Author Archives: The Pashtun Times

Army won’t act against Haqqani network, says Samiul Haq

ISLAMABAD: Defence of Pakistan Council chief Maulana Samiul Haq addresses a press conference on Wednesday.—White Star ISLAMABAD: Defence of Pakistan Council (DPC) chief Maulana Samiul Haq said on Wednesday that the Pakistan Army would not take any action against the Haqqani network. Addressing a press conference at the National Press Club, where he lambasted US President Donald Trump’s recent remarks ...

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OIC should help end Afghan conflict: Rassoul

KABUL: A splinter Taliban group on Thursday rejected America’s new strategy for Afghanistan and asked Islamic countries to play their role in ending the conflict. Two days back, President Donald Trump announced his new policy toward South Asia, promising continued support to Afghan forces and a continued US military presence in Afghanistan. However, the Taliban’s splinter group, lead by Mullah Rassoul, scorned Trump’s new strategy and ...

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Ambassador Llorens vows steps against the supporters of Taliban group

KABUL: The Special Charge d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Kabul Ambassador Hugo Llorens has said the United States will take steps against the supporters of the Taliban group. In a statement released after the announcement of the US strategy for South Asia, Ambassador Llorens said “At the core of this commitment, we will continue to support Afghan forces in ...

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US Ambassador David Hale briefs Bajwa on US’s South Asia policy

Pakistan wants the US’s trust, not its financial assistance: COAS ISLAMABAD: Pakistan does not want material or financial assistance from the US, but needs to be trusted and treated with respect, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa told US Ambassador David Hale on Wednesday. The two had a meeting at the army’s General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, where ...

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Book on Hamid Karzai foreign trips hits newsstands

KABUL: A book titled ‘Starai Mazal’ (Tiresome Journey), dealing with former president Hamid Karzai’s foreign trips, has hit the newsstands in Kabul. Published by the Acsose Publication Centre, the 183-page book has been written by senior journalist Hakeem Basharat, who is associated with the country’s largest news agency Pajhwok Afghan News. Basharat remained close to the former president and traveled ...

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Trump fires up US war machine condemning Afghanistan to endless war

A strategy solely focused on “killing terrorists” without including plans for peace building and nation building is going to fail terribly, and deplorably. President Trump’s long-awaited strategy for Afghanistan and South Asia has finally been announced. But it has grave implications for Afghanistan. While there is some clarity on the US stance vis-a-vis Pakistan and its safe havens for the ...

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Why Trump is right to get tough with Pakistan

President Trump deserves high marks for his new Afghanistan strategy. It is bold, reasoned and offers the prospect of success against the violent Islamist groups of the region. But it will also face opposition in the region. The president will have to show an unflagging commitment to the cause and be prepared to respond to moves by adversaries to disrupt ...

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New US strategy an opportunity for Pakistan to review its old approach: Ghani

KABUL: President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has said the new strategy by the United States for the South Asia is yet another opportunity for Pakistan to review its old regional approach, specifically the country’s approach towards Afghanistan. The Afghan President made the remarks during his speech to the nation after the announcement of the strategy by President Donald Trump. He said ...

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U.S. may sanction Pakistani officials with ties to terrorists, Trump official says

President Donald Trump’s new, get-tough approach with Pakistan’s government could potentially include sanctioning Pakistani government officials with ties to terrorist organizations, a senior administration official said Tuesday morning, part of an overall regional strategy that he said has put Pakistan “on notice” that “business as usual as it has been up to now is over.” Trump, in nationally televised address ...

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Ghani hails reiteration of US support for Afghanistan

KABUL: President Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday welcomed his American counterpart Donald Trump’s new strategy for the war in Afghanistan. Ghani said the US had shown an enduring commitment to Afghanistan’s war against terrorism and the war-torn country’s stability. In a statement from the Presidential Palace, Ghani appreciated the Trump administration’s reaffirmation of support to the government and people of Afghanistan. “I ...

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