IEC's organisational structure are other challenges ahead of the election, Manawe noted, pointing out the Election Law is still pending approval from the Council of Ministers and the question of foreign commissioners is unresolved in the National Assembly.
"I am concerned about the lack of election law and our organisational structure – we need a law to perform based on that. I don't believe the presence or absence of the two foreign advisors in the Election Complaints Commission (ECC) will make any difference in the election process," he said.
"We will not allow any government official to intervene in the election affairs. We will have some advice from the president but we will maintain our independence," he added.
The Lower House approved the election last month including the article allowing two foreigners to be appointed to the ECC, but the article was rejected by the Upper House last week.
According to the timetable announced by IEC, both the presidential and the provincial council polls will be held on April 5 2014.
Govt Housing Project to be Built by Private Sector
TOLOnews.com By Shahla Murtazaie Wednesday, 28 November 2012
The construction of the second stage of government residential blocks in Kabul worth $1 billion has been awarded to a private company, the Ministry of Urban Development Affairs and Housing said on Wednesday.
The Khwaja Rawash Project stage 2 includes 175 blocks with over 14,000 apartments, Minister Hassan Abdullahi said, and signals one of the first public-private partnerships for the Afghan government in the housing sector.
"The ministry policy in housing is to support the private sector. The private sector is to build the houses and give to the people at a low price according to their incomes," Abdullahi said.
The joint investment by the government and private sector is being constructed in Kabul's Kasaba area and is based no strict engineering criteria, he said.
Executive Head of Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries Mohammad Qurban Haqju welcomed the project.
"It is great that a big project is going to be built according to modern housing in the 21st century like housing in the US and Europe. Also the handicapped and disabled should have access to the apartments," he said.
The project is expected to be finished in four years, according to the ministry.
www.afghanistannewscenter.com