Optimism grows over Govt-Taliban ceasefire

The former Taliban ambassador to Pakistan Abdul Salam Zaeef says he is optimistic about the continuation of the ceasefire between the Afghan government and the Taliban, saying that the truce might be extended.

Talking to TOLOnews this week, Zaeef also spoke about the current administration and said any collapse of the system would not be in the interests of the people or the country. He said instead efforts need to be made to reform and extend the current system.

“I am not in favor of A collapse of this system. Peace should be ensured and the system should be reformed and it should be further supported,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Taliban’s leader Mullah Hebatullah Akhundzada said in his Eid message, which came just days after the group called for a three-day ceasefire, that the group’s fight is to end the presence of US military in Afghanistan.

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Telecom tax revenues being stolen by certain individuals

A number of Afghan lawmakers on Monday, criticized the government over failure to form a transparent collection system for the revenues earned via 10 percent telecom tax on mobile phone users, saying the amount of money being stolen by certain individuals.

The members of Wolesi Jirga or Lower House of the parliament said some elements within the government were trying to halt the plan of activating a transparent collection system.

“The issue of having [collection] system of has been started by the Ministry of telecommunication three years ago, but the issue is politicized and some individuals don’t want this system to be activated because the tax money being shared to many people,” said Qais Hassan, chairman of parliament’s Telecommunication and Transportation Commission.

Meanwhile, MP Makhdom Abdal Mohammadi said that it has been six months since the promises had been made to activate the system for collection of telecom tax, but the plan has not been implemented so far.

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