Recent Appearances...

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Recent Appearances...

Afghanistan

Afghan officials react to Blinken’s letter

2021-03-09

[KhaamaPress] During his speech at the 7th anniversary of the death of Marshal Mohammad Qasim Fahim, Amrullah Saleh, the first vice president said he will never sign a document prepared under by Pakistain’s Haqqania Madrasas.

"We have been Moslems for more than a thousand years, now a few mullahs from the Haqqani network
...a branch of the Afghan Taliban, based in Pakistain. The network is a family business founded by the later Jalaluddin Haqqani...
wants to certify us as Moslems", he criticized Pakistain for not pressuring the Taliban

Link

Afghanistan

An insight into Adib Fahim’s decision to distance himself from Abdullah

2020-05-06

[KhaamaPress] Adib Fahim, the former deputy intelligence chief of Afghanistan and elder son of the former vice president Mohammad Qasim Fahim, has distanced himself from Abdullah Abdullah

...the former foreign minister of the Northern Alliance government, advisor to Masood, and candidate for president against both Karzai and Ghani. Dr. Abdullah was born in Kabul and is half Tadjik and half Pashtun. He also held the meaningless salaried sop position as CEO of Afghanistan, while Ghani was president...
, apparently due to an eternal feud.

Sources privy of the development said Adib distanced himself from Abdullah due to the internal political differences, mainly having links over the title of the Marshal of Afghanistan.

The sources further added that Adib decided to distance himself from Abdullah’s team as he opposed with the decision to confer the title of Marshal of Afghanistan to Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum
...ethnic Uzbek warlord who distinguished himself fighting the Soviets and the Taliban. The story that he had a bad guy run over with a tank is an exaggeration. It was an armored personnel carrier...
Adib posted a short statement online on Monday, indirectly criticizing Abdullah for remaining short to respect an ’age-old’ friendship, brotherhood and loyalty, accusing him (Abdullah) of considering political concession against historical values of ’Jihad and Resistance®’.

Qasim Fahim, the former vice president of Afghanistan, who died of an illness in 2014, was conferred with the title of Marshal of Afghanistan following the fall of Taliban
...Arabic for students...
regime.

This comes as reports emerged earlier suggesting a crack in electoral team of Abdullah Abdullah, having links with the political differences. The reports emerged amid ongoing efforts to end the political stalemate which intensified following the controversial conduct and announcement of presidential elections.

On the other hand, Abdullah announced last week that his team has reached to an agreement in principle to end the ongoing political tensions with President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani
...former chancellor of Kabul University, now president of Afghanistan. Before returning to Afghanistan in 2002 he was a scholar of political science and anthropology. He worked at the World Bank working on international development assistance. As Finance Minister of Afghanistan between July 2002 and December 2004, he led Afghanistan's attempted economic recovery until the Karzais stole all the money...

Link

Afghanistan

Adib Fahim steps down as deputy chief of the Afghan intelligence

2019-11-23

For those paying attention to the smaller players.

[KhaamaPress] Adib Fahim has stepped down as deputy chief of the Afghan intelligence, the National Directorate of Security
...the Afghan national intel agency...
(NDS).

Fahim published a copy of his resignation letter online which he submitted to President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani
...former chancellor of Kabul University, now president of Afghanistan. Before returning to Afghanistan in 2002 he was a scholar of political science and anthropology. He worked at the World Bank working on international development assistance. As Finance Minister of Afghanistan between July 2002 and December 2004, he led Afghanistan's attempted economic recovery until the Karzais stole all the money...
and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah

Link

Afghanistan

1 wounded in bombing in Kabul city

2016-08-19

An explosion took place in the vicinity of 4th police district of the city earlier this afternoon.

Security officials confirmed the blast took place as a result of a magnetic bomb attached to a vehicle.

Fraidoon Abedi, the head of the Criminal Investigation Department in Kabul Security commandment, said the magnetic bomb was planted in an army vehicle.

He said one person in the vehicle sustained minor injuries and no casualties were incurred to the other people.
`
Pictures emerging from the site of the incident on social media websites shows a Toyota Land Cruiser vehicle damaged as a result of the explosion in Kolola Poshta area of the city.

There has been a considerable rise in the use of magnetic bombs in Kabul city during the recent months as at least 3 people were wounded in a similar incident in Kabul city 3 days ago.

Earlier one person was killed and three others were wounded in a similar attack in Bagrami district of Kabul nearly a week ago.

Two people were killed and two others were wounded after a magnetic bomb planted in a vehicle went off in Kote Sangi area of the city few weeks earlier.

One of the victims was the head of the Human Resources department of the Afghan parliament who was travelling in the vehicle.

Tolo News has more on the attack

The target of Thursday's blast in Kabul appears to have been General Samim Samim, the former secretary for late Marshal Mohammad Qasim Fahim.

The blast occurred after a magnetic IED, attached to Samim's armored vehicle, detonated in Traffic Square in PD4 in Kabul.

Samim, who was in the vehicle at the time, escaped unharmed.

Samim, who works for the Ministry of Defense, had been traveling with his family at the time of the blast.

"One passenger in the vehicle was a child and he sustained minor injuries," said Kabul Police CID chief Fridon Obaidi.

"The blast took place then smoke and flames penetrated the vehicle. I got out and helped get my family out but the blast threw my son 100 meters away," said Samim.

"The child was wounded and they transferred him to hospital," said Ajmal an eyewitness.

"Black smoke rose (from the car) and all the people ran away. I thought it was a suicide attack but when I came forward I saw it was a magnetic mine," said Omid, another eyewitness.

Video report at the link

Link

Afghanistan

Sayaf warns escalation of Afghanistan war to the world

2016-03-09

[Khaama (Afghanistan)] Abdul Rab Rasool Sayyaf
...

Afghan Salafist warlord, owned by Saudi Arabia. He was the guy who invited al-Qaeda to come into Afghanistan and make themselves at home...
who was one of the prominent leaders of Mujahideen during the invasion of Soviet Union and an influential political leader has warned that war in Afghanistan would escalate to rest of the world if its does not end immediately.

While talking to a gathering commemorating the second death anniversary of Marshal Mohammad Qasim Fahim on Tuesday, Sayaf said no one would be able to control terrorism if Afghanistan changed into the nest of the phenomenon.

"No one would have a relaxed sleep from East to West," Sayaf added.

Sayaf said if Taliban and others are fighting for Islam or the country then they should understand that this neither benefits Islam nor the country.

He once again called on all warring parties to come and live like ordinary Afghans in community.

Sayaf also offered to stand in lines with security forces when asked.

"But if national honors are in danger, we would go to defend without permission," he said.

In another part of his speech, Sayaf urged Pakistain for honest neighborhood saying that if you [Pakistain] are a good friend then you should treat "our wounds".

Link

Afghanistan

Rocket Mortar Hits Military Academy in Kabul, No Casualties

2015-07-05

[Tolo News] A rocket mortar allegedly launched from Khuwaja Jam Hill of Kabul
...the capital of Afghanistan. Home to continuous fighting from 1992 to 1996 between the forces of would-be strongman and Pak ISI/Jamaat-e-Islami sock puppet Gulbuddin Hekmayar and the Northern Alliance, a period which won Hek the title Most Evil Man in the World and didn't do much for the reputations of the Northern Alliance guys either....
hit Marshal Mohammad Qasim Fahim Military Academy in the west of Kabul on Saturday, Kabul Police said.

No one was harmed in the incident, police officials told TOLOnews.

"Investigations are underway and so far one suspect has been enjugged
Drop the rod and step away witcher hands up!
in this connection," according to the police.

No group including the Taliban has grabbed credit for the attack.

Link

Afghanistan

Karzai Nominates Qanuni for Replacement of Marshal Fahim

2014-03-19

[Tolo News] President Hamid Maybe I'll join the Taliban Karzai
... A former Baltimore restaurateur, now 12th and current President of Afghanistan, displacing the legitimate president Rabbani in December 2004. He was installed as the dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001 in a vain attempt to put a Pashtun face on the successor state to the Taliban. After the 2004 presidential election, he was declared president regardless of what the actual vote count was. He won a second, even more dubious, five-year-term after the 2009 presidential election. His grip on reality has been slipping steadily since around 2007, probably from heavy drug use...
has nominated former House Speaker Younus Qanuni as vice president to replace recently deceased Marshal Mohammad Qasim Fahim, who died of a heart attack this month, presidential front man Aimal Faizi said on Tuesday.

Mr. Qanuni needs parliamentary approval before assuming the position of Afghanistan's first vice president. If he does receive the vote of confidence, he will serve in the administration until to new government takes over after the elections in April.

The decision was made after a meeting with Jihadi leaders and Fahim's family members, which was organized by President Karzai at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday.

On Monday, an official from the Jamaat-e-Islami Party (JIP) - the Islamic Society Party - also confirmed that Qanuni's name would be officially referred to the president within the next two days. Marshal Fahim was one of JIP's top leaders and one of the most revered Jihadi leaders from the days of the Soviet invasion.

At the time, JIP member Abdul Hafiz Manour said: "There are many candidates for the post of vice presidency, but the majority inside Marshal Fahim's family support Mr. Qanuni as well as the president."

"The person who wants to be Marshal Fahim's successor must show his competence to JIP and Mujahideen factions," he added.

Even though Fahim's position will be filled in the Presidential Palace for the duration of Karzai's term, his place in the leadership of JIP and the Mujahideen factions will remain vacant.

Parliament's Defense Committee Chairman Homayoun Homayoun welcomed the decision made by President Karzai cautiously, but said that he hoped the decision was not made with ethnicity politics in mind.

"The decision that was made shouldn't have been on an ethnic basis, the decision must be taken on the basis of qualification, this will further create mistrust among the people, although Qanuni has the capability for the post," Homayoun said.

Meanwhile,
...back at the saloon, Butch got the bill for the damage caused by the fist fight, the mirror broken in the shootout, and drinks for everyone......
Parliament's Internal Security Committee Chairman Mir Dad Khan Nejrabi expressed confidence in Qanuni and said the decision was "fine and proper".

A number of political commentators have said that several individuals were recommended for the VP spot, but that ongoing security issues in the country made Qanuni, who has close ties with mujahideen leaders around Afghanistan, the best person for the job.

"The nomination will fill the vacuum in the government, and considering of fragile state of the country, this was a good decision," analyst Rahmatollah Bezhan Pour said.

Link

Afghanistan

JIP Looks for New Leadership After Fahim's Death

2014-03-16

[Tolo News] Marshal Mohammad Qasim Fahim was one of the most prominent members of the Jamaat-e-Islami
...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores...
Afghanistan Party (JIP) - Islamic Society Party - and in the wake of his death JIP leadership has begun the search for a replacement.

Although little time remains before the April election yields a new team for the Presidential Palace, efforts are already underway to replace the recently deceased Marshal Fahim. According to JIP members, the Party will be entrusted with nominating a new member of its camp to fill Fahim's shoes.

"Marshal Fahim was one the leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, so we are trying to find his successor from the Jamaat-e-Islami Party," party member Adbul Hafiz Masour said. "The one who wins the most votes in the party will be the successor."

However,
you can observe a lot just by watching...
President Hamid Maybe I'll join the Taliban Karzai
... A former Baltimore restaurateur, now 12th and current President of Afghanistan, displacing the legitimate president Rabbani in December 2004. He was installed as the dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001 in a vain attempt to put a Pashtun face on the successor state to the Taliban. After the 2004 presidential election, he was declared president regardless of what the actual vote count was. He won a second, even more dubious, five-year-term after the 2009 presidential election. His grip on reality has been slipping steadily since around 2007, probably from heavy drug use...
is legally obligated to nominate Fahim's replacement to Parliament for approval before the new Vice President can be sworn in.

Officials in the Palace have confirmed that Karzai was already engaged in discussions with his advisors and expected to make a decision by the end of the week. Whether or not those discussions are being coordinated with JIP, and if so, to what degree, remains unclear.

Link

Afghanistan

Karzai Speaks to Parliament About Elections, Taliban and BSA

2014-03-16

[Tolo News] At the start of the fourth session of Parliament

on Saturday, President Hamid Maybe I'll join the Taliban Karzai
... A former Baltimore restaurateur, now 12th and current President of Afghanistan, displacing the legitimate president Rabbani in December 2004. He was installed as the dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001 in a vain attempt to put a Pashtun face on the successor state to the Taliban. After the 2004 presidential election, he was declared president regardless of what the actual vote count was. He won a second, even more dubious, five-year-term after the 2009 presidential election. His grip on reality has been slipping steadily since around 2007, probably from heavy drug use...
delivered a broad-sweeping speech that touched on foreign interfernce in the upcoming elections, relations with Pakistain and the Taliban as well as security pact negotiations with the United States.

With only weeks before the presidential vote on April 5, Karzai's time in office is near over and Saturday's speech could mark one of his final public addresses focused on policy issues.

"I warn you: don't try to interfere in our elections - it's in your interests," Karzai said as if speaking directly to the foreign powers he had in mind.

In attendance at the gathering were government officials, MPs, presidential candidates and Adib Fahim, the son of recently deceased First Vice President Marshal Mohammad Qasim Fahim.

The Afghanistan's Caped President assured the crowd that there would be free and fair elections and said that the security forces were entirely ready to ensure the safety and integrity of the process.

"The government will use all its power to ensure the coming presidential and provincial council elections are free, fair and transparent," Karzai said. "The Afghan national security forces will provide a secure environment for Afghans to take part in the process."

He assured that the "electoral bodies are independent and free of government influence."

Some have accused Karzai of meddling in the election process and favoring certain candidates, especially after his brother Qayoum Karzai folded his presidential campaign in favor of competitor Zalmai Rassoul
... former foreign minister and a very close confidant of Hamid Karzai. Before serving as foreign minister Rassoul also spent seven years laboring as a national security adviser to the president. An ethnic Pashtun born in Kabul, Rassoul was the valedictorian of his class at the illustrious Franco-American school in Kabul, Lycee Istiqal. He has an MD from the Paris Medical School in France.....
two weeks ago.

Link

Afghanistan

Marshal Fahim, Dies At 56

2014-03-10

[Tolo News] Marshal Mohammad Qasim Fahim, First Vice President of President Hamid Maybe I'll join the Taliban Karzai
... A former Baltimore restaurateur, now 12th and current President of Afghanistan, displacing the legitimate president Rabbani in December 2004. He was installed as the dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001 in a vain attempt to put a Pashtun face on the successor state to the Taliban. After the 2004 presidential election, he was declared president regardless of what the actual vote count was. He won a second, even more dubious, five-year-term after the 2009 presidential election. His grip on reality has been slipping steadily since around 2007, probably from heavy drug use...
, died of a heart attack in his Kabul home early on Sunday, Karzai's front man Aimal Faizi said.

The government has called for three days of national mourning and the flag will be raised at half-staff.

Marshal Fahim, who suffered from diabetes for years, was ill for the past three days, a source said.

Karzai on Sunday visited Marshal Fahim's home in Kabul, where he had passed away. Top Afghan politicians, including Abdullah Abdullah
... the former foreign minister of the Northern Alliance government, advisor to Masood, and candidate for president against Karzai. Dr. Abdullah was born in Kabul and is half Tadjik and half Pashtun...
, Zalmai Rassoul
... former foreign minister and a very close confidant of Hamid Karzai. Before serving as foreign minister Rassoul also spent seven years laboring as a national security adviser to the president. An ethnic Pashtun born in Kabul, Rassoul was the valedictorian of his class at the illustrious Franco-American school in Kabul, Lycee Istiqal. He has an MD from the Paris Medical School in France.....
, Hedayat Amin Arsala, and Ashraf Ghani-Ahmadzai, expressed their condolences upon learning of his death.

Karzai called Marshal Fahim a "great patriot."

Marshal became Karzai's first vice president in 2009.

A look at Marshal Fahim's life:

Marshal Fahim was born in Panjshir province in 1957.

He was a key commander under Ahmad Shah Massoud, the National Hero of Afghanistan during the fight against Soviet occupation in 1990s, and succeeded Massoud as the leader of the Northern Alliance after his liquidation in 2001.

He started his primary education in his birthplace and finished his studies in Islamic Sharia at the Arabic Institute of Kabul.

He fled Afghanistan to Pakistain after the Saur Revolution in 1978 and returned to Shegal area of eastern Kunar province
... which is right down the road from Chitral. Kunar is Haqqani country.....
to fight against the Soviet invasion.

Saur Revolution takeover of political power from Dr. Najibullah, former Afghanistan's Caped President on 27-28 April 1978.

He visited Panjshir in the summer of 1979 to create the Mujahideen groups and become a commander for Ahmad Shah Masoud.

In 1988, he was appointed as the general commander of the Mujahideen in north of Kabul and in 1990 visited Balkh, Jawzjan and Faryab northern provinces to gather more Mujahideen.

He returned to Kabul in 1993 after the collapse of the government of Dr. Najibullah, former Afghanistan's Caped President. He was appointed as the Minister of Security. After the Kabul government collapsed in 1997 and the Taliban came to power, he become a commander of resistance forces in north of Kabul.

After Ahmad Shah Massoud's liquidation in 2001, Marshal Fahim became the leader of governmental and Resistance forces and came to Kabul with the assistance of international coalition forces in 2001.

After Bonn Conference on Afghanistan, Marshall Fahim was assigned as First Vice-President and Minister of Defense in Karzai's temporary government. And he was named with the highest military rank of Marshal in appreciation of his service to Afghanistan.

He once more became first Vice-President and Minister of Defense after launching emergency Loya Jirga in Afghanistan.

At the second round of presidential election in 2009, Karzai selected Fahim as his first vice-president.

Marshal Fahim spoke Dari, Pashto and Arabic languages and had 12 children.

Link

Afghanistan

Changing Political System of Afghanistan Will Not Be Accepted: Political Parties

2013-06-15

[Tolo News] n an exclusive interview with TOLOnews on Wednesday, a number of political parties raised their voices against the comments made by the first Vice-President of Afghanistan, Marshall Mohammad Qasim Fahim about changing the political system of the country.

The politicians said, "If efforts are made to stay in power under the name of changing the political system of the country, it will not be acceptable to the political parties, coalitions and the people of Afghanistan."

A number of political parties and coalitions warned that any kind of efforts to hold Loya Jirga (traditional gathering) and bringing changes in the Constitution is against the national interest of the country.

It comes in after, the first Vice-President of Afghanistan Marshall Mohammad Qasim Fahim while speaking at the Governors' National Conference on Tuesday about changing the political system of the country, gave clear indication of internal differences within the government and the war for power inside the Presidential Palace.

The National Coalition of Afghanistan warned that any kind of efforts put in by the government to stay in power will be detrimental for the people of Afghanistan and nobody will let them do that.

Fazlur Rahman Orya, Spokesperson of Afghanistan National Coalition said, "These efforts are being made to stay in power under the name of changing the political system of the country. And, if this is implemented, it will not be acceptable to the political parties, coalitions and the people of Afghanistan. The government should not waste its time in this regard."

Link

Afghanistan

Kabul Bank Fraud Buttressed by Weak Governance: MEC

2012-11-29

[Tolo News] The massive fraud that led to Kabul Bank's collapse was underpinned by weak governance in key oversight agencies as well as law enforcement structures, according to a public enquiry into the debacle.

The independent committee appointed to investigate the extent of the Kabul Bank crisis said that as much as $5 billion was transferred out of Afghanistan over a four-year period and urged the government to act on having the assets frozen.

The Independent Joint Anti-Corruption Monitoring And Evaluation Committee (MEC) presented an 87-page report on Wednesday which details the direct involvement of the bank's executives and shareholders in transferring $900 million overseas and the fallout of the "one of the largest banking failures in the world".

"Some of the reasons are specifically related to the financial sector of Afghanistan. This is the big banking governance, the low capacity and lack of coordination among regulatory bodies and the law enforcement agencies," MEC member Drago Kos said at the press briefing in Kabul on the reasons such massive fraud was able to happen.

The report said that $861 million, or 92 percent of Kabul Bank's loan book, went to 12 individuals and 7 companies linked to these individuals in at least nine countries.

"We have the list of countries where the money went: China, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom, Kazakhstan, Korea, Turkey, Russian Federation, United States and to Switzerland
...home of the Helvetians, famous for cheese, watches, yodeling, and William Tell...
. This means that it is possible for the attorney general and for the courts to write requests for mutual legal assistance to have the money frozen and confiscated at the end," MEC member Eva Joly said.

The report further names at total of 28 countries where the money ended up.

The report also names those directly including key shareholders Sherkhan Farnood, the former bank chairman, the former chief executive officer Khalilullah Ferozi, and the brothers of President Hamid Maybe I'll join the Taliban Karzai
... A former Baltimore restaurateur, now 12th and current President of Afghanistan, displacing the legitimate president Rabbani in December 2004. He was installed as the dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001 in a vain attempt to put a Pashtun face on the successor state to the Taliban. After the 2004 presidential election, he was declared president regardless of what the actual vote count was. He won a second, even more dubious, five-year-term after the 2009 presidential election. His grip on reality has been slipping steadily since around 2007, probably from heavy drug use...
and first Vice President Mohammad Qasim Fahim.

The MEC was made up of six people: three Afghans professionals and three international corruption experts. The five-month public enquiry was funded by Britannia's Department of International Development and the Danish International Development Agency after the International Monetary Fund called for a thorough investigation.

As at October 31, the former Kabul Bank receivers had recovered US$135.3 million in cash and US$181 in assets, the report said.

Link

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