The US Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday that the complaints against Afghans working for US Special Forces in Afghanistan would be investigated.

"With respect to Afghanistan and Wardak province, I understand the concerns that they have expressed. And appropriately, any complaints that they may have ought to be appropriately evaluated, and they will be, I can assure you," Kerry told reporters during a visit to London.

Kerry said it was up to the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) to investigate. Isaf said Monday that all allegations by the Afghan government about the ill-treatment and torture of Maidan Wardak civilians at the hands of US Special Forces or their Afghan subordinates will be fully investigated.

The comment comes after the Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Sunday ordered the expulsion of US Special Forces from Maidan Wardak province, west of Kabul, after hearing reports of "torture and murder of Afghan citizens" by these forces.

Speaking in a press conference immediately after the National Security Council meeting, President Karzai's spokesman Aimal Faizi told reporters that the US Special Forces and Afghan armed men who are paid and led by the US Special Forces have become a parallel structure to the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF).

Maidan Wardak, in Kabul's doorstep, has been one of the most dangerous provinces in the country.

In Sunday's National Security Council meeting, governors of Maidan Wardak and Logar reported a growing insecurity in two provinces neighbouring the capital.

The decision reportedly came after complaints from the Wardak provincial governor and tribal elders.

Isaf spokesman Brig. Gen. Gunter Katz, speaking at a press conference in Kabul, also admitted that there had been numerous allegations of abuse by US Special Forces in the past in Maidan Wardak.

"Over the past few weeks, there have been various allegations of Special Forces conducting themselves in an unprofessional manner in Maidan Wardak," said Katz in a press conference in Kabul.

But the Isaf spokesman underscored that there had been no evidence yet to support the allegations.

World powers will present Iran with an updated and "good" offer at talks this week on its nuclear programme, an EU official said Monday, although hopes for a breakthrough appear slim.

Talks aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear drive start Tuesday in Kazakhstan, with the so-called 5+1 world powers represented by the European Union sitting down with an Iranian team led by negotiator Saeed Jalili.

"We have prepared a good and updated offer for the talks, which we believe is balanced and a fair basis for constructive talks," said the spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

"The offer addresses international concerns... on the nature of the Iranian nuclear programme, but is also responsive to Iranian ideas.

"We hope that Iran will seize this opportunity and come to the talks with flexibility and commitment to make concrete progress towards a confidence-building step."

A source close to the negotiations said the offer would still insist that Iran halts enriching uranium to 20 percent, shuts down its controversial Fordo uranium enrichment plant and sends abroad all uranium already enriched to 20 percent.

"This still forms the basis of the demands of the 5+1 group," said the source who asked not to be identified.

Another Western source said the powers could discuss lifting sanctions on Iran in exchange for specific concessions, although the source provided no further details.

In Washington, a top US official refused to be drawn on the details of what he called a "serious, updated proposal" to Iran saying "we need to let the negotiators do their jobs."

But State Department acting deputy spokesman Patrick Ventrell revealed that the proposal "does include reciprocal measures" to encourage Iran "to make concrete steps to begin addressing the international community's concerns."

Earlier reports said the P5+1 group could consider easing sanctions on Iran's gold and precious metals trade.

World powers have until now wanted Iran to take the first step and only then reward it by easing the various sanctions regimes in place.

However, Iranian negotiator Jalili said at the weekend that Tehran would not go beyond its obligations or accept anything outside its rights under the non-proliferation treaty (NPT).

"We don't expect any breakthrough. The Iranians have made different declarations in the last days. It depends if you take the positive or the negative ones," said one Western official who asked not to be identified.

The 5+1 world powers are the United States, Britain, China, France, Russia and Germany.

A number of Afghan students in Pakistan protested Monday against Afghanistan's education attaché for issues in obtaining their graduation certificates.

The protesters, who are high school graduates of Afghan schools in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, told reporters that they have not been able to obtain their graduation certificates because of alleged corruption in the education attaché's office.

They also accused Abdulghani Hedayat, the education attaché, of warning students that they would not receive a certificate if they have no beard.

"The attaché tells us there will be no certificate if we have short hair and no beard," one of the students told TOLOnews.

"I have my scores of the three years (grades 10 through 12) and want to obtain a certificate, but it's been delayed for unknown reasons for a long time," another student said.
The students demand that officials in Kabul address their issues and replace Mr. Hedayat.

"We want the Ministry of Education to change this attaché and put someone that can work for the people," one of the protesters said.

Afghan journalists also reported being mistreated by the office of the education attaché while covering the story.

"We came to report on the subject and talk to the education attaché, but Mr. Hedayat insulted us," said Abdulhaq Omari, TOLOnews correpondent.

The Ministry of Education in Afghanistan did not respond to requests for comment from TOLOnews.

Afghan Analyst believe that Karzai's decision about the immediate withdrawal of US Special Forces from the central Logar and Wardak provinces was based on incorrect information.

President Hamid Karzai on Sunday ordered the expulsion of US Special Forces from Maidan Wardak province, west of Kabul, after hearing reports of "torture and murder of Afghan citizens" by these forces and their armed Afghan subordinates.

"This decision shows lack of coordination between the Afghan and foreign forces and also President Karzai was given incorrect information," military expert Jawid Kohistani told TOLOnews on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense is preparing to take over the security responsibilities in the areas that US forces are expected to vacate within two weeks.

"[The] transition will be completed by the end of this year, and these areas are part of the security transition. We have told them to withdraw within two weeks," Defense Ministry spokesman, General Zahir Azimi said Monday.

Isaf has said the it will probe the allegation of torture and misconduct by the US Special Forces.

"Isaf is aware of the decision made at the National Security Council Yesterday, we will take all allegations of misconduct seriously and go to create links to determine the facts surrounding them," Isaf spokesman, Gunter Katz said, adding that no evidences were found in the recent weeks.

He raised concern over the security issues in Wardak province and insisted on a joint solution of the problem with the Afghan government.

President Hamid Karzai on Sunday ordered the expulsion of US Special Forces from Maidan Wardak province, west of Kabul, after hearing reports of "torture and murder of Afghan citizens" by these forces and their armed Afghan subordinates.

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The Attorney General said Monday that prosecuting those involved in illegal confiscation of public lands is difficult because the country's penal code doesn't directly address the offense.

Afghanistan is still using the penal code of 1974, which only briefly addresses the illegal confiscation of lands and prescribes a light sentence. Article 470 prescribes "a short-term imprisonment no less than three months" for people involved in land-grabbing.

A large number of land-grabbing cases are reported annually, the Attorney General said, adding that 600 cases come only from eight provinces across Afghanistan.
More than four million acres of land across Afghanistan are owned illegally, mostly by top government officials, jihadi leaders and figures in power.

"There was a commission headed by the agriculture minister and appointed by the president to probe illegal land confiscation, but it is not clear what the commission has done so far," said Rahmatullah Nazari, deputy attorney general.

Opposition political parties say the fight against land-grabbing should start from the presidential palace, alluding to potential land offenses by individuals close to the president and his circle, including his vice presidents, who face serious allegations of involvement in land-grabbing.

"If the fight against land-grabbing is not started from the Arg (the presidential palace), people would think the big land-grabbers are destroying the small ones," said Faizullah Zaki, spokesman for the Afghanistan National Front.

Fazlurrahman Oria, spokesman for the National Coalition party, had similar sentiments. "The fight against land-grabbing should be started from the Arg because the land-grabbers are either in the government or supporters of the ruling team."

However, some believe that a lackluster enforcement of the law is also a factor behind the increase in land-grabbing.

"The president and the vice presidents should transparently explain the accusations [of land-grabbing] made against them. They should provide documents to prove whether the accusations are true or not; and if they are true, the laws should be enforced," said Hamidullah Farooqi, spokesman of the Right and Justice Party.

The Afghanistan Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (ATRA) will collect unregistered Sim cards and close down all franchises of telecom companies that issue Sim cards without proper identification of subscribes.

ATRA accused telecom companies of ignoring the laws in registering subscribers and issued a two-week ultimatum for them to bring their operations in line with regulations or risk action.

"A number of private telecommunication companies ignore Ministry of Telecommunication regulations, which they have signed and agreed to. The ministry will soon take action against them," said ATRA deputy head, Khair Mohammad Faizi.

Insurgents and criminals often use unregistered Sim cards in staging attacks and committing crimes, according to ATRA.

Three telecom companies have been fined a combined AFN50 million for legal infractions over the past four months alone, said Faizi. Three franchises in the first police district in Kabul that sold Sim cards illegally have already been closed and 300 unregistered Sim cards have been seized. Three people have been arrested in the operation, Faizi added.

A delegation from the Afghanistan Investment Support Agency is traveling abroad to attempt to attract new investments in Afghanistan, AISA officials said Tuesday.

The team will travel to a number of regional countries, including Iran, Pakistan, China, India, Turkey and Russia to introduce new investment opportunities in Afghanistan and woo potential investors.

"We will start our new program to attract investments and travel to countries with which we are already in contact. We will describe Afghanistan's investment opportunities and the incentives Afghanistan offers to investors," said AISA head Wafiullah Iftikhar.

"We will also hold exhibitions and conferences inside Afghanistan to attract investments," Iftikhar added.

As part of a recent package drafted by the Ministry of Finance to increase foreign investments, the government will provide free land, subsidized electricity and a 10-year tax exemption to companies that invest in the current year. Investments in the agricultural and industrial sectors will receive priority.

The US Ambassador to Afghanistan met on Monday with the young students of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM) who recently returned from a highly-acclaimed US trip during which they performed at venues such as the Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center.

Ambassador James Cunningham praised the young musicians' performances in the United States, saying that these children are the symbols of the bright future for other children of Afghanistan.

The young musicians performed at some of America's most famous and reputed music halls and introduced Afghanistan to thousands of people in a way different from the dominant narrative of conflict.

Ambassador Cunningham congratulated the students and presented to them each with a photograph booklet of their trip.

The children, aglow with pride from overwhelming domestic and international praise, said they plan to perform in other countries, including Oman, Germany and Australia.

"I am so happy that I visited the US. It was such a huge experience of our lives," one of the students told TOLOnews. "Our concerts amazed many foreigners," another added.

"I have always believed that encouraging a musician is encouraging his or her people. Since the day we returned to Afghanistan, we haven't heard anything but good things. Everyone we meet talk of how we gave them back their country's lost pride," ANIM director Nasser Sarmast told TOLOnews.

The ANIM students performed last month in New York, Boston, and Virginia in front of thousands including some of top government officials of the United States.

An inclusive negotiation process that builds national consensus is necessary for a successful peace settlement, said Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, head of the Transition Coordination Commission.

"Peace is the fundamental hope of the country. We need to forge national consensus in order to get a positive result," Ghani said.

The peace process has so far largely been led by the United States, and the Taliban insurgents have refused to engage with the Afghan government. The political opposition in Afghanistan has not been part of the ongoing efforts to negotiate with insurgents.

Opposition political parties echoed Ghani's comments about an inclusive political process.

"The peace process should be inclusive and conducted from a position of strength with special regard for national sovereignty. The process should not be sacrificed for the ideals of certain individuals or groups," said Asif Ashna, spokesman for the Right and Justice Party.

The National Coalition Party echoed the support for negotiations. "Fighting can't bring peace. We can reach a peaceful settlement via negotiations," said spokesman Fazlurrahman Orya.

At least 35 Taliban insurgents, including three Arab fighters, were killed and 42 insurgents injured in two separate operations in the western Herat and Badghis provinces, local officials said Tuesday.

An operation was launched last week in the Kishk-e-Kohna district of Herat and the Moqor district of Badghis province, said Herat Deputy Governor Asiluddin Jami, who added that the Taliban district governor of Gulran, Mawlawi Abdul Khaliq Baloch, was also detained.

An Afghan soldier and a policeman were killed in the operations.

"We hope the operation can secure the different parts of the districts in order for people to live in peace," Jami said.

Security officials in Badghis said that they had cleared several districts of insurgents and that they were confident in the improving abilities of the province's police.

"Our security forces have become more capable and we are ready to undertake any kind of operations," said Badghis police chief Gen. Sharafuddin Sharaf.

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 An inclusive negotiation process that builds national consensus is necessary for a successful peace settlement, said Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, head of the Transition Coordination Commission.

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A suicide bomber attacked a bus carrying Afghan soldiers to work in Kabul city early Wednesday, injuring 8, including a civilian, local officials said.

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The US Senate confirmed Chuck Hagel to be secretary of defence, ending a long and acrimonious nomination process and handing President Barack Obama a boost as he fills his second-term cabinet.

After a bruising confirmation hearing and a 10-day delay engineered by Republicans, Senators voted 58-41 to approve the former Republican senator and decorated Vietnam War veteran for the post held by Leon Panetta.

Hagel, 66, who had faced tough questions about his past statements on Iran's nuclear program and US-Israeli relations, is due to be sworn in on Wednesday and to speak to Defence Department civilians and troops at the Pentagon.

Four Republicans -- including, surprisingly, Tea Party-backed Senator Rand Paul -- joined the majority Democrats in approving Hagel, after 18 Republicans voted earlier to overcome the blocking tactics and allow a full vote.

Obama welcomed the "bipartisan confirmation," saying it allowed him to "have the defense secretary our nation needs and the leader our troops deserve."

"I will be counting on Chuck's judgment and counsel as we end the war in Afghanistan, bring our troops home, stay ready to meet the threats of our time and keep our military the finest fighting force in the world," Obama said.

The nomination had been held up by several Republicans who had demanded more information on Hagel's finances and transcripts of speeches that he gave to international organizations.

But some of his strongest critics, including Republican senators Bob Corker, Lindsey Graham and John McCain, agreed to allow an up-or-down floor vote after a one-week recess, though all three eventually voted against the confirmation.

The outcome ended a politically charged saga that saw Hagel stumble through congressional testimony when critics savaged his record on the Middle East.

Although his opponents failed in the end to derail his nomination, they have signaled that Hagel could be in for a rough ride when it comes to working with Congress, without the kind of bipartisan support his predecessors enjoyed.

He also survived a tense committee vote that saw him subjected to such harsh comments that fellow Vietnam veteran McCain warned fellow Republicans that they should not impugn the patriotism of "an honorable man."

Hagel himself said he was honored by the Senate confirmation, and suggested he was eager to put aside the bitter political battle on Capitol Hill.

"I will work closely with Congress to ensure that we maintain the strongest military in the world and continue to protect this great nation," he said in a statement.

Senate majority leader Harry Reid sounded relieved at the outcome, but got in a few more digs at his opponents.

"Senator Hagel is the first nominee for secretary of defense to be filibustered in the history of the United States," Reid said.

"Politically motivated delays send a terrible signal to our allies and to the world," as well as to US troops serving in Afghanistan, Reid said.

Democrats had argued that the delay could harm US military readiness and credibility at a time of tension in the Middle East, concern over Iran's nuclear ambitions, and North Korea's recent atomic test.

Compounding the problems facing Hagel is $85 billion in across-the-board spending cuts set to begin Friday, which could ravage many military programs and lead to furloughs of the Defense Department's 800,000 civilian workers.

Despite Hagel's impressive Vietnam War record, some Republicans insist his previous allegedly dovish position on Iran and supposedly lukewarm support for US-ally Israel disqualify him to be defense chief.

Although Hagel had a mostly conservative record as a senator, his Republican colleagues have never forgiven him for his outspoken criticism of president George W. Bush's handling of the Iraq war.

He called the administration's effort at the time "beyond pitiful," and when Bush planned a surge of additional troops in 2006, Hagel said it would be "the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam."

Hagel's confirmation marks a double victory for Obama, whose pick for Treasury secretary, Jack Lew, passed the Senate Finance Committee despite some qualms about his reputation as a doctrinaire Democrat with ties to Wall Street.

President Hamid Karzai on Sunday ordered the expulsion of US Special Forces from Maidan Wardak province, west of Kabul, after hearing reports of "torture and murder of Afghan citizens" by these forces and their armed Afghan subordinates.

To watch the programme, click here:

{youtube}W32MLfib218{/youtube}

Read more...

The Attorney General said Monday that prosecuting those involved in illegal confiscation of public lands is difficult because the country's penal code doesn't directly address the offense.

Afghanistan is still using the penal code of 1974, which only briefly addresses the illegal confiscation of lands and prescribes a light sentence. Article 470 prescribes "a short-term imprisonment no less than three months" for people involved in land-grabbing.

A large number of land-grabbing cases are reported annually, the Attorney General said, adding that 600 cases come only from eight provinces across Afghanistan.
More than four million acres of land across Afghanistan are owned illegally, mostly by top government officials, jihadi leaders and figures in power.

"There was a commission headed by the agriculture minister and appointed by the president to probe illegal land confiscation, but it is not clear what the commission has done so far," said Rahmatullah Nazari, deputy attorney general.

Opposition political parties say the fight against land-grabbing should start from the presidential palace, alluding to potential land offenses by individuals close to the president and his circle, including his vice presidents, who face serious allegations of involvement in land-grabbing.

"If the fight against land-grabbing is not started from the Arg (the presidential palace), people would think the big land-grabbers are destroying the small ones," said Faizullah Zaki, spokesman for the Afghanistan National Front.

Fazlurrahman Oria, spokesman for the National Coalition party, had similar sentiments. "The fight against land-grabbing should be started from the Arg because the land-grabbers are either in the government or supporters of the ruling team."

However, some believe that a lackluster enforcement of the law is also a factor behind the increase in land-grabbing.

"The president and the vice presidents should transparently explain the accusations [of land-grabbing] made against them. They should provide documents to prove whether the accusations are true or not; and if they are true, the laws should be enforced," said Hamidullah Farooqi, spokesman of the Right and Justice Party.

The Afghanistan Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (ATRA) will collect unregistered Sim cards and close down all franchises of telecom companies that issue Sim cards without proper identification of subscribes.

ATRA accused telecom companies of ignoring the laws in registering subscribers and issued a two-week ultimatum for them to bring their operations in line with regulations or risk action.

"A number of private telecommunication companies ignore Ministry of Telecommunication regulations, which they have signed and agreed to. The ministry will soon take action against them," said ATRA deputy head, Khair Mohammad Faizi.

Insurgents and criminals often use unregistered Sim cards in staging attacks and committing crimes, according to ATRA.

Three telecom companies have been fined a combined AFN50 million for legal infractions over the past four months alone, said Faizi. Three franchises in the first police district in Kabul that sold Sim cards illegally have already been closed and 300 unregistered Sim cards have been seized. Three people have been arrested in the operation, Faizi added.

A delegation from the Afghanistan Investment Support Agency is traveling abroad to attempt to attract new investments in Afghanistan, AISA officials said Tuesday.

The team will travel to a number of regional countries, including Iran, Pakistan, China, India, Turkey and Russia to introduce new investment opportunities in Afghanistan and woo potential investors.

"We will start our new program to attract investments and travel to countries with which we are already in contact. We will describe Afghanistan's investment opportunities and the incentives Afghanistan offers to investors," said AISA head Wafiullah Iftikhar.

"We will also hold exhibitions and conferences inside Afghanistan to attract investments," Iftikhar added.

As part of a recent package drafted by the Ministry of Finance to increase foreign investments, the government will provide free land, subsidized electricity and a 10-year tax exemption to companies that invest in the current year. Investments in the agricultural and industrial sectors will receive priority.

The US Ambassador to Afghanistan met on Monday with the young students of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM) who recently returned from a highly-acclaimed US trip during which they performed at venues such as the Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center.

Ambassador James Cunningham praised the young musicians' performances in the United States, saying that these children are the symbols of the bright future for other children of Afghanistan.

The young musicians performed at some of America's most famous and reputed music halls and introduced Afghanistan to thousands of people in a way different from the dominant narrative of conflict.

Ambassador Cunningham congratulated the students and presented to them each with a photograph booklet of their trip.

The children, aglow with pride from overwhelming domestic and international praise, said they plan to perform in other countries, including Oman, Germany and Australia.

"I am so happy that I visited the US. It was such a huge experience of our lives," one of the students told TOLOnews. "Our concerts amazed many foreigners," another added.

"I have always believed that encouraging a musician is encouraging his or her people. Since the day we returned to Afghanistan, we haven't heard anything but good things. Everyone we meet talk of how we gave them back their country's lost pride," ANIM director Nasser Sarmast told TOLOnews.

The ANIM students performed last month in New York, Boston, and Virginia in front of thousands including some of top government officials of the United States.

An inclusive negotiation process that builds national consensus is necessary for a successful peace settlement, said Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, head of the Transition Coordination Commission.

"Peace is the fundamental hope of the country. We need to forge national consensus in order to get a positive result," Ghani said.

The peace process has so far largely been led by the United States, and the Taliban insurgents have refused to engage with the Afghan government. The political opposition in Afghanistan has not been part of the ongoing efforts to negotiate with insurgents.

Opposition political parties echoed Ghani's comments about an inclusive political process.

"The peace process should be inclusive and conducted from a position of strength with special regard for national sovereignty. The process should not be sacrificed for the ideals of certain individuals or groups," said Asif Ashna, spokesman for the Right and Justice Party.

The National Coalition Party echoed the support for negotiations. "Fighting can't bring peace. We can reach a peaceful settlement via negotiations," said spokesman Fazlurrahman Orya.