Back Page January 05, 2017

Add: V-137, Street-6, Phase, 4, District 6,Shahrak Omed Sabz, Kabul

Email: outlookafghanistan@gmail.comPhone: 0093 (799) 005019/777-005019

www.outlookafghanistan.net

Add: V-137, Street-6, Phase, 4, District 6,Shahrak Omed Sabz, Kabul

Email: thedailyafghanistan@yahoo.comPhone: 0093 (799) 005019/777-005019

www.thedailyafghanistan.com

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Daily Outlook Weather Forcast

KABUL - Minister of Com-merce and Industries Hu-mayon Rasa announced Af-ghanistan’s trade deficit was gradually moving toward pos-itive as exports have increased by 12%.Afghanistan’s trade deficit had been widening in the past dec-ade. Afghanistan recorded a trade deficit of 7159 USD Mil-lion in 2015. Balance of Trade in Afghanistan averaged -4100.60 USD Million from 2003 until 2015, reaching an all time high of -1660.92 USD Mil-lion in 2005 and a record low of -8654.00 USD Million in 2013.

KABUL - The Office of the First Vice President has angrily reacted at Ata Mo-hammad Noor’s remarks after he claimed to reject offers for replacing Gen-eral Abdul Rashid Dostum as the First Vice President.According to a statement released by Gen. Dostum’s office, the remarks of Noor

KABUL - The Afghan government has reacted towards the alleged com-munication of Vice Presi-dent General Abdul Rashid Dostum’s position, saying no one from ARG has com-municated Vice President’s position with any indi-

KABUL - Dozens of insur-gents have been killed dur-ing counter-terrorism oper-ations in different parts of the country, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) said.At least 58 militants, in-cluding 12 Daesh fighters, were killed in the past 24 hours during operations supported by the Afghan Air Force and artillery units

KABUL - Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries’ (ACCI) office in Kandahar said on Tuesday that despite transit chal-lenges, the province has exported more than 13,000 tons of dried fruit and nuts, such as figs, almonds and raisons, to India, Dubai and Kazakhstan in the past 10 months.This is up from 9,900 tons of dried fruit and nuts ex-ported in 2015.The officials said the high quality of dried fruit and nuts and their standard packaging is the reason for the demand on foreign markets.“We exported most of our dried ...(More on P4)...(12)

JALALABAD - Local of-ficials on Wednesday claimed Taliban’s 40-day siege of the Do Aab district of eastern Nuristan prov-ince has been broken.Security forces retreated from the district centre af-ter it was ringed by the in-surgents six weeks back. In the aftermath of the siege, locals suffered many prob-lems.Governor Hafiz Abdul Qayyum told Pajhwok Af-ghan News security forces, led by the provincial po-lice chief, Gen. Ikramud-din Sarea, had been sent to the district for an operation two days ago.He said the siege was lifted as result of the operation and civilians were once again able to travel to the district center.

Afghanistan’s Exports up by 12%

Dostum’s Office Angrily Reacts at Ata Mohammad

Noor Remarks

ARG Reacts at Alleged Communication

of Dostum’s Position

12 Daesh Fighters among 58 Rebels Killed

MoD

Investigation Sought Into Clash between Legislators

Kandahar’s Dried Fruit and Nuts Export up by 41 Percent

People gather at the site of a blast in Sholgara district of Balkh province on Wednesday Jan 04, 2017.

(Xinhua/Yaqoub Azorda) (News on page 2)

New Kunduz Police Chief

Underlines Need for Reforms

Taliban, Daesh Propaganda

Sold Freely in Kandahar

Taliban Siege of Nuristan’s Do Aab District Broken Last quarter’s report creates a

glimpse of hope for the Afghan economy.According to Rasa, the Nation-al Unity Government (NUG) runs different economic pro-grams to help boost consumer and investors confidence.“The government and the pri-vate sector are working togeth-er to support private business for further achievement,” said Rasa.He highlighted membership of the private sector in the eco-nomic high council as another positive stride by the govern-ment. (Wadsam)

have seriously harmed the Turkmen people of Af-ghanistan.Calling Noor’s remarks as ridiculous, the statement further added that Noor along with some others have started to act against their own party (Jamiat-e-Islami) during the recent days ...(More on P4)...(8)

vidual or entity. President Ghani’s spokesman Haroon Chakhansuri said “No one from Arg has communi-cated VP position with any individual/entity – some-thing you don’t see in entire interview of Mr. Noor with BBC.” ...(More on P4)...(9)

of the army.A statement from MoD said the operations were conducted in Nangarhar, Kapisa, Logar, Paktia, Pak-tika, Ghazni, Badakhshan, Balkhand Helmand prov-inces.Twelve of the rebels were killed in the Ghormach district of Faryab, 20 in the Charkh ...(More on P4)...(13)

KABUL - The Wolesi Jirga -- or lower house of parliament -- on Wednesday tasked the protection and complaint commission with investigat-ing an armed clash between two MPs.A day earlier, three people were injured when gunmen of one lawmaker opened fire at the residence of another MP in Kabul.Rahima Jame, representing western Herat province in the lower house, said that 25 armed supporters of her colleague Akbar Stanikzai attacked her residence on Tuesday evening.She added her guards fought back the gunmen and the clash lasted an hour. With her eyes welling up, she remarked: “When I am

KUNDUZ CITY - The new-ly-appointed police chief for northeastern Kunduz prov-ince on Wednesday under-lined the need for reforms in the force to improve the security situation.Brig. Gen. Abdul Hameed Hameedi, in an exclusive interview with Pajhwok Afghan News, said some issues needed greater atten-tion to beef up security in the provincial capital and districts.“First, we should bring re-forms to the police force and then mobilise people to im-prove the security situation. Public cooperation is vital to improving the situation,” he argued.Coordination among differ-ent governmental organs was of paramount impor-tance, Gen. Hameedi said, pledging sincere efforts to boost harmony among secu-rity forces.The reform process had al-ready been set in motion, he said, confirming public complaints about the unpro-fessional conduct of some police personnel and negli-gence in duty.Most people of Kunduz were influenced by Taliban propaganda, he said, prom-ising that past mistakes would not be repeated. Winter operations were un-derway in Kunduz based on a proper plan, he continued.“Our operation is currently ongoing in Hazrat Sultan and Mullah Sardar villages of Kunduz City; we want to tighten security in the provincial capital before launching offensives in oth-er ...(More on P4)...(11)

KANDAHAR - Residents in the southern province of Kandahar on Wednes-day expressed deep con-cern over the sale of Taliban and Daesh propa-ganda in the city, saying this could easily influence the youth in a negative way.“These videos cause ethi-cal harm as well, because they can mislead our youths,” another resident Matin said.“These issues raise ques-tions about our identity, it is very unfortunate that shopkeepers sell this material. In these videos Taliban and Daesh burn people alive and it is full of horror,” a resident of Kandahar Mohammad Ibrahim said.Meanwhile, Kandahar in-formation and culture de-partment has said that it has taken serious action against those involved in selling such material.Kandahar police head-quarters also vowed to take steps against those selling the material.“Propaganda is made against the government (and sold) in all these shops; films from the wars of the insurgents are sold including private films of some families. Neither the law nor reli-gion allows for the sale of this kind of material nor we are committed to pre-venting it,” said Hazrat Wali Hotak, chairman of Kandahar’s information and culture department.Similar concerns have been reported by Kabul residents in the past – who stated the youth had easy access to such propa-ganda. (Tolonews

not safe, so how ordinary people would be protected.“If I have committed a crime, I should be dragged to the court, not attacked by another lawmaker,” the par-liamentarian argued.She demanded an investiga-tion into the incident, claim-ing three of her bodyguards and another lawmaker, Amir Khanyar whose house

A provincial council mem-ber, Zinatullah Tanha, con-firmed the Taliban siege had been broken. He asked the governor’s house to provide food aid to the war-affected people.Sohbatullah, a resident of

the district, said the road to Do Aab had been reo-pened. “A truck of food, ghee and other edibles ar-rived in the district this morning. Prices are a little high but the problem has been solved.”

is adjacent to her residence, was injured.Six of the attackers were arrested by police while others managed to escape, Jame added. She alleged Stanikzai wanted to kidnap or kill her.However, Stanikzai reject-ed the claims. “Jame’s son borrowed $20,000 from my ...(More on P4)...(10)

In the wake of the siege, officials and civilians were unable to travel to the district for purchasing necessary items. The siege also landed residents in a shortage of food and other essential items. (Pajhwok)