An Afghan company has won the tender to work on improving the Salang Tunnel after Isaf granted $11 million for its renovation, the Ministry of Public Works said Sunday.

The renovation will include reinstalling the air-conditioning system, lights, tunnel structure, and asphalt, officials said.

The ministry is talking with Isaf to include construction of a false ceiling for the tunnel as well, the deputy minister said.

"A false ceiling in a tunnel is a foundational structures for it, it should be constructed. It was not part of the contract but there are talks with Isaf, the source of the projects' funding, to have this matter included," said Ahmad Shah Waheed, Deputy Minister of Public Works.

Surveying, design, and technical assessments of the tunnel were completed by the ministry and Isaf five months ago, he added.

The project will start once the weather conditions are more favorable, and it is hoped these renovations will last for at least three years before further work is done.

The renovations will be done at night to allow for the tunnel to be open to traffic during the day time, officials said.

The Salang Tunnel is Afghanistan's main road connecting the north and the south of the country. It is located in Parwan province passing through the Hindukush mountain range and under the Salang pass.

Afghan citizens' access to justice has dropped 45 percent compared to that of last year, despite President Hamid Karzai's Decree 45 to strengthen the judicial process, Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) reported Sunday.

The commission's report said that the presidential decree had ordered the establishment of attorneys or courts in areas where there were none in a period of nine months. But not only have no such bodies been established, instead, some have shut down citing security issues.

"Following President Karzai's Decree No. 45, citizens' access to justice has reduced 45 percent, compared to that of last year. This is very distressing for the Independent Human Rights Commission," said Fahim Hakim, AIHRC deputy director.

Based on a study from 29 provinces, the AIHRC said that it found 1406 cases had not been investigated, with 3,553 imprisoned with no clear plan of their jail term.

The AIHRC report shows that there is no preliminary court in 86 districts across Afghanistan with people referring to armed anti-government groups and "traditional" courts for most cases. A total 176 districts have no detention center and 92 districts have no active attorney.

"In a number of provinces, people are forced to refer to the armed opposition or traditional courts for their cases due to the lack of courts. In this case, not only justice is not obtained but their conclusions contravenes human rights," said Mohammad Musa Mahmodi, AIHRC executive director.

Furthermore, if there are no detention centres for women prisoners, they tend to be kept at military camps and are then occasionally abused.

The report also cited 28 incidents of torture against prisoners at prisons of the National Directorate of Security and the Afghan National Police.

Lack of access to lawyers is another challenge which the report highlights -- there are no advocates in 19 provinces, a dilemma which has led to unjust verdicts being issued.

"We want the judicial organisations to address the thousands of cases which are being left in the corners of prisons," said Abdulahad Farzam, coordinator of monitoring and evaluation at the AIHRC.

The human rights commission stated in its report that about 2,135 incidents of violence against women have been registered by the commission after the presidential decree was issued, but only 18 percent of the incidents have been investigated. The other 82 percent that have not been pursued have allowed perpetrators of crimes to receive no punishment.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has said that the deaths of two children in Afghanistan are a tragedy but it will take time to find out exactly what happened.

The boys, aged seven and eight, died on Thursday morning as Australian soldiers fought back after an apparent Taliban attack in southern Uruzgan province.

"What we do know is there have been two children who have lost their lives. That is a genuine tragedy," Gillard told reporters in Sydney on Monday.

"The loss of life is tragic, the impact on families is tragic, and the impact on soldiers involved in the operation is tragic too," she said.

The Australian Defence force chief General David Hurley also offered his condolences to the families in Afghanistan.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai released a statement Sunday condemning the airstrike that killed the two boys.

Karzai said his heartfelt condolences went to the mourning families of the victims.

"The Afghan government has repeatedly stressed that the war on terrorism cannot succeed in Afghan villages and homes, but rather in its sanctuaries and safe havens outside our borders," the statement said.

Isaf apologised for the incident on Saturday, saying that coalition forces accidentally shot dead two boys on Thursday.

"It is with deep regret that the International Security Assistance Force announces that its forces were responsible for the unintended death of two young Afghan civilians during an operation Feb. 28 in Shahid-e Hasas District, Uruzgan Province," the statement from the Nato-led forces said.

"I offer my personal apology and condolences to the family of the boys who were killed," it quoted Isaf commander Gen. Joseph Dunford saying.

Isaf said the boys were killed when the coalition forces fired at what they thought were insurgent forces.

Afghanistan began their series against Scotland with a comfortable win in the first of two Twenty20 internationals in Sharjah.

Mohammad Shahzad hit a fifty to lead Afghanistan to 132 runs and their bowlers then tied Scotland down to 105 runs in the chase.

Afghanistan were in trouble at 5 for 2 after new captain Mohammad Nabi chose to bat.

The man he replaced, Nawroz Mangal, departed fourth ball of the game to one of the four debutants for Scotland, Iain Wardlaw, while Karim Sadiq was dismissed by another debutant Neil Carter in the second over.

Afghanistan could have been bogged down just as Scotland were later, but Shahzad made sure that did not happen. He put on 79 runs with Asghar Stanikzai - a run a ball.

Shahzad hit seven boundaries during his 55 off 46 deliveries while Stanikzai provided valuable support with his 30 off 37.

Yet another Scotland debutant, Matt Machan, restricted Afghanistan with a haul of 3 for 23, which included the wicket of Shahzad.

Scotland began their chase poorly, with Calum MacLeod being caught short of his crease by Afghanistan's lone debutant Hamza Hotak in the first over. Carter fell to Sadiq's second delivery in the third and Scotland could never get going.

Machan's unbeaten 42 off 38 was the sole innings of note for Scotland. Kyle Coetzer and Preston Mommsen got slow starts, but that only served to increase the asking-rate, with Scotland falling short by 27 runs when the overs ran out.

Source: http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/current/story/623410.html#sthash.k2uyWC95.dpuf

Members of Pakistan's Shiite community were digging Monday through the rubble of a massive car bombing in Karachi looking for loved ones as the death toll from the blast the day before reached 45, a Pakistani doctor said.

The explosion on Sunday evening targeted members of the minority sect leaving a mosque in this port city, and underlined the increasing threat faced by Shiites as Sunni militant groups target them in ever-bolder attacks.

At least 146 people were also wounded in the explosion and 32 of them remain in serious condition, said Pakistani surgeon, Jalil Qadir.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Sunni militant groups who do not consider Shiites to be true Muslims have carried out such attacks in the past.

This was the third mass casualty attack since the beginning of the year against Shiites. The first two killed nearly 200 people in the southwestern city of Quetta, which is home to many Hazaras. They are an ethnic group, mostly made up of Shiite Muslims, who migrated from Afghanistan more than century ago.

Those attacks were claimed by Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a Sunni militant group known for its virulent hatred of Shiite Muslims.

Pakistan's intelligence agencies helped nurture Sunni militant groups like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi in the 1980s and 1990s to counter a perceived threat from neighboring Iran, which is mostly Shiite. Pakistan banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi in 2001, but the group continues to attack Shiites.

Karachi shut down on Monday for a day of mourning to honor the dead. Markets, gas stations and transportation were closed as security officials patrolled the streets.
At the site of the blast, family and friends were looking through the rubble for family members missing after the explosion.

"I am here to look for my relative," said Farzana Azfar. "People say he was here. But people say they have no idea about him. It appears that some bodies are still in the rubble."

With three massive attacks against Shiites in as many months this year, many Pakistanis are questioning why the government does not seem able to protect them.

"Go ask the sleeping government to wake up. Our brothers and sisters are dying every day. But the government is doing nothing. This government is sleeping," said Shagufta Rasheed.

Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen arrived in Afghanistan on Monday to meet with President Hamid Karzai and Isaf commanders.

The Nato chief will also meet the other Afghan security officials and the Isaf commanders in Afghanistan to discuss the next steps in Isaf's campaign.

His visit comes after a meeting in Brussels February 21-22 where Nato members discussed a new proposal to sustain the number of Afghan troops at its peak of 352,000 soldiers through to 2018.

The new plan marks a shift from last year's meeting where Nato defence ministers agreed to reduce the number of Afghan security forces to 240,000 after 2014 in the wake of diminishing financial resources.

The current 352,000 mark will cost $6.5 billion a year, of which the Afghan government would pay $500 million, Nato allies $300 million, and the US paying the remaining amount of $5.7 billion.

Rasmussen praised the growth of the Afghan security forces in the past 12 years and emphasised the continued support, advisory and training role of the Nato allies after 2014 when their combat mission ends.

The defense ministers meeting involved all 50 members of the Isaf coalition, the defense minister of Afghanistan and representatives from the United Nations and the European Union.

There are around 66,000 US troops in Afghanistan helping over 300,000 Afghan security forces fight insurgency.

At least one Afghan woman has been killed and two others injured after security guards mistakenly shot at their vehicle in the Afghan capital Sunday evening.

The shooting took place in Kart-e-Seh area of Kabul city after security guards of Yama Karzai, an official at the National Directorate of Security (NDS), opened fire on the civilian vehicle, witnesses said.

The vehicle was targeted by security guards of Yama Karzai who are said to have believed the people were militants.

Kabul police chief Gen. Ayoub Salangi told TOLOnews that the Toyota Town Ace vehicle had ignored the Afghan police orders to stop, which led to the shooting by Afghan security forces.

It comes amid tensions between the Afghan government and the international forces led by Nato over the deaths of civilians in military operations.

Most recently, two Afghan boys aged 7 and 8 were killed Thursday when Australian soldiers in Uruzgan fired at the boys during an attack on alleged Taliban insurgents.

President Hamid Karzai on Sunday condemned the shooting.

Attacks on NDS offices have notably increased in the past two months.

Sunday night's shooting comes only a week after Afghan security forces gunned down an insurgent who was driving an explosive-laden SUV near an NDS office in Kabul's Sherpur area.

The would-be suicide bomber was shot while driving, with the car bomb later identified and defused.

The guard who shot the insurgent told officials that he shot the man because he had seen him raise a gun.

The same day, a suicide bomber detonated his explosive-laden vehicle near an NDS compound in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad. At least two security guards were killed in the incident.

Shortly before the Jalalabad attack, an assailant detonated a van packed with explosives at a highway police checkpoint in eastern Logar province, injuring three police officers.

An International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) civilian contractor has been killed in a blast in southern Afghanistan, Isaf said late Sunday.

"An International Security Assistance Force-contracted civilian died following an improvised explosive device attack in southern Afghanistan today," Isaf said in a statement.

Isaf did not provide more details about the exact location of the incident or nationality of the contractor.

Mostly US and British troops are based in southern Afghanistan.

Improvised explosives are frequently used by insurgents to target security forces and Afghan government personnel.

No group including the Taliban has claimed responsibility for the blast.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned Iran on Sunday that Israel would never allow Iranian leaders to develop a nuclear weapon, as he addressed a powerful US-Israel lobby.

"It is Iran's pursuit of a nuclear capability which is the greatest challenge facing Israel, the region and the world today," Barak told thousands of delegates at the opening of the annual conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

World powers leading negotiations with Iran to rein in its suspect nuclear program concluded talks in Kazakhstan last week, after putting forward a proposal to Iranian leaders to halt their uranium enrichment.

But Barak, stepping down as defense minister as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu draws up a new cabinet, cast doubt on whether the negotiations, due to resume later this month, would have any success.

"Frankly, while exhausting all diplomatic means is understandable, I do not believe it will lead to a moment of truth when the ayatollahs will give up their nuclear situation. Therefore, all options must remain on the table," Barak said.

"We expect all those who say it to mean it. Ladies and gentlemen, we mean it. And let me repeat it, we mean it," he added forcefully.

AIPAC, which touts itself as the most influential US foreign policy lobby, will also hear a speech live from Netanyahu on Monday via video link, following an address by US Vice President Joe Biden.

Some 13,000 people are expected to flock to the three-day event being held at the Washington Convention Center, but the gathering is more muted than in previous years, with neither President Barack Obama nor Israeli President Shimon Peres in attendance.

Obama is preparing to make his first trip as president to Israel in just two weeks' time, and Netanyahu has stayed at home as he seeks to patch together a coalition following January's elections.

Iran and its nuclear ambitions will top the agenda for his talks in Israel, along with the war in Syria and the moribund Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

There have been fears that Israel would take unilateral action against Tehran, but the threat has somewhat receded after Obama vowed the United States will not pursue a policy of containment if Iran seeks a nuclear weapon.

Iran has denied seeking an atomic bomb, saying its nuclear program is for civilian purposes only.

Barak thanked Obama and former defense secretary Leon Panetta for their "resolute backing of Israel."

And he also wished new Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel "all the best in his new role," adding that "he will no doubt serve his country with the same pride and honor with which he served on the battlefield and in Congress."

Hagel's confirmation by Congress met some stiff opposition from US lawmakers over his past statements on Iran's nuclear program and US-Israeli relations.

Hagel was eventually confirmed last week and he will meet with Barak for the first time as defense secretary on Tuesday.

The head of the Kabul Bank special court has urged the Afghan government to take its findings seriously a day before it is due to deliver its verdict.

Special court chief Shamsurrahman Shams said Monday the court will hand down its decision tomorrow on the 22 defendants charged with being involved in Kabul Bank's collapse.

"The court which is a preliminary hearing will specify the fate of 22 defendants of the [Kabul Bank] crisis," Shams said.

"We demand the executive power take the court's decision seriously."

His comments voice the widespread mistrust of the judicial system in Afghanistan as court decisions are often ignored, especially when they involve high-ranking officials.

The Kabul Bank special court was a proposal of the Supreme Court approved by President Hamid Karzai in June last year. There will be two more formal court hearings before the final Supreme Court verdict is delivered.

Kabul Bank collapsed in 2010 after more than $850 million was wiped from the accounts in fraudulent loans and insider dealings. Attempts to recover the funds are ongoing.

The 22 defendants were all former employees of the bank, including the bank's chairman Sherkhan Farnood and chief executive Khalil Ferozi.

Shams said that another 13 people including bank stakeholders Mahmmod Karzai and Hassin Fahim – the brothers of President Hamid Karzai and Vice-President Marshal Mohammad Qasim Fahim – are also under investigation although they were not part of the preliminary hearing.

The High Peace Council representative in Zabul province has resigned citing poor cooperation and inaction from the provincial governor.

Mohammad Daoud Gulzad held a press conference Monday to announce his resignation, accusing governor Mohammad Ashaf Nasari of putting obstacles to the peace process and using finances for his own benefit.

"The provincial governor does not want the peace plans to develop. From the beginning there has been no cooperation from the provincial officials. Because of this, I am going to resign from my post. I don't want to continue," Gulzad said.

Gulzad also claimed the governor is using "privileges" for his personal benefit.

"The Zabul provincial governor wants to hide the corruption," he said.

"At the moment there are six districts which are not controlled by the government and the central government is not ruling," he added.

Zabul deputy governor Mohammad Jan Rasoulyar rejected Gulzad's claims in a telephone call with TOLOnews Monday saying that the local officials are trying to strengthen the peace process in this province.

He said the officials have cooperated with the provincial peace council and have not hesitated before any attempt to ensure permanent security in the province.

Afghanistan's national football team beat Mongolia 1-0 on Monday in its second match of the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers in Laos.

Afghan striker Belal Arezou scored the only goal of the match which began 1:30pm, Kabul time.

The first half ended with no goals with the Afghan team proving strong but missing several opportunities. Arezo struck his winning goal in the 60th minute of the match.

Arezou also scored the only goal in Afghanistan's first match against Sri Lanka on Saturday, winning 1-0.

After beating Mongolia, Afghanistan will next face the host country Laos on Wednesday with the match kicking off 4:30pm, Kabul time.

Having won two out of two matches, Afghanistan currently tops Group Three in the qualifying round with six points.

Eight players from last year's Afghan premiere league (APL) are playing for the national team in the Cup qualifiers, six of whom are playing with the national team for the first time.

These six were drawn from the Kandahar, Kabul and Herat APL teams.

If Afghanistan team wins Wednesday's match, it will qualify for the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup.

The AFC Challenge Cup began in 2006 and is held every two years. In the current qualifiers 20 teams have been placed in five pools of four teams each. Seven teams - the five group winners and the two best second-placed - will head to the main round to be held next year in the Maldives city Malé.

President Hamid Karzai called on Pakistan to realise it faces the same foe as Afghanistan, saying Monday that it is essential in the fight against terrorism and urged it to oppose suicide attacks.

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President Hamid Karzai called on Pakistan to realise it faces the same foe as Afghanistan, saying Monday that it is essential in the fight against terrorism and urged it to oppose suicide attacks.

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Afghanistan's national football team beat Mongolia 1-0 on Monday in its second match of the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers in Laos.

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Seeking to reassure anxious Israelis and their American supporters, Vice President Joe Biden vowed Monday that the United States won't back down from its pledge to use military action to thwart Iran's nuclear program should all other options fail.

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Scotland last night suffered further T20 torment as Afghanistan cruised to a comprehensive seven-wicket victory to seal their mini-series 2-0.

The Saltires were looking for revenge at the Sharjah Stadium following Sunday's 27-run loss. However, after winning the toss and electing to bat, Gordon Drummond's side again failed to sparkle, posting a disappointing 139-7 before their rivals raced to victory with 15 balls to spare.

The Afghanistan batsmen showed much more aggression with a series of hard-hitting shots which quickly put the issue beyond doubt. They took full advantage of the hard new ball to reach 53-1 after the six power-play overs. Scotland, in contrast, had managed to score at barely five runs an over at the equivalent stage.

Karim Sadiq set the tone with a blistering 29-ball 34 including four boundaries and one huge six, while Nawroz Mangal also managed to score at better than a run-a-ball.

Mangal was first to go when he was bowled by Iain Wardlaw while Preston Mommsen had Sadiq caught behind by David Murphy. However, at 80-2 in the tenth over, Afghanistan had the platform they needed to go into over-drive.

Mo Shahzad raced to 46 from only 25 deliveries and, although he became Wardlaw's second victim, he had taken his side within touching distance of their target.

Earlier the Saltires failed to dominate with the bat as the impressive Hamid Hassan quickly put them on the back foot.

Among the best fast bowlers in associate cricket, Hassan took just three deliveries to send Richie Berrington packing for a duck before going on to claim 4-22.

Kyle Coetzer also went cheaply before Calum MacLeod and Matt Machan repaired the damage in a stand of 49. The run-rate, though, was too pedestrian for this form of the game as the Afghan bowlers were content to build the pressure. It paid off when Machan offered a return catch after an enterprising 39 while Mommsen quickly followed in a similar manner.

MacLeod and Moneeb Iqbal both managed 31 but Scotland's total looked inadequate and so it proved.

The Scots must quickly lift their spirits for two crucial 50-over World Cup qualifying games against the same opponents tomorrow and Friday.

"The T20s have been a disappointment but the 50-over games have been our main focus since we got here," said Drummond, who refused to blame his batsmen for yesterday's defeat.

"Our batsmen learned a lot from Sunday's game and, to be fair, we weren't far short of where we wanted to be.

"We thought 150-odd would be a decent score on a difficult wicket so 139 wasn't bad. But we didn't bowl well at all – that's the biggest disappointment."

Source: http://www.scotsman.com/sport/cricket/cricket-afghanistan-prove-too-good-for-scotland-1-2820435

Pakistan is considering to transfer the imprisoned senior Taliban cadres - including the group's former second-in-command - to the Gulf state of Qatar as part of efforts to facilitate the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.

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Kabul Bank's former chairman Shirkhan Farnood and former chief executive Khalil Ferozi have been sentenced to five years in prison each in connection with the multi-million dollar fraud that almost led to the bank's collapse in 2010.

The Kabul Bank special tribunal delivered its verdict in Kabul Tuesday, also fining Farnood $278 million and Ferozi $530 million.

"Farnood and Ferozi have also been ordered to pay back these funds," court chief Shamsurrahman Shams said.

Twenty-one other former bank employees have been sentenced by the court for jail terms of between two and four years. Of this group, five are considered missing or have left the country.

"These 21 individuals are going to be sentenced because of their role in the Kabul Bank crisis," Shams said.

Kabul Bank was one the largest bank in Afghanistan and handled most of the government payrolls, including salaries for policemen and teachers in the country.

The Kabul Bank special court was a proposal of the Supreme Court approved by President Hamid Karzai in June last year. There will be two more formal court hearings before the final Supreme Court verdict is delivered.

On Monday, the Special court chief has said that the another 13 people including bank stakeholders Mahmmod Karzai and Hassin Fahim – the brothers of President Hamid Karzai and Vice-President Marshal Mohammad Qasim Fahim – are also under investigation although they were not part of the preliminary hearing.

The bank has been replaced by the New Kabul Bank, with the government investing more than $800m. But the fallout of the collapse of the first bank is still being felt.

The Afghan government is almost entirely paid for by foreign donors, many of whom have threatened to pull or curtail financing if they do not see proof that the Karzai administration is assuring that funds reach Afghan citizens as intended.

A possible missile attack on Kabul city has been foiled, according to security officials, after Afghan forces seized 16 missiles in south-eastern Kabul province Monday night.

The Afghan forces seized the missiles in Kabul's Musahe district which were ready to be fired into the city, Kabul police chief Gen. Ayub Salangi said.

No one has been arrested over possession of the missiles but investigations are ongoing, officials said.

The Ministry of Interior has said that the missiles were BM-16 and BM-21.

It comes amid a spate of attacks and attempts by insurgents on government and security force targets in the Afghan capital.

Most recently, a suicide bomber detonated himself by a bus carrying Afghan soldiers to work in Kabul city, injuring eight, including a civilian.

The attack took place at in the Kart-e-Se area in western Kabul.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.