News Story: Ghani, Mattis And Stoltenberg Hold Closed Door Talks

President Ashraf Ghani held a joint press conference in Kabul on Wednesday with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and US Defense Secretary James Mattis after holding talks behind closed doors with the two leaders.

Both Mattis and Stoltenberg made an unannounced visit to Kabul and arrived early Wednesday morning.

Speaking at the press conference, it appeared that the three leaders had discussed a wide range of issues.

Taking to the podium, Ghani called on India, Russia and other countries in the region to come together to help mobilize against the fight against terrorism.

Ghani also said Afghanistan wants an Afghan-owned peace process and called on insurgents to join the peace process.

In addition he stated government had drawn up a four-year military plan that has been approved by NATO.

In turn Jens Stoltenberg, NATO’s secretary general, said: “We count on Afghan government to make good on its commitments on key reforms and that NATO supports peace.”

He said that “with NATO’s help, Afghan forces have come a very long way and we will continue to train, advise and assist” the Afghan security forces.

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Related Story:

• Mattis, Stoltenberg in Kabul to Meet Afghan Officials

News Story: Pakistan’s Army Chief to Visit Kabul for Talks

General Qamar Javed Bajwa

By Sayed Sharif Amiri

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) on Tuesday announced that Pakistan’s chief of army staff general Qamar Javed Bajwa is expected to visit Afghanistan in the next five days where he will hold talks with Afghan officials.

According to the MoD, among the issues discussed will be that of peace talks with the Taliban. 

The Afghan government will reiterate its call to Pakistan to take action against terrorist hideouts and safe havens inside Pakistan territory, said MoD spokesman Dawlat Waziri. 

Meanwhile, prominent Pakistani politician and chairman of Pakistan Tehrek-e-Insaf party, Imran Khan, has said more violence, more bloodshed and more bombings in Afghanistan is not the answer.

He said dialogue was the solution. 

"I think Donald Trump's policy is deeply flawed. He neither understands the history of Pakistan nor the character of the Afghan people," Khan said in an interview with The Associated Press.

“To blame Pakistan for this failed policy and then giving credit to India for some reason which does not border Afghanistan …. If Pakistan army, government had any leverage with the Taliban then surely they (the US) should ask Pakistan to play a role in building peace and getting them to the dialogue table but not what they are proposing – more violence, more bloodshed, more bombing … I think Pakistan has done enough.”

"More fighting and bloodshed is not the answer. I said it 17 years ago and I am still saying this now," he said.

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News Story: Chinese envoy calls for political dialogue in Afghanistan

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Monday called for political dialogue in Afghanistan as well as international efforts to boost the country's defense capacity, governance and its integration into regional development frameworks.

"Political dialogue is the only viable solution to the question of Afghanistan," Wu Haitao, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, told an open meeting of the UN Security Council on Afghanistan.

"All actors in Afghanistan should put the country's long-term interests and people's welfare first and actively participate in the reconciliation process. The international community should continue to promote the realization of a broad, inclusive political settlement with Afghan leadership and Afghan ownership," said Wu.

The international community should engage with all parties concerned in Afghanistan for the early launch of peace talks, he said.

All political actors in Afghanistan must achieve unity and resolve their difference through dialogue and consultations, he said, adding that the international community must respect the Afghan people's will to choose their political system and development path.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Left rejects anew government demand to lay down arms

New People’s Army (NPA)

By Artemio Dumlao

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has again rejected President Duterte’s demand for the New People’s Army (NPA) to surrender for the peace negotiations to continue.

The CPP said Duterte’s demand reveals his “fascist narrow-mindedness.”

“By doing so, (Duterte) treats Red fighters with extreme contempt, choosing to ignore the social realities of oppression and exploitation and the aspiration for national and social liberation which continue to drive thousands, especially peasant masses, to join and support the NPA,” the CPP said.

The CPP, which claims to still have absolute control of the NPA around the country instead warned they will continue to carry out tactical offensives in order to hold the Duterte administration accountable “for all its crimes and rights abuses.”

On Wednesday, the CPP threw out Duterte’s declaration of openness in the resuming peace negotiations after NPA rebels freed a captive policemen, saying it was “pure talk.”

They said the peace negotiations can resume if Duterte drops his earlier precondition of a bilateral ceasefire.

The CPP insisted addressing the roots of the armed conflict in accordance with previously agreed principles and procedures under The Hague Declaration.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Report: Pakistan Wants ‘Zero’ Political or Military Role for India in Afghanistan

Ayaz Gul

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan has vowed to remain engaged with the United States in fighting regional terrorism and stabilizing Afghanistan, but said “any political or military” role for its archenemy India in the war-torn country will be unacceptable for Islamabad.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi made the remarks late Wednesday during a public talk at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.

While outlining his long-awaited “new strategy” for the Afghan war and South Asia last month, U.S. President Donald Trump advocated for a greater role for New Delhi in Afghanistan despite Islamabad’s long running objection.

“If they [India] want to do economic assistance, that’s their prerogative, but there’s no — we don’t accept or see any role politically or militarily for India in Afghanistan,” Abbasi asserted. “I think it will just complicate the situation and it will not resolve anything,” warned the Pakistani prime minister.

Islamabad alleges the Indian intelligence agency is partnering with Afghan security institutions to fund and plot terrorist attacks against Pakistan through fugitive anti-state militants.

Kabul and New Delhi deny the charges.

News Story: Philippine troops kill 9 leftist rebels in firefight

New People's Army (NPA)

MANILA, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Nine local communist rebels were killed on Wednesday in an exchange of gunfire with government forces in northern Philippines, an army spokesman said.

Lt. Col. Isagani Nato, spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Northern Luzon Command, said a clash broke out between army troops and some 15 New People's Army (NPA) at around 7:25 a.m. local time in a village in Carranglan town in Nueva Ecija province.

NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, which was founded in 1968 and has been fighting a guerrilla war against the government ever since.

Nato said an army soldier was also wounded in the right leg during the firefight that lasted more than two hours.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Hekmatyar Calls For End To War and Transparent Elections

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the leader of Hizb-e-Islami

By Jawed Ziaratjayee

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the leader of Hizb-e-Islami, on Tuesday told a gathering in western Herat province that people must not support insurgent groups.  

Hekmatyar was in Herat on Tuesday to drum up political support for Hizb-e-Islami. 

He said groups that want war in the country have no place among the people. 

The Hizb-e-Islami leader emphasized the need for negotiations between the Afghan government and Taliban and asked neighboring countries  to stop supporting Afghanistan's enemies.  

“We should end the war. I would like to ask our nation not to support Taliban's war, not to support their propaganda, not to provide them shelter, but try to follow the path of pace,” said Hekmatyar. 

Hekmatyar also insisted on holding transparent elections on time and said Hizb-e-Islami will join the political campaign trail. 

Read the full story at TOLOnews

News Story: Pakistan To Ask US To Hold Talks With Afghan Taliban

By Mir Aqa Popalzai

Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said he would call on US President Donald Trump’s administration to change its military-oriented policy to one of dialogue and hold talks with the Afghan Taliban in a bid to bring peace and security to the war-ravaged country. 

He also stressed the need for a role to be considered for other countries, especially Iran and Russia, in the Afghan peace process, saying these countries have a major influence on the Taliban. 

"Peace talks with the Taliban could be arranged if Washington works with countries in the region that have influence over the militant group", Pakistan Radio quoted Asif, as saying. 

The statement comes amid heightened tension between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Asif is also expected to meet US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and other high level officials from the Trump administration. 

Read the full story at TOLOnews

News Story: Duterte says he's still open to peace talks with Reds

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed readiness to resume peace negotiations with the communist rebels following the release of a policeman who was kidnapped by the guerillas three months ago.

Duterte said there is a need to have serious talks with the rebels, who have been waging an armed struggle against the government for 50 years.

“If you (communists) want to resume the talks, I am not averse to the idea, but let me sort out first the other branches of government,” the president said during his meeting with SPO2 George Rupinta, the policeman freed by the rebels, in Davao City last Saturday.

Rupinta was seized by the New People’s Army, the armed wing in the communist rebels, in Davao Oriental last June to probe his supposed involvement in “anti-people activities.” He was released in Compostela Valley last Friday.

Duterte said he could not immediately grant some demands of the rebels because they require the approval of other branches of government.

“I share power with Congress and the Supreme Court. So do not ask for something in a hurry and for those which are not really acceptable to the other branches of government. Mahirap ‘yan (It will be difficult),” Duterte said.

Read the full story at PhilStar

Related Story:

• Duterte open to resuming talks with Reds

News Story: Rody’s surrender demand unacceptable — Reds

New People’s Army (NPA)

By Artemio Dumlao

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has rejected President Duterte’s demand for the New People’s Army (NPA) to surrender first before peace talks can resume. 

“This is unacceptable,” the CPP said. “Does he really take the revolutionary forces for fools?”

The CPP said that the President, who earlier claimed having long-time friendship with the Left, “has lost all moral grounds to make such a demand,” citing the NPA’s declaration of a ceasefire on Aug. 19, 2016 that lasted close to 160 days supposedly as a response to Duterte’s signed commitment to release around 500 political prisoners through an amnesty proclamation.

Duterte, however, “wasted the goodwill of the NDFP when it failed to fulfill its commitment and took advantage of the ceasefire to deploy his soldiers and conduct military offensives,” the CPP said, referring to the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: Politicians Call On Insurgents To Lay Down Their Arms

By Karim Amini

A number of high ranking government officials, former jihadi leaders and politicians on Saturday called on the Taliban and other anti-government groups to join the peace process.

Speaking at an event to commemorate the 16th anniversary of Ahmad Shah Massoud’s assassination and the start of Martyrs Week they urged insurgents to lay down their arms and seek peace.

Chief Executive Officer, Abdullah Abdullah, addressed guests at the ceremony in the Loya Jirga tent in Kabul and asked insurgents to join the peace process.

“Come and stand beside your people. No one here would see you as a stranger if you stop standing by strangers,” said Abdullah.

Without mentioning the name of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the leader of Hizb-e-Islami, Abdullah recalled his recent remarks about Massoud - that he had had ties with Pakistan’s ISI and the Taliban during the civil war in Afghanistan.

Abdullah said the remarks were not true and were said to create discord among the nation.

“He (Massoud) is the one who Allah has honored, no one can damage his honor by remarks or demonstrations,” Abdullah added.

Read the full story at TOLOnews

News Story: Duterte to Reds - No ceasefire, no talks

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte yesterday ruled out a resumption of the stalled peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

As long as the communist rebels do not stop guerrilla attacks, the peace negotiations will remain suspended, he said.

Duterte in May ordered the scrapping of formal peace talks with the communists after the military said fighters from the NPA stepped up offensives in the countryside.

“There will be no talks until you declare a ceasefire, period,” he said.

Duterte gave two Cabinet positions to left-wing activists recommended by the CPP when he assumed power last year to show his commitment to ending nearly five decades of conflict with the communists.

However, both appointees were rejected by the Commission on Appointments (CA), which on Wednesday rejected the appointment of agrarian reform secretary Rafael Mariano. His exit came less than a month after the CA ousted Judy Taguiwalo, another leftist, as social welfare secretary.

With the peace talks in virtual limbo, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is just awaiting orders to re-arrest and haul back to jail the freed communist consultants to the peace process.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: Japanese PM expects progress in concluding Japan-Russia peace treaty

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- Russia and Japan have agreed to continue dialogue and sign a peace treaty in the foreseeable future, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Thursday.

"The most important thing for Japanese-Russian relations is the conclusion of a peace treaty, (Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin said so during his visit to Japan. This time, we came to a new resolution to sign a peace treaty with our own hands," Abe said following talks with Putin on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) held here.

The Japanese prime minister said he and Putin had also agreed to have another meeting at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in Vietnam in November.

"We intend to maintain dialogue with him, taking advantage of every opportunity," he said.

Earlier at the plenary session of the EEF, Abe urged the two countries to improve bilateral ties and end the abnormal situation concerning the long-delayed peace treaty.

"A number of things that Russia and Japan could not achieve over the last 70 years were set to motion in the past single year. And if we continue our steps forward for another year and then another after that, then we will see a bright future in which the potential of Japan-Russia relations will be fully revealed," Abe said.

Towards this end, Russia and Japan must put an end to "the unnatural state of affairs" of still not having a peace treaty, he said, adding that the two countries should try and carve out a new era for bilateral relations.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: China Wants 'Improved Ties Between Afghanistan, Pakistan'

Amidst an escalating pressure on Pakistan from the United States to cooperate with the war against terrorism, the foreign ministers of China and Pakistan appeared at a joint press conference in Beijing on Friday. 

The two officials discussed security in the region and other bilateral issues between China and Pakistan.

The Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, said his country will support Pakistan in the war against terrorism, adding that peace in Afghanistan remains in the interest of both countries.

He said China wants improved relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The foreign minister stated that by the end of the year there will be the first meeting between the foreign ministers of China, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"Before the end of this year, there will be the first China, Pakistan and Afghanistan foreign ministers' meeting in China. We have identified three priority areas which are strategic communication, security dialogue and practical cooperation. And on that basis we will work on the tri-lateral cooperation starting from the easier matters, and with a goal of establishing a new platform for regional cooperation."

At the same event, Pakistan Foreign Minister Khwaja Asif said the relations between China and Pakistan are exemplary and that Pakistan deeply values China’s support for the country’s territorial integrity.

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News Report: Putin's Envoy to Afghanistan Denies Claims of Russia 'Providing Aid' to Taliban

President Vladimir Putin's envoy to Afghanistan has again denied claims by US officials that Russia allegedly provides aid to the Taliban terrorist group despite no evidence provided to support the statements.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia is not providing military or financial assistance to the outlawed Taliban terrorist group, such claims are irresponsible and groundless, Zamir Kabulov, the Russian presidential envoy to Afghanistan, told Sputnik.

"We consider this claim irresponsible. We have repeatedly stated that we provided neither military nor financial aid to the Taliban movement," Kabulov, who is also the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Second Asian Department, said.

He noted that Afghanistan’s fight against the Taliban is in stalemate and called for launching a national dialogue. "It is becoming more and more evident that there is a stalemate in Kabul’s struggle against the Taliban, in which neither side us able to shift the situation to its advantage. In these conditions, it is necessary to make the most active efforts to search for ways to launch the intra-Afghan dialogue."

News Story: DPRK confirms test-firing medium range missile to counter U.S.-South Korean joint drills

Hwasong-12 Ballistic Missile test launch prep (File Photo)

PYONGYANG/UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) confirmed Wednesday it test-fired a medium-range ballistic missile Tuesday to counter the on-going U.S.-South Korea joint military drills.

DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Un personally guided the launch from a military base in the capital Pyongyang, said the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

"It was conducted as a part of the muscle-flexing to counter the Ulji Freedom Guardian joint military drills the U.S. and the south Korean puppet forces finally kicked off in disregard of the DPRK's meaningful and crucial warning," it said.

This was the first time for DPRK to have staged a missile test-firing from the capital itself, said the report.

"Involved in the drill were Hwasong artillery units of the KPA (Korean People's Army) Strategic Force tasked with striking the bases of the U.S. imperialist aggressor forces located in the Pacific operational theater in contingency and intermediate-range strategic ballistic rocket Hwasong-12," said the report.

The test-fire also marked the 107th anniversary of the forcible annexation of Korea by Japan in 1910.

"Officers and men of the KPA Strategic Force extended the warmest thanks to Kim Jong Un, who gave vent to the long-pent grudge of the Korean people by mapping out a bold plan to make the cruel Japanese islanders insensible on bloody Aug. 29, when the disgraceful Korea-Japan Annexation Treaty was proclaimed 107 years ago," said the report.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Terrorist attacks escalate in Myanmar's northern state & Myanmar human rights commission condemns terrorist attacks in northern state

Terrorist attacks escalate in Myanmar's northern state

YANGON, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Terrorist attacks have escalated in Myanmar's northern Rakhine state with six more civilians being killed in a new wave of ambushes by extreme terrorists on Saturday, said the State Counselor's Office on Sunday.

The civilians killed included several village heads and a child in Maungtaw township, suspected of government informants.

The terrorist group also ambushed a police convoy with improvised explosive devices, leaving one terrorist dead.

In another incident in the day, 150 terrorists, armed with machetes, tried to attack security forces but were repelled.

Police at Kyunpauk Pyusu outpost also dispersed about 300 terrorists approaching the outpost.

The terrorists burnt down a village in Myinlut, destroying 88 houses, more than 100 shops, two mosques, eight religious schools, nine vehicles and four motorcycles and then fled to Mayu mountain.

Also about 500 other extremist terrorists attempted to enter a village in Yethedaung township but were fought back.

Security forces have been reinforced to fight the terrorists.

Read the full story at Xinhua

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Myanmar human rights commission condemns terrorist attacks in northern state

YANGON, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's National Human Rights Commission has condemned Friday's deadly terrorist attacks on the security forces.

A statement from the commission released on late Saturday described the attacks as brutal acts which adversely affects the efforts of the government on stabilization and reconciliation in Rakhine state.

Terrorist attacks escalated in northern Rakhine state with six more civilians being killed in a new wave of ambushes by extreme terrorists on Saturday.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: US Might ‘Stay In Afghanistan For Another Five Decades’

By Karim Amini

Colonel Lawrence B. Larry Wilkerson, a retired military officer and head of the Colin L. Powell office, the former US State Secretary has warned over the possible fight between the world and region super-power countries in Afghanistan.

In an interview with The Real News on Thursday, Wilkerson said the United States might stay for over 50 years in Afghanistan, because according to its strategic location, Afghanistan is the only place from where the US can take action against Russia and China.

He said the new US strategy on Afghanistan has designed the presence of US in Afghanistan in a way that the United States army will remain in Afghanistan for an unknown period of time.

The same plane was designed before this for Germany, South Korea and Japan, he said.

“What we have seen right now is a begging of the new great game that it involves China, it involves Russia, it involve the United States and it involves all those people who get in the way in Central Asia. The United States will probably be in Afghanistan, I have said repeatedly, for the next fifty plus years. Because it is the only place geographically speaking in that region from which the United State with high military power can affect China’s …One Belt One Road…,” said Wilkerson.

Read the full story at TOLOnews

News Story: 3 arrested as police clash with NPAs

New People’s Army (NPA)

By Emmanuel Tupas

MANILA, Philippines - Policemen clashed with suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Taytay, Palawan last Friday, but no casualties were reported.

Supt. Imelda Tolentinno, spokesperson of the Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) police, said the encounter happened at around 10:20 a.m. in Barangay Alacalian.

Elements from the police Regional Public Safety Battalion were conducting patrol operations when they spotted a group of around 20 armed men inside a nipa hut.

A woman was said to be conducting a lecture before the armed men, who opened fire at the policemen, triggering a shootout.

Members of the 212 Marines Company arrived and reinforced the policemen.

There were no reported casualties on the government’s side while authorities are verifying reports on rebel casualties.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: Women in E. Afghan province seeking talks on peace with Taliban

KABUL, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Elderly women in Asadabad, capital of eastern Kunar province, have expressed readiness to hold talks with the Taliban group on how to find a negotiated settlement to their insurgency- plagued country, a local news agency reported Thursday.

The first ever women- initiated peace dialogue in the form of Jirga (Afghan traditional gathering of elders) hoped the face-to-face talks with the group could help bring peace in the country, the Pajhwok Afghan News agency reported.

Read the full story at Xinhua