Tag Archives: Afghanistan

A Stranger Behind the Afghan School – #AngelinaJolie

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At a school in a bombed-out Afghan village near Kabul, Angelina Jolie is known as an aid worker or engineer — never as one of the world’s most famous film stars. Jolie, a special envoy of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, built the school in Qala-i-Gudar last year and is planning to open more in Afghanistan with profits from a newly-launched jewellery line that she has designed.
The Hollywood star visited Qala-i-Gudar in 2011, and she retains an avid fanbase among residents who have never seen any of her films and have no idea about her global fame as an actress. Acting is controversial in the country, with many conservative Afghans associating it with un-Islamic behaviour and even prostitution. Homaira, aged 13, is one of 250 pupils at the all-girls school who has benefited from the new facilities, which opened for their first full academic year last month.
“We used to study in the backyard of the mosque, it was hard,” Homaira said. “Now we are so happy to have a school. It’s a beautiful place.” Asked who built her school, Homaira smiled and answered, “the beautiful American lady.” The two-storey building, 30 kilometres (20 miles) north of Kabul, has large windows and neat rows of desks. On the outside, which is painted light blue, is a plaque proudly boasting of its founder.“Through the generous contribution of Angelina Jolie UNHCR Special Envoy,” it reads.
Even headmaster Gul Rahmman Ayaz appeared ignorant of Jolie’s superstar celebrity, apparently believing she was a senior UNHCR official. “Is she?” Ayaz asked doubtfully after learning Jolie was an actress. “Well whatever, she is a great woman, very kind woman,” he added with a smile.
“She was very humble. She sat on dust. She didn’t behave like a movie star,” Ayaz said, remembering Jolie arrived in a UN-marked vehicle and wore a modest black outfit and brown headscarf.

Afghanistan refuses to hand over notorious Pakistani terrorist to Pakistan

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Afghanistan refuses to hand over notorious Pakistani terrorist to Pakistan

Afghanistan has refused to extradite notorious terrorist Maulvi Faqir to Pakistan. He was detained together with five accomplices five days ago in the east Afghan province Nangarhar and is being kept in-custody at a pre-trial detention center of the Chief Department of National Security (CDNS) in Kabul. On Thursday, the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Hina Rabbani Khar called on her Afghan colleague Zalmai Rassoul, asking to extradite to Islamabad the criminal who has blood of many Pakistanis on his hand, nevertheless was refused. The Foreign Minister of Afghanistan specified that Pakistan does not hand over the Afghan Talibs on request of Kabul, referring to absence of the official extradition treaty of criminals. He hoped that very soon such agreement will be signed after all.

The Mighty Iraqi Helicopter

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Iraqi builds a HELICOPTER to protect his country’s

borders

An Iraqi man is putting his money where his mouth is when it comes to border security — and has spent almost 30 million Iraqi dinars, or £15,000, building his own helicopter.
Hatim Kadim Salman, 59, is building the flying machine in Muqdadiyah, a city of 300,00 located 60 miles north of Baghdad in Iraq. He has called the machine Diyala 1, after its home province.

The helicopter is certainly cheaper than the standard British military issue — the Army Air Corps Apache attack helicopters that were deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq clock in at about $20million each.

Mr Salman’s helicopter differs from the Apache in other ways, too — for starters, it only has two blades at the moment, instead of the regular four.

And there’s no sign of any gun mounts on it, unlike the Apache’s substantial weaponry, which includes air-to-air and anti-tank missiles.

The machine has also been painted a vivid blue colour — perhaps so it can stealthily fly unnoticed against the sky? – instead of the Apache’s grey-green hue.

But it’s certainly the first homemade helicopter in Iraq — though whether it can fly or not remains to be seen.

Taliban cut nursing woman’s breast – Sheer Arrogance

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Pakistani Taliban fighters cut the breasts of a woman who was breastfeeding her child and asked other women to eat the pieces, in a gory incident highlighted in a report on the abuse of women in the militancy-hit tribal belt bordering Afghanistan.

The incident occurred when five militants walked into a house and saw the woman breastfeeding her child, The Express Tribune quoted the report titled ‘Impact of crisis on women and girls in FATA’ as saying.

The report, released by the human rights organization “Khwendo Kor” (Sisters’ Home in Pashto) with financial support from the UN, is based on case studies of women from the tribal belt living in camps set up in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa for people displaced by militancy.

Women in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas are more susceptible to abuse in a post-conflict scenario, whether or not they are part of the conflict, the report says. Another revelation is that women in camps were forced to have sex in exchange for food and non-food items. Girls and widows were at greater risk of such abuse.

“A security officer forced me to have sex in exchange for cooking oil and pulses when I was collecting food at the main entrance of the camp,” a 22-year-old woman in Jalozai camp is quoted as saying.

The surveys conducted at relief camps at Nahqai and Jalozai showed that women were uncomfortable going to toilets because men constantly lurked around.

The report said there was also an increase in “honour killings” in which women who were raped were murdered because rape was considered a disgrace to the family.

Forced marriages, honour killings, exchange of women between tribes and marriages with first cousins resulting in disabilities among offspring have made women very dependent, the report said.

Source : Indian Express

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India will Fail in Kashmir as U.S. in Afghanistan: Imran Khan

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It was a real show of power from the cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan who with his 100,000 flag-waving supporters rallying near the Minar-e-Pakistan monument, saw himself establishing as a real force in Pakistani politics.

Talking up the issue of the rights of Kashmiris at the heavily electrified political rally, he said the Indian Army will fail in Kashmir as the U.S. army did in Afghanistan. “Did the Americans succeed in Afghanistan? Is the Indian Army more powerful than the U.S. Army? When the Americans couldn’t succeed, how can you succeed with 700,000 troops that are involved in excesses?,” he asks as the crowd cheered.

“No army has been able to solve any country’s problems at any time,” he said demanding that the Indian troops should be withdrawn from Jammu and Kashmir. The chief of Tehreek-e-Insaf also asked Hindustan to give the people of Kashmir their right to self-determination. He said his party would “stand with the Kashmiri brothers and speak for their rights at all forums”.

Khan who founded his political party 15 years ago is trying hard to translate his fame into votes. Focusing on the core issues in the country such as corruption, lack of education, rising prices, inflation and unemployment, the cricketing legend is expanding his political base ahead of the 2013 general election. A poll conducted by the U.S.-based Pew Research Center back in June sees Khan as the most popular political figure in Pakistan.

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Is U.S. Planning a Revenge Attack on Pakistan?

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The U.S. 10 year alliance with Pakistan is a question of trust now.

The relation between U.S., Pakistan is facing an uncertain future and many in Washington are questioning is Islamabad a reliable ally?

Will U.S. ever trust Pakistan for its war against terrorism and al-Qaeda?

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Sunday called back foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar from the U.S. amid strained ties with Washington following an accusation that Pakistan was supporting the Haqqani terror network.

The gradually warming Pakistan-U.S. ties have suddenly turned sour in the aftermath of the September 13 brazen terrorist attack on the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, which senior American military and government officials have squarely blamed on the North Waziristan-based Haqqani militant network, led by Sirajuddin Haqqani.

U.S. military commanders have accused Pakistan’s spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence, of supporting the Haqqani network for carrying out two attacks on the U.S. embassy in Kabul and U.S. military base in Afghanistan’s Wadak province this month.

This has prompted U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to warn that the U.S. could do everything it could to defend American forces from the Pakistan-based Haqqani militants staging attacks in Afghanistan, including operations inside Pakistan.

Panetta’s warning was followed by Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s decision to cancel his planned trip to the United States that was scheduled for September 16.
The killing of Osama bin Laden by U.S. forces on Pakistani soil, paved way to the tensions between the two nations. It is a relationship that for years has been marred by mistrust.

America has been the blessing in disguise for Pakistan with their innumerable aid for Pakistan. The alliance between the two countries began in 2001, a joint effort to fight against terrorism namely al-Qaeda and Taliban until recently, Pakistan offered support for U.S. drone strikes in tribal areas targeting al- Qaeda and Taliban leaders which became massively unpopular among the Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, leader of the opposition in National Assembly, said that the present war on terror Pakistan was a result of U.S. using Pakistan in the most abominable manner and weakened it to the extent that almost all institutions are facing crises.

He further says Pakistan’s pro-U.S. policies have destroyed the economy, the living, and peace. “It will not be far from truth to say that America has incapacitated us by injecting the sweet poison of aid.”

Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan

There has been disquiet about Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan for several years now. After the attack on the Indian Embassy in Kabul in 2008, Washington had pointed to ISI complicity in the incident. But American unhappiness with Pakistan has never been so directly expressed as now.

Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar went a step further and warned the US that if such allegations continue, it “will lose an ally”. And Interior Minister Rehman Malik specifically warned the US against taking any unilateral action against the Haqqanis in Pakistani territory. Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani remarked last week, the U.S. needed Pakistan in Afghanistan, observing that the Americans “can’t live with us. They can’t live without us.”

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Top 10 Strongest & Largest Armies In The World

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Armies are for self defense and they ensure the existence of the country against intruders, they protect the goals for existence of every country and they acquire the target. Air, sea and land are the three ways in which the country needs security and for this we have army, Air Force and Navy.

The size of the army depends on the challenges and threats faced by the countries and the hegemonic designs of the country. But if you don’t have any threats from neighboring countries or if the country is surrounded by strong countries then they don’t require having large forces.
Geo political situations of the countries behind that also effect the armies. For example China has to prepare them against the USA and have to make their economy strong and side by side they have t o prepare themselves from the neighboring countries like Taiwan and India. Similarly America needs to maintain their hegemonic design like they have to influence themselves in Middle East, Afghanistan plus Iran etc. They also want to get hold of mineral resources of Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and central Asian states. They also want to keep Russia in their shoes while being in Afghanistan. So to manage all these things they need to have a really strong plus a lot of troops. So, these are the basic contributing factors to the size of the armies of the world. It all makes our government to decide on what security measures and what equipment do we need.
So, here we have this post for you about the top 10 largest armies of the world and number of their activities.

us army Top 10 Strongest & Largest Armies In The World

10. Iran – 320,000

They have really good and effective army and is among one of the best armies of the Middle East too. They have 14 land divisions and 15 air force squadrons.170 vessels. Their “shihab 3” is the best ballistic missile. Their unavoidable military force is really awesome!

9. Myanmar – 425,000

They have 425,000 active forces with 72,000 paramilitary forces. Their responsibility is to conduct the military operations. In this year 2011 there is a law in Myanmar that every male or female who has an age of 18 to 35 must be given the military training of 2 years. So, in case of national emergency they should be used.

8. Iraq – 450,000

The active troops are 450,000 with a lot other personal serving and guards. They were quite active in the Anglo-Iraqi War, 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Six Day War, Yom Kippur War, Iran-Iraq War, Gulf War and Iraq War.

7. United States – 550,000

Their motto is “The We’ll Defend”. The US Army has been very efficient in the Revolutionary War, Indian Wars, War of 1812, Mexican- American War, Utah War, American Civil War, World War I, World War II, Vietnam War, Gulf War, War in Afghanistan and Iraq War.

6. South Korea – 560,000

The Good Korea has the active number of soldiers 560,000 and their military strength is of Terrain Marines, Firebat Shock, Troops, Vulture Anti Personnel Vehicles, 30,000,000 photon canons and many more.

5. Pakistan -617,000

Pakistan is a small country but has one of the best military forces, their army, air force; navy and the paramilitary forces are active for every crisis. They have 48,500,000 male military troops and 44,899,000 female troops. They have the efficient tanks, missiles, fighter jets, submarines and all the best equipment available.

4. Russia – 1,027,000

Russia has the conventional Arms exports of $6,197,000,000, people with 18-27 years have to get military education compulsory. They have the 22,950 tanks and 2,358 aircrafts in Europe and 4,982 battle tanks.

3. North Korea – 900,000

They have the three echelons of armies having 806th and 815th Mechanized Corps and 820th Armored Corps. Their total tank inventory is 4,500 units with 7 categories or more anti tank weapons. Their awesome part was in the major wars like the Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War, Afghanistan war and the Iraq War.

2. India – 1,325,000

Indian army is the second largest army in the world their primary mission is to ensure security and defense of the country. Their humanitarian rescue operations are worth praise. Their troops other than the active ones are 1,140,000.

1. China – 290,000

China has the largest army but it is said that they are purely trained and equipped, they have 8,500 tanks, 4,000 fighter jets and still some are under development, 61 submarines and 54 surface ships. They have the squadron of Su27 fighter planes. Their manpower and the financial situation is is letting them in making the country with the largest army size.

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Top 10 Facts About Taliban

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Russia invaded Afghanistan to have access to the hot waters but they were defeated due to the different war lords of Afghanistan and then 2 years later Americans also started providing financial and military aid to the military groups through Pakistan on the oust of USSR, but peace couldn’t be established in Afghanistan because of different factions interested to have control on Afghanistan and this resulted in a war between the fighting groups. In 1991 on the backing of America, Taliban who were basically the students of “MADRISSAS” were raised in the southern part of Afghanistan, while establishing their headquarters in Kandahar. They established peace in the areas under their control and started establishing control of Afghanistan while moving towards northwards. And around 90% of the area of Afghanistan they established their government. And Taliban declared their government as Islamic state and was recognized by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia under the leadership of Mullah Omar.
In the meanwhile USA started negotiating with Taliban to have the access to the hot waters through Afghanistan from Central Asian states but Taliban’s as declaring themselves as true Islamic government didn’t cooperate with USA and therefore USA and other European countries didn’t recognize Taliban Government until favorable negotiations with Taliban. Once USA didn’t succeed in having a favorable situation they created the drama of 9/11, about which the reasonable sources have given the opinion to be a total drama. America declared a war against terrorism with the help of NATO countries and like the Gulf War, USA did try to persuade Arab countries to the part of war against terrorism but they had learn their lesson already and stayed away from USA and the USA and NATO countries had to fight this war on their own expense.
So, I have here this post about the Top 10 facts about Taliban to share with you people. I hope you’ll be amused too like I was when I studied about it

taliban fighters Top 10 Facts About Taliban

10. Did you know that when Taliban tried to set out the World’s most pure Islamic region in Afghanistan then they were called as the extremist and the revolutionary type Muslims of the world, who kept beard of specific length?

9. Taliban were called they have this anti-women agenda which forbade the women to work outside of home and wear the burka, they were not supposed to leave home without a male guardian. Well that is considered to be anti-women but in real that is what Islam is all about the safety of women.

8. During the war America raided Afghanistan with Cruise missiles and later on they carried out the carpet bombing dropping the daisy cutters on Torah Bora against Al-Qaida (Al-Qaida and Taliban were two different groups but still cooperated with each other against the NATO and US forces).

7. Taliban and Al-Qaida after being expelled from Afghanistan established their base on the Pak-Afghan border in North and South Waziristan.

6. During the last ten years America has been bringing hundreds and thousands of soldiers, fighting equipments and drones and planes to get to the hot waters but Taliban through the Guerilla warfare didn’t let the Americans settle down peacefully.

5. The Taliban used to receive logistical and humanitarian support from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan’s ISI i.e. $2 million each year from Saudi Arabia’s charity.

4. Taliban used to supply the 72% of the world’s illicit opium.

3. Osama Bin Laden was the one who forged an alliance between Taliban and Al-Qaida in 1996.

2. As Taliban did make an Islamic government in Afghanistan but they failed to take any significant and important steps to revive the country’s economy.

1. Did you know that what was the basic cause of the isolation of Taliban from the rest of the world?  Lack of the experience in the foreign policy was the major factor of their international isolation.

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