http://www.payam-aftab.com Latest Content AboutAfghanistan, Afghan, Kabul, kandahar, afghans, mazar, afghanistan, Iran, karzai, Talib, Taliban, Osama bin Laden, Osama, bin, Laden, Pakistan, War in Afghanistan, ISAF, NATO, al-Qaeda, IMU, HI-Gulbuddin, Haqqani network, Haqqani, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Mohammed Omar, Ayman al-Zawahiri, Bamian, Herat, Rabbani, Hazara, Pashtu, Tajik, Sadat, Sangcharak, Qazni, Bagram, afg, Aftab Research Center, Payam-Aftab, Aftab, Research, Center en-us javadvahidian@gmail.com info@payam-aftab.com payam-aftab.com Americans are clamoring to speed up the 2014 security transition in Afghanistan so that U.S. troops can come home sooner. But the buzz in Kabul is about the political transition to a post-Karzai government — and whether that hand¬over should be accelerated http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5537/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5537 KABUL, Feb. 13 -- Encouraging national and international companies to invest in Afghan minerals and extract the untapped underground treasures would help alleviate poverty and eventually lead to strengthening security in the militancy- plagued Afghanistan http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5470/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5470 Despite the assassination of former Afghan peace chief Burhanuddin Rabbani last year, US is now trying to open talks with Taliban to provide them participation in the future of the country http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5449/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5449 Saudi Arabia - A (state) represents in the reality of its contemporary global concept one of the largest institutions that are often created in isolation from the people’s concerns and the causes of the society. Yet, this is mostly evident in our diffident Arab world, where the power of the elites is in the face of the supreme power of the society in general, with its culture, civilization and its various components, groups, and formations. http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5443/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5443 American officials were swift to condemn new video images of four US Marines apparently urinating on the dead bodies of three Taliban fighters, and have started investigating the matter. German commentators say quick punishment for the men is the only option, if possible peace talks with the Taliban are to be salvaged. http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5429/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5429 After months of secret negotiations, the Taliban are opening a political office in Qatar, a first step toward peace talks between the US and the group. The breakthrough was largely due to painstaking German diplomacy. But it could be years before the initiative bears fruit. http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5428/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5428 The hype over "secret discussions" between the United States and Taliban officials has subsided; the hot topic is vanishing from public view once again. http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5419/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5419 The reported contacts between the U.S. and Afghan Taliban and the latter's plan to open a liaison office in Qatar to facilitate dialogue have met with cautious welcome among war-weary Afghans who are wondering whether the move will lead to viable peace in the country. http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5406/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5406 After 10 months of secret dialogue with Afghanistan's Taliban insurgents, senior U.S. officials say the talks have reached a critical juncture and they will soon know whether a breakthrough is possible, leading to peace talks whose ultimate goal is to end the Afghan war. http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5378/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5378 Women in Afghanistan still face gender violence and have limited legal protection. But small gains in maternal health are critical for rebuilding Afghan society. http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5374/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5374 BONN, Germany, -- The international Afghanistan Conference closing here paved the way for the so-called Transformation Decade of the war-torn country, with renewed promises from both Kabul and international donors, but lacking precision and details http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5359/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5359 The gathering of world leaders at the International Afghanistan Conference on Dec. 5 in Bonn, Germany, is timely. While the momentous events of the Arab Spring have often dominated global headlines this year, Afghanistan remains a central preoccupation for the British government and many of our international partners for one overriding reason: national and international security. http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5354/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5354 Islamabad and Washington trade claim and counter-claim over deaths of 24 Pakistani soldiers in Nato air strike on border post http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5353/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5353 Following deadly NATO attacks on Pakistani border posts, the country has refused to attend the upcoming international conference on the situation in Afghanistan. But as the most influential nation in helping stabilize their war-torn neighbor, Pakistan's presence is crucial, German commentators say on Wednesday. http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5351/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5351 Pakistan withdrew from an international conference designed to chart a course towards peace in Afghanistan in protest at a Nato cross-border raid that killed two dozen of its soldiers. http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5345/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5345 The incident on Saturday in which NATO airstrikes killed two dozen Pakistani soldiers at border outposts was an accident waiting to happen. http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5344/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5344 To grasp the severity of Lt. Gen. Michael D. Barbero’s $40-fertilizer-bomb problem, it helps to consider some much bigger numbers. http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5328/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5328 Marine Gen. John R. Allen wants 1,700 more military personnel to lead hundreds of new advisor teams to be assigned beginning next year to Afghan units battling the Taliban insurgency, officials say. http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5327/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5327 The Afghan president has laid out the conditions for an extended U.S. military presence. But with opposition to his rule growing, can Karzai hold on? http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5322/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5322 Burhanuddin Rabbani, who has died in a bomb attack in Kabul, has been a key player during some of the most turbulent years in Afghanistan's history. http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5242/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5242 Today is the tenth anniversary of the assassination of Ahmad Shah Massoud, the Lion of the Panjshir, http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5229/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5229 New figures released by NATO reveal a dramatic increase in the number of U.S. commando raids across Afghanistan since the ouster of Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who served as commander of the war in 2009 and early 2010 before being replaced by now-CIA Chief David Petraeus. http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5208/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5208 As at one of my notes in the journal Rowshani (Light), the magazine of the Enlighteners Association of Afghanistan (Kanun e Rowshangaran Afghanistan), which ended its publication- due to shortage of space here, it is not possible to go on detail about it- I did write an article entitled Aryan Ethnic: Origins and Roots? (Rowshani no.14, Spring 1380- 2001. p.4.) http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5165/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5165 We cannot ignore imam Ali's dealings with his predecessors to the khilafah. He treated them with consideration although he believed that they had taken what was his right. http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5121/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5121 In fact Arab faschism fight against Shia around the world while their approaches are Racial, Religious and Secular aspects. Iranian Faschism do the same with Racial, Secular and infidelity trends. The Mongolism (Hazareh tribe faschism) carries out its task upon Racial and Secular aspects. Pashtunism (Pashtun tribe faschism), however, has Racial, Religious and Secular trends. http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5112/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5112 KABUL -- Heroin addicts in Afghanistan's capital usually meet in hidden places. In an abandoned building. In a disused cargo container. In places where the dealers who bring them heroin paste can find them and they can spread the paste on tinfoil, light it, and inhale the smoke through a thin plastic tube. http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5105/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5105 MAZAR-I SHARIF, Afghanistan -- What would Afghanistan look like without war http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5087/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5087 BEIJING, -- Thanks to modern technology, particularly satellite imagery and live video beamed from combatants, truth should no longer be the first casualty of war http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5060/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5060 When U.S. President Obama called Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari to tell him the news that Osama bin Laden had been killed by U.S. citizens in a lightening raid not far from the Pakistani capital last night, he also instructed his team to similarly inform their Pakistani counterparts. The question is, who was surprised when they picked up the phone? http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5053/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5053 In recent weeks, ties between Islamabad and Washington have grown more strained than a cup of sickly sweet South Asian chai. http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5029/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5029 KABUL, -- The war-weary Afghans have been witnessing rising bombings, killings and suicide attacks as the traditional Taliban fighting season gets underway, but can Afghan Taliban kill its way to victory http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/5025/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/5025 While we are diverted by the opera-bouffe spectacle of the civil war in Libya’s desert, a genuine tragedy—and potential geopolitical trainwreck—is unfolding in Bahrain http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4999/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4999 By James P. McGovern and Walter B. Jones The Washington Post Friday, February 18, 2011 http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4927/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4927 KABUL, Afghanistan — As the long luncheon for newly elected Afghan members of Parliament wound to a close over tea and fruit last weekend, it became clear that President Hamid Karzai was outnumbered and outmaneuvered http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4883/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4883 Street children in Kabul call for peace, seek education http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4866/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4866 Tough time ahead of Afghans in 2011 http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4829/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4829 Afghanistan's oppressed Hazaras use vote to claim a voice http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4704/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4704 Taliban: 'Britain is our greatest source of funding' http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4663/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4663 Pakistan's Role in Afghan War Questioned http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4614/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4614 Why is Obama sending troops to Afghanistan? http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4602/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4602 Film Industry Returns to Afghanistan http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4575/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4575 Afghanistan Election Threatened by More Than the Taliban http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4556/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4556 'Rich Afghan candidates threaten others' http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4525/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4525 security deteriorates across north http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4491/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4491 Afghan groups review plans for polls http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4474/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4474 Afghanistan prepares for Bagram 2.0 http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4454/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4454 Attempted suicide by women, girls on the rise? KABUL http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4418/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4418 Afghan women lose trust in US forces http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4398/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4398 Afghanistan pull-out could start in 2011:David Cameron http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4381/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4381 Ethnic divide threatens in Afghanistan http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4370/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4370 Nine Million Afghans Live in Poverty http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4367/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4367 Outside Afghan Borders' http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4330/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4330 US strategy in Afghanistan 'not working' http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4326/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4326 Will sacking Gen. McChrystal help overcome Afghan militancy? http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4314/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4314 U.S. indirectly paying Afghan warlords as part of security contract http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4304/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4304 Gates Says Afghan Effort Goes Better Than It Appears http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4289/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4289 Atmar, Saleh Resignation "Disaster": Report http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4259/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4259 Afghanistan's fluffy peace jirga http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4251/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4251 June 1 - Afghanistan will hold a jirga, or a traditional gathering of tribal elders and other leaders, on June 2-4 to discuss ways to end a nine-year war now in its deadliest phase http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4242/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4242 Can Obama's team of rivals bring Afghan success? http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4230/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4230 Fight in Kandahar: U.S. says it won't look like war http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4227/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4227 U.S. Rolls Up Red Carpet for Karzai Rival http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4209/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4209 Q+A - New U.S. strategy in Afghanistan runs into old problems http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4193/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4193 Pakistani smugglers supplying Afghan bombmakers http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4179/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4179 Battle for Kandahar may be tougher than expected http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4167/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4167 Fear Grows In Kandahar Ahead Of Expected NATO Offensive http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4151/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4151 Afghan civilians bear brunt of wa http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4140/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4140 U.S. Now Trying Softer Approach Toward Karzai http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4119/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4119 Afghanistan and the Decline of American Power http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4117/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4117 The alienation of Hamid Karzai http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4100/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4100 Concern Over Quality of Private Universities http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4047/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4047 Afghan leader Karzai is playing games http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4042/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4042 Taliban Resistance Strong In Southern Afghanistan http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/4036/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/4036 Is Obama winning war on Al Qaeda that Bush lost? http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/3999/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/3999 Taliban: Terrorist or not? Not always easy to say http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/3998/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/3998 Is Osama Bin Laden dead or alive http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/3965/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/3965 What Afghanistan needs: a civilian surge http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/3958/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/3958 Civilian, military planners have different views on new approach to Afghanistan http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/3946/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/3946 After the Taliban: Afghanistan's kids ready for education, but schools not http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/3923/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/3923 The reality of Afghanistan http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/3910/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/3910 Has Obama lost his oratorical touch? http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/3909/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/3909 Finding decent cabinet is Karzai's big challenge http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/3883/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/3883 Hamid Karzai crowned king - but what price the coronation? http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/3873/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/3873 Big test for Afghanistan education http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/3859/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/3859 To Afghanistan's many problems, now add the flu http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/3853/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/3853 AFGHANISTAN: KARZAI DECLARED PRESIDENT, BUT IS ABDULLAH THE REAL WINNER? http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/3830/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/3830 John Burns on Ahmed Wali Karzai and the C.I.A http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/3826/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/3826 Fraud Surrounds Women Voters in Afghan Election http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/3821/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/3821 Who is Abdullah Abdullah? http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/3811/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/3811 Q&A: Afghan election http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/3795/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/3795 How to Turn The Current Political Crisis in Afghanistan into an Opportunity? http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/3771/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/3771 Indian embassy in Afghanistan attacked: Was Pakistan involved? http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/3764/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/3764 The Karzai question http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/3761/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/3761 What I Saw at the Afghan Election http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/3748/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/3748 U.S. Congress puts pressure on Obama over Afghanistan http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/3746/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/3746 Does the U.S. still have a vital interest in Afghanistan? http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/3727/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/3727 Afghan Election Woes Raise Taliban's Stock http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/3714/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/3714 Time to Deal in Afghanistan http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/3698/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/3698 The Lion of Panjishir http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/3692/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/3692 Obama Faces Doubts From Democrats on Afghanistan http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/news/3688/ http://www.payam-aftab.com/en/3688