The Ministry of Finance said that broadening the tax net could be an important step toward financial self-sufficiency for Afghanistan, indicating that a large number of taxpayers evade taxes or don't pay taxes on time.

"We are endeavoring to make grounds for more tax payments and encourage taxpayers to pay their taxes on time," said Ahmad Shah Zamanzai, head of the ministry's General Revenues Department.

But a number of individuals and foreign companies, especially some US military contractors, are exempt from taxes. The government is trying to abolish those exemptions to increase tax revenues.

"We are endeavoring to remove these exemptions, as these incomes could increase our revenues. We have [already] made some progress in this regard," Zamanzai said.

The ministry classifies business into three categories of large, medium and small enterprises for tax purposes. There are currently 400 large, 12,000 medium, and 20,000 small companies in Kabul alone.

The tax law has set income tax rates between two to 20 percent, and sales tax rates of two, five, and 10 percent. Income taxes are two percent for salaries between $200 to $250, ten percent for salaries between $250 to $2,000, and 20 percent for salaries over $ 2,000 per month.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the biggest challenges to tax collection are insecurity, a lack of sufficient capacity for tax collection and tax evasion.

Independent analysts also point to other problems such as corruption inside tax offices and bribes by taxpayers to reduce tax payments.

The Taliban shadow governor for the Dehdadi District of Balkh province and 15 of his fighters have joined the peace process after mediation by tribal elders and the provincial peace council.

Gul khan, the shadow governor, is believed to have trained in Pakistan and worked with insurgent groups in Balkh province for the last four years.

"We are tired of war, so we are joining the peace process. I ask all my disaffected brothers to join the peace process to bring lasting security in our country," Gul Khan said.

The provincial peace council asked the government to help those who join the peace process reintegrate into society.

"The relevant [government] organs should try to create job opportunities for people joining the peace process to prevent them from reverting to the insurgency," Akhtar Muhammad Ibrahimkhil said.

According to the provincial peace council, around 300 insurgents have laid down their weapons in Balkh over the last 18 months.

The second vice president warned Wednesday that the Afghan government will no longer tolerate the bloodshed against Afghan immigrants in Quetta, Pakistan, referring to the latest attack by the banned extremist militant group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi that killed about 90 and wounded about 200.

About thirty of those killed in the blast were Afghan refugees living in Quetta, and Vice President Khalili urged Pakistan to take serious measures to protect their lives.

"Pakistan...should consider serious actions to protect Afghan immigrants in the country," said Mohammad Karim Khalili.

The vice president said that Afghanistan's ambassador to Pakistan has been asked to visit Quetta to investigate the terrorist incident.

Meanwhile, a number of Kabul residents have staged a sit-in and hunger strike to protest the attacks that target the Hazara resident of Quetta, who are mostly Shia. Khalili visited the protesters and expressed solidarity with their cause.

Ahmad Zia Massoud, leader of the opposition National Front, lauded the protesters and said that such action could lead to better security for Afghan immigrants.

"Your strike is for humanity, and it will apply pressure on Pakistan to provide security for Hazaras," said Massoud.

Meanwhile, a number of MPs condemned the continued killings of Hazaras in Quetta.
"More than 200 people have been killed in the (latest) attacks. The government of Pakistan is obligated to refer the perpetrators to the judicial organs," said Farhad Majidi, MP.

The Saturday attack, claimed by Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, came after a previous attack in January, which the Human Rights Watch (HRW) said was the deadliest attack on record for the Pakistan's Shiites. HRW also said that more than 400 people had been killed in 2012, mostly in bomb attacks and drive-by shootings.

The government will consult with a broad cross-section of the country through a jirga to decided whether to ratify the security pact with Washington, the second vice president said Wednesday.

Vice President Khalili added that the jirga is expected to take place sometime in June this year.

"The government refers to the people to decide on some important issues. The signing of the strategic agreement [technically] allows us to sign the security pact, but to strengthen this matter the government wants to consult with the people," Khalili said.

Opposition political parties have strongly opposed the use of jirgas to decide important national matters.

"Often, meetings are held under them name of jirgas. With all due respect to attendees of such jirgas - my point isn't about the people - but according to the law, that's a misuse of jirgas, not an exercise to give people representation," said opposition leader Abdullah Abdullah.

The opposition parties believe Afghanistan faces significant security challenges as Isaf troops withdraw and should therefore prioritize the signing of the pact.

"A jirga means additional talk. The security pact is part of the long-term [strategic] cooperation agreement that was signed between the two countries. The jirga is, in a way, a misuse of the budget," said Astana Shirzad, head of the Afghan National Party.

The issue if legal immunity for US troops is one of the sticking points in the security pact, but some opposition parties are urging the government to ignore the issue. They believe that Afghanistan should follow the example of other countries that host US troops with legal immunity.

Afghanistan's Ulema Council has shown mixed reaction to their Pakistani counterparts' refusal to attend a joint summit, with some Afghan clergy blaming Pakistani's Ulema Council for supporting the Afghan Taliban.

Pakistan's council of religious clerics announced Tuesday that they wouldn't be attending a planned ulema summit between the two countries to build support against suicide bombings and facilitate the Afghan peace process.

In an official letter addressed to the Afghan clerics, Mutfi Abu Huraira Mohiuddin, head of the Pakistani Ulema Council, said they are not willing to criticize any of the Afghan Taliban's past activities, nor would they issue a fatwa against them. The Pakistani clerics had previously said that they wanted the Taliban to also attend the conference.

But some Afghan clerics remain hopeful that despite the refusal from Pakistan, the summit can still take place.

"We want the Pakistani ulema not to decide based on emotions. They should come to talk on this big issue. Even if the Taliban do not attend the conference, we should reach to a conclusion in their absence," said Sayed Hussain Alami Balkhi, member of the Afghan Ulema Council.

Other Afghan clerics expressed the determination to continue working toward peace even if their Pakistani counterparts refuse to meet.

"If the Pakistani ulema don't attend the conference, the path to peace will not be closed, and there are others to help us. We will continue our efforts to bring peace in Afghanistan," said Maulawi Shafiullah Shafi Noorestani of the Afghan Ulema Council.

But some Afghan clerics blamed their Pakistani counterparts for having sympathies for the Afghan insurgents.

"The Pakistani ulema still haven't cut their ties with the Taliban, so we must not expect them to issue a fatwa against them [Taliban] because of their own safety.... The Pakistani ulema aren't willing to take any step against the Taliban," Maulawi Abdulhadi Hedayad said.

A global ulema conference was originally planned, but the Afghan Ulema Council decided to convene a joint Afghanistan-Pakistan ulema summit first. This joint conference, which was to be held this Thursday in Kabul, was to focus on Taliban activities, in particular suicide attacks, declaring them haraam, or a sin.

Top news in this Bulletin:

Afghanistan's Ulema Council has shown mixed reaction to their Pakistani counterparts' refusal to attend a joint summit, with some Afghan clergy blaming Pakistani's Ulema Council for supporting the Afghan Taliban.

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A commander of the rebel Free Syrian Army warned on Wednesday that his forces would target Lebanon's Hezbollah unless the powerful militant group stops shelling territory held by the insurgents.

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A preliminary court in Herat sentenced to death Wednesday two men for kidnapping and later killing the eight-year-old son of a Herat businessman. 

Police had arrested 12 suspects, two of whom were found guilty of murder. The court also sentenced an accomplice to 20 years. Five others, including two women, received six to 16 years. Two suspects were found not guilty and released.

The defense attorney rejected the sentences and said that under pressure from popular demonstrations, the police and the courts have even imprisoned the relatives of the accused. He urged the police to further investigate the case and announced that his clients would appeal their sentences.

"Unfortunately, the preliminary court has completely ignored the justifications to my clients," said Ahmad Navid Ziaratjahi, the attorney.

The boy's father urged the government to carry out the sentences without delay, fearing that outside influence could change the outcome.

"What the people, especially the people of Herat, want from the president is to practically hang them (the accused) to death as soon as possible. Because there are other powers behind the case trying to reshape it," said Naseer Ahmad Noroozi, Ali Sina's father.

Ali Sina, the eight-year-old boy who was kidnapped with assistance from his father's bodyguard late December last year, was killed by the kidnappers late January even though they received the ransom.

According to Mr. Noroozi, the kidnappers had initially asked for $400,000 for his son's release, an amount which was negotiated down to $90,000. But the kidnappers killed and then buried Ali Sina to cover their tracks and conceal their identities.

The incident sparked mass demonstrations in Herat against increasing kidnapping incidents. Herat's provincial police chief was also transferred elsewhere.

At least two Taliban commanders and several Pakistani insurgents were killed in an operation in the eastern Laghman province, local officials said in a statement Thursday.

The Taliban commanders, known as Qari Almas and Omari, were been involved in anti-government activities in the province.

The Laghman Media Office said that the operation took place in the Ali Nigar district and resulted in the killings of 14 insurgents, including four Pakistanis; 17 others were injured in the operation.

Local officials in Kunduz also said Thursday that four Taliban insurgents were killed in a clash with security forces in the Khaja Ghaltan-e-Wali area of Kunduz city.

The 303 Police Zone Spokesman Lal Mohammad Ahmadzai said the insurgents were planning to lunch attacks in the city.

Isaf reported Thursday that six other Taliban insurgents were detained in Kunduz in a joint Afghan-Nato operation, which aimed to detain an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) commander accused of distributing arms to Taliban insurgents in the province.

Meanwhile, an air strike in Ghazni province killed five Taliban members, including a suicide bomber, local officials said Thursday.

The air strike occurred as insurgents were traveling in a vehicle from Andar District to Ghazni City, according to Andar District Governor Mohammad Qasem.

Kabul Municipality reported Wednesday that the city's revenues had increased by approximately 33 percent compared to last year, adding that the additional revenues will be spent on road construction and urban improvements.

The municipality's revenues for the current fiscal year is projected to be above AFN2.55 billion ($51 million), said Mayor Mohammad Younus Nawandish.

More than 42 kilometers of roads were asphalted and walkways reconstructed last year, while another 30 kilometers or roads are ready for to be asphalted in the near future, he added.

But Kabul residents have long complained that the municipality is not doing enough to develop the city, especially in tackling the city's notorious traffic and repairing broken roads.

A man has murdered his wife with a razor blade after prolonged domestic quarrels arising from financial difficulties, Kabul Police officials said Thursday.

"This heart-wrenching and tragic incident took place in Zone 7 of Kabul city. The people of the area informed us, and the police reached the area within a short time and arrested the man before he managed to escape," General Mohammad Zahir, chief of Kabul's Criminal Investigation Department, told TOLOnews.

The suspect said his alleged crime was rooted in domestic difficulties and poverty.

"I haven't had a good job. People harassed me, and my wife would send me to get food and groceries when I came home," said the man.

"So, I took her to the second floor and killed her with a razor blade."

A recent UN report said that a large number of cases of violence against women go ignored. The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission recently reported a twofold increase in cases of violence against women in the country.

Courts don't exist in large parts of the country, leading people to use traditional justice systems and even rely on the Taliban to resolve disputes, justices of the Supreme Court admitted Thursday.

But the justices said that poor security in parts of the country prevents courts from operating.

"Everything is connected to security, whether it's schools, government organs or other things. It is important that people can work comfortably. That's why there are no courts in the insecure parts of the country," said Justice Mohammad Omar Barakzai.

"Our staff goes to places where there is good security, places that have a district governor, police chief and prosecutors. In their absence, we don't send our staff [to set up courts]," said Justice Abdul Aziz Azizi.

Because of the absence of courts, people in some areas have to travel from the districts to provincial capitals to access the judicial system, which Justice Barakzai admitted is an impediment to justice.

The justices admitted that people turn to traditional justice systems in areas where courts don't exist, leading to verdicts that don't consider the due process of the law.

"Jirgas decide [cases] in most provinces and people also refer to them, but judicial processes don't exist in jirgas. For example, if someone commits murder, the jirga might decide to give a girl from the criminal's family to the slain person's family. That way, nobody knows about the fate of the girl," said Justice Barakzai.

In addition to challenges of security and alternative justice systems, corruption in courts is a serious issue. Over the past year, about 60 judges have been convicted of corruption.

The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology said Thursday that the recent announcement of fourth-generation (4G) mobile internet services by telecom giant Etisalat is "deceptive," adding that the country lacks proper infrastructure for 4G services.

The ministry slammed Etisilat for announcing its planned roll-out of 4G services and said the company had failed to appropriately execute its 3G license.

Ministry officials pointed to dissatisfaction among customers with 3G services and said the ministry will pressure companies to improve their services.

"Etisalat wants to have the market moving only for its benefit and we will not allow that," said Khair Mohammad Faizi, deputy of Afghan Telecommunications Regulatory Authority.

Meanwhile, the UAE-based Etisalat said that its 4G services in Afghanistan are in the trial phases only, and that the company will work to comply with all laws and gain consumer satisfaction once 4G is rolled out across the country.

"We are still in the trial and the preparation phase of 4G and have not yet started the service. There is no doubt that to provide 4G, we need a license from the Government of Afghanistan and approval from President Karzai and the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology," said Yasser Abu-Alamayem, Head of Marketing of Etisalat Afghanistan.

The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology announced that following the procurement of proper equipment, it will monitor 3G services, and in case the services don't meet license specifications, the service providers will be penalised.

The Ministry of National Defense said Thursday that the increase in Afghan troop casualties across country is because Afghan forces are involved in more security operations.

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Courts don't exist in large parts of the country, leading people to use traditional justice systems and even rely on the Taliban to resolve disputes, justices of the Supreme Court admitted Thursday.

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In an official letter addressed to Afghanistan's Ulema Council, Pakistani clerics said on Tuesday that they will not be attending the upcoming Kabul clergy conference.

The letter, signed by Mufti Abu Huraira Mohuiddin, head of the Pakistani clerics, says they are not willing to criticize any of the Afghan Taliban's pasts activities, nor would they issue a Fatwa against them.

Afghanistan's Ulema Council has expressed regret the over the Pakistani cleric's decision not to attend the conference.

The Afghan Ulema Council said last week that the two parties agreed on holding the Kabul conference with a total of 500 participants, 250 from each country.

"We met the Pakistani committee over a period of two days. There was a group of seven people - all senior Ulema. We first agreed that the Afghanistan and Pakistan Ulema would hold a conference in Kabul in March. Then we decided that 250 Ulema from each country would attend," said Aminuddin Mozaffari, an Afghan Ulema member, at a press conference in Kabul last Tuesday.

U.S. news syndicate McClatchy published a recent report stating some of Pakistan's scholars would reject the conference unless the Taliban were also to take part - a rejection that would inevitably bring new challenges at the many attempts to woo the Taliban to the negotiating table.

Mozaffari dismissed the comment however, saying that McClatchy's report held an opinion and there are always people who try to challenge the process. Mawlawi Mohammad Shafee Noorestani, another Afghan Ulema member, said the council is working towards a solution.

"In order to find a solution for these challenges, the Ulema's work is beneficial to help solve the problem," he told TOLO news last week.

The conference was originally to be held with Islamic scholars from across the Muslim world; however, the Afghan Ulema said the joint Afghan-Pakistan conference would indicate if it was necessary to hold another conference with a global representation.

The conference, which was to be held this Thursday in Kabul, was to focus on Taliban activities, in particular, suicide attacks - declaring them haraam, or a sin.

A Taliban leader, Mohammad Akhund was killed in a joint Afghan and Nato troops operation in southern Helmand province on Tuesday, Isaf said.

"An Afghan and coalition security force killed a Taliban leader, Mohammad Akhund, and one other insurgent with a precision strike during an operation in Nahr-e-Saraj district, Helmand province yesterday," Isaf said in a statement on Wednesday.

Mohammad Akhund was responsible for directing attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He was also crucial in coordinating the production and emplacement of improvised explosive devices in Helmand province, the statement said.

It comes as a Haqqani facilitator and four other insurgents were arrested in joint Afghan and Nato operation in the southern Kandahar province on Wednesday, according to Isaf.

Isaf believes the Haqqani facilitator was responsible for managing supply routes from Kandahar city to various other provinces. He was also believed to have been instrumental in the acquisition and distribution of lethal aid to Haqqani fighters for use in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

Three other insurgents were killed in a joint operation and another insurgent was captured in Charkh district of Logar province.

"As the security force approached the Taliban leader's suspected location, insurgents maneuvered toward the Afghan and coalition troops. After positively identifying the lethal threat, the security force engaged the insurgents, killing three," Isaf announced.

The Taliban leader is believed to be responsible for distributing weapons to insurgent forces in Logar province, and for planning and executing attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

The security force also seized a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, multiple RPG rounds, multiple AK-47s and one machine gun as a result of this operation.

Seven other insurgents were also killed in separate operations in eastern Khost and Ghazni provinces on Tuesday.

Russia on Tuesday announced that Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem would visit Moscow next week for talks aimed at finding a way out of the two-year Syria conflict.

Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said Muallem would be in Moscow on February 25 "to discuss the Syria crisis and measures aimed at beginning dialogue" with the opposition.

But Gatilov -- Russia's pointman on the conflict -- added that Syria's National Coalition opposition leader Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib had still not accepted an invitation to visit Russia later this month.

Moscow appeared to have hoped to have the two visits coincide so they could present an opportunity for the Syrian government and the opposition to hold their first direct negotiations.

"There has been no specific decision on this account," Gatilov said of Khatib's visit. "There are no concrete dates for his visit to Moscow."

Khatib had said earlier he would only be willing to meet Russian officials at a neutral venue due to Moscow's support for President Bashar al-Assad.

Russia has vetoed three UN Security Council resolution censuring Assad for the violence and continues supplying the Syrian government with military hardware that Western and Arab nations believe are helping Damascus press on with its military campaign.

Gatilov confirmed that Russia continues to supply arms to Assad but argued that the shipments were legal because they were made under contracts signed before the violence broke out in March 2011.

"Yes, we have made deliveries within frameworks of previously agreed contracts. We made no secret about that," said Gatilov.

"All of this activity is being conducted within legitimate frameworks. What was agreed in the past in terms of special equipment and special technology is being realised.

India, the United States and Afghanistan met in New Delhi Tuesday to discuss political, security and economic cooperation in the wake of US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The three sides agreed to continue this trilateral process to foster regional peace and security and facilitate the development of Afghanistan.

The US lauded India's role in regional cooperation to help Afghanistan.

"The US side expressed particular appreciation for India's leading role in helping to advance opportunities for regional trade and investment and noted our shared interest in advancing the New Silk Road vision of connectivity between South and Central Asia with Afghanistan at its core," a State Department spokesperson told India media on the conclusion of the tri-lateral dialogue in New Delhi.

Deputy Foreign Minister Jawed Ludin led the Afghan delegation; the US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Mr. Robert O. Blake, Jr. represented the US, while Additional Secretary (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran) Shri Y. K. Sinha represented the host nation.

The summit is a follow-up to the first trilateral dialogue hosted by Afghanistan in New York on September 25, 2012.

The trilateral summit comes after US President Barack Obama announced that 34,000 American troops will be withdrawn from Afghanistan in the next one year.

The Ministry of Finance said that broadening the tax net could be an important step toward financial self-sufficiency for Afghanistan, indicating that a large number of taxpayers evade taxes or don't pay taxes on time.

"We are endeavoring to make grounds for more tax payments and encourage taxpayers to pay their taxes on time," said Ahmad Shah Zamanzai, head of the ministry's General Revenues Department.

But a number of individuals and foreign companies, especially some US military contractors, are exempt from taxes. The government is trying to abolish those exemptions to increase tax revenues.

"We are endeavoring to remove these exemptions, as these incomes could increase our revenues. We have [already] made some progress in this regard," Zamanzai said.

The ministry classifies business into three categories of large, medium and small enterprises for tax purposes. There are currently 400 large, 12,000 medium, and 20,000 small companies in Kabul alone.

The tax law has set income tax rates between two to 20 percent, and sales tax rates of two, five, and 10 percent. Income taxes are two percent for salaries between $200 to $250, ten percent for salaries between $250 to $2,000, and 20 percent for salaries over $ 2,000 per month.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the biggest challenges to tax collection are insecurity, a lack of sufficient capacity for tax collection and tax evasion.

Independent analysts also point to other problems such as corruption inside tax offices and bribes by taxpayers to reduce tax payments.