‘Political parties not effective in Afghanistan’

The political parties are not effective in Afghanistan and that except criticizing the government do not have “comprehensive” plans, according to First Deputy of Meshrano Jirga.

“Let’s strengthen the system instead of destroying and condemning it further. We urge the [political] parties to pay heed on national interest,” said First Deputy of Senate House (Meshrano Jirga).

Some political parties, however, believe that they do not have any kind of responsibility regarding the issues of war and peace in the country except having an encouraging and supporting role.

“In political issues [the parties] can play a constructive role but the issues of war and peace are the responsibility of the government. Political parties could only encourage and support and can’t have an active role in the issue of war,” said Anwarulhaq Ahadi, Chairman of New National Front of Afghanistan.

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SIGAR finds only 15% of Qaysar-Laman road complete after 12 years

The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) said in a new report released on Thursday that after more than 12 years and over $249 million spent, only 15 percent of the Qasyar to Laman road, between Faryab and Badghis, has been completed. 

The report said that from July 2005 through to September 2017, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved four grants totaling $571 million to complete the section of the Ring Road from Qeysar in northern Faryab province to Laman in western Badghis province.

“Most of those funds were for financing contracts between the Afghan Ministry of Public Works (MoPW) and construction, engineering, and security providers to complete the 233-kilometer road segment,” according to the report.

However, the project has been plagued by security challenges, poor contractor performance, and a lack of capacity within the MoPW to manage large construction contracts.

“Those issues led to repeated failed efforts and to the termination of two contracts for the construction of the road. As of September 2017, construction had been stalled for two and a half years,” it said, adding that “by that time, ADB and MoPW had spent $249 million on the project only 15 percent of the construction was actually completed.”

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ISIS operating in 8 to 9 provinces of Afghanistan, claims Pak minister

Pakistan’s minister of foreign affairs Khawaj Mohammad Asif has claimed that the loyalists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group are operating in eight to nine provinces of Afghanistan.

Speaking during a debate aired by a private TV channel, Asif went on to claim that a huge part of the country was not under the control of the Afghan government.

He also criticized the coalition in Afghanistan and accused them of the failure to brign peace and stability in Afghanistan despite thousands of the forces were deployed with modern military equipment.

Asif further added that 9,000 ton opium was being cultivated in Afghanistan, which was an alarming situation, calling it a strange scenario that a huge cache of narcotics amounting 150 billion dollar was being smuggled from Afghanistan in the presence of Allied forces.

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