An explosion rocked eastern Ghazni province of Afghanistan on Wednesday morning. The blast killed one and injured five others.

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The Lower House of the Afghan Parliament approved the Election Law on Wednesday. The law contains 79 articles and 16 chapters.

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Some foreign projects and investments have come to a standstill due to the increasing security threats in the country.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that the Government is not working seriously to provide security because of which foreign investments and trade have been badly affected.

Security challenges and problems in the country has affected foreign investments greatly as recently the Chief of Marriott Hotels in the Middle East has said that due to security concerns the construction work of their five star hotel with a capital investment of $80 million has been stopped in Afghanistan.

Khan Jan Alokozai, Deputy Director of Chambers of Commerce and Industry said, "There is no doubt, this has caused a negative impact on the production and investments and that our country is getting closer to experiencing an economic recession. Security concerns, abductions have badly affected the investments in the country."

Meanwhile, he said that the number of kidnappings in the country is on the rise and is affecting investments in a negative way. Throwing light on the kidnappings he added, last week the Head of Turkish Traders Union who is also the owner of Istanbul Restaurant have been kidnapped from Shahr-e-Now Kabul.

Deputy Director of Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that the Head of Turkish Traders Union was encouraging 60 Turkish investors for investments in Afghanistan.

"The clash between the Afghan forces and Taliban insurgents that started on Tuesday in Sangin district of southern Helmand province ended and has left 26 Taliban insurgents dead," Interior Ministry Spokesman Sediq Sediqi told TOLOnews.

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Afghan National Olympic Committee (ANOC) on Tuesday gave sports equipments to the inmates of Panjshir's prison, the officials said.

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Mahmoud Karzai brother of Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday talked about the possible candidacy of his brother Qayum Karzai in the upcoming Presidential elections.

Mahmoud Karzai younger brother of Hamid Karzai while talking at a gathering in Kandahar told that if his brother Qayum Karzi wins the next Presidential elections, there will be a serious fight against corruption, security will be ensured in the country, good governance will come into existence and Afghanistan's relation with its neighbours will be strengthened.

"If Qayum wins the election, besides fighting other challenges, there will be more efforts for bringing peace to the country," Mahmoud Karzai Said.

Mahmoud Karzai criticised Hamid Karzai's Government and said that if Qayum wins the election the country's situation will be changed and serious action will be taken against the country's foreign spies and they will be put on trial.

These comments come in at a time when only three months are left for the formal nomination of the Presidential candidates.

The upcoming Presidential election of Afghanistan – planned to be held on April 5, 2014 – is considered as the most important event for the country's future.

Pakistan is trying to increase violence in Afghanistan this summer by making use of Taliban.

A number of analysts warned that the increase in Taliban insurgency attacks clearly indicates that Afghanistan will face strong resistance from the insurgents this summer.

The analysts emphasized that in order to prevent such violence in the country intelligence entities of Afghanistan security forces must be strengthened.

Afghanistan this year may experience extreme levels of violence and this has created more concerns for Afghanistan.

Presently, these concerns have become more alarming as it is said that Taliban will adopt a different method to disturb the status-quo and this will turn out to be more dangerous.

Jawed Kohistani, former military official said, "Pakistan and Taliban are trying to wage war and this is very dangerous."

Sayed Akbar Agha, former leader of Jaish al-Muslimeen group said, "Taliban and the Government both are fighting and it is getting intense. If the Government shows any kind of flexibility or relaxes at this juncture then the Taliban will take advantage of it."

Recently, Ministry of Defence has said that all the Madrasas which carried out insurgency activities have been shut and in order to keep the insurgency active, all the students of these madrasas are being sent to Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, the capabilities of the intelligence agencies are under serious criticism.

Sayed Ali Kazemi, member of Lower House said, "The government and specifically the Ministry of Defence should adopt some measures seriously and defend the borders of the country."

Pakistan since a long time has been known as a harmful neighbour for Afghanistan as majority of the terrorists are located inside Pakistan.

It seems that relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have become so weak that Kabul is extending its hand towards New Delhi.

The Governor of eastern Nuristan province Tamim Nuristani on Tuesday said that Nuristan will change into second Waziristan. Arabs, Pakistanis, Lashkar-e-Taiba and several other insurgents groups are using Nuristan as a passage to reach the North and North-Eastern provinces.

The Governor of Eastern Nuristan province adds that Taliban and Pakistanis are transporting all their fighters from the border areas of the province to the North and North-Eastern provinces of Afghanistan.

Tamim Nuristani stressed that the province will fall prey to insurgency if the districts don't clean up the insurgents. The insurgent groups are present within eight kilometer radius of the province's capital, Paroon, where all the government officials are traveling by helicopter to other province including Kabul.

"Dahan-e-Patigol of Kamdish district is the main pathway of the Taliban and Pakistanis. Through this area they move all the supplies to Kamdish, Bargmatal districts and even in the Kunar and Laghman provinces. Now they want to find a way into the Badkhshan province so we intend to keep that route closed," Governor Tamim Nuristani told TOLOnews.

It is said that Pakistan wants to use Nuristan as a bridge to spread insurgency in the North and North-Eastern parts of Afghanistan.

"There are ISI groups in Kamdish, Bargmatal and Waigal. Around 70 people have come into the region and they are working, leading, giving money and encouraging people to carry out activities that stall the progress in Afghanistan," Tamim Nuristani said.

Security is not the only problem in the Nuristan province. Lack of buildings for governmental agencies and asphalted roads are some of the major problems in the province. Even one meter of asphalted road does not exist in the Nuristan province.

Meanwhile, Abdul Khaliq Farahi, Head of Independent Directorate of Local Governance pledges to solve the problems of the Province.

"Nothing has been done in the last two years here, even the President's decrees were not implemented," Abdul Khaliq Farahi said.

Afghan officials who have visited Nuristan province said that security problem is the priority and it needs to be solved first.

"The Ministry of Defence is busy doing small things; I hope soon it will start solving the bigger issues. The Defence and Interior Ministries are strengthening Kabul's gates. The gates are Nuristan, Khost, Kunar and Badakhshan provinces," Head of Transition Commission Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai said.

"Our forces are ready to take over the Waigal district and the Police Chief should participate in the planning process," Commander of 201 Silab Military Corps Mohammad Zaman Waziri said.

The Governor of Nuristan province believes that strengthening the local police forces and stationing army soldiers will be effective in reducing the security threats.

Assadullah Munir, former member of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) told Pakistani media- if US withdraws from Afghanistan without bringing the Taliban on the negotiation table, post 2014 the fights will intensify between the two countries.

"Till the time Pakistan doesn't conduct a wide military operation to eliminate the terrorists, the region of North Wazeristan will remain a hotspot for insurgency," the former ISI member said.

Pakistan is now establishing a new administration led by Nawaz Sharif but it is being said that there will not be any new strategy in his government for Afghanistan.

Assadullah Munir said, "It seems dialogues will not be effective until the Pakistan Government conducts military operations in North Wazeristan. Till that time North Wazeristan will be the focal point of the insurgents and will create security problems for the two countries."

Meanwhile, Maliha Lodhi a former Ambassador of Pakistan said that Pakistan should take a stand to carry out peace talks between Afghanistan, US and Taliban.

Lodhi said, "Pakistan has six to seven months of time to help Afghanistan and US in having peace talks with Taliban."

On the other hand, political analysts believe that Nawaz Sharif's Government will not adopt any new strategy to bring the Taliban on the negotiation table.

Ayaz Amir a Pakistani political analyst said, "We are running towards 2014, all the insurgents will intensify their activities and it will make very difficult for Nawaz Sharif's Government to adopt any new strategy aimed at the Taliban".

Presently, Pakistan besides economic challenges faces intense security glitches.

Afghan Senators on Tuesday's session said that the President must take a clear stand against Pakistan, which is an open enemy of the Afghan people.

A number of Senators said that Afghan President must not let Pakistan worsen the security situation of Afghanistan and create more hurdles.

The Senators said that the United Nations (UN) must act on their commitments towards Afghanistan and not let Afghanistan be affected by its neighboring countries, especially Pakistan.

Senators said that Pakistan never wants a stable Afghanistan. Pakistan's military intelligence organisation is deploying terrorist groups and Madrasa students to worsen the security situation of Afghanistan.

The Senators believe that with Karzai's recent visit to India, Pakistan will be upset.

"UN must convince Pakistan, to stop interfering into Afghanistan's affairs. After the shutting down of the Madrasas in Pakistan, they are now sending the instructors of those schools to carry out terror activities and worsen the security situation of Afghanistan," Head of Complaints Committee of Senate, Zalmai Zabuli said.

"Pakistan's goal is to put more pressure on the Afghan Government and with the President's visit to India, Pakistan will be disappointed and won't want that Afghanistan should have close relations with India," Senator Daoud Asas said.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Upper House, Fazil Hadi Muslimyar said that Pakistan's military intelligence organization in the last eleven years openly interfered into Afghanistan's affairs.

"Pakistan's military intelligence agency during the eleven years has been trying to worsen the security situation of Afghanistan. In order to fulfill its desires they put pressure on Afghanistan in the form of terrorism," Muslimyar said.

Afghan experts believe that Pakistan was never honest in bringing peace and stability.

The Senate is concerned over the sudden increase in the number of drug addicts in the country. It said that the relevant Ministries have been unsuccessful in putting a check on drug addiction and provide appropriate treatment to the addicts.

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President Karzai on his three day visit to India will meet Indian officials and discuss about increasing India's aid to Afghanistan both in the military and non-military sectors.

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In light of the ongoing debate over the law on Elimination of Violation Against Women (EVAW), United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and UN Women on Monday have urged the Afghan authorities to accelerate their efforts in the implementation of the law.

Head of UNAMA and Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan, Jan Kubiš said, "Progress in implementing the Elimination of Violation Against Women (EVAW) law contributes to deterring harmful practices and protecting women from violence in their daily lives."

He added that the international community has great expectations from the Afghan Government on making progress in the law. It is important not just for women but for all the people of Afghanistan. The extent of breakthrough achieved in the EVAW law can affect the assistance it provides to the country.

Coming out strong on the implementation of the law, UN Women representative in Afghanistan, Ingibjorg Gisladottir said, "I call upon the Afghan Government and Parliament to fully respect and defend the fundamental rights of women and girls by ensuring that the EVAW law is respected and implemented."

"It is imperative for the development of Afghanistan that women are able to exercise their rights and be free from violence in their homes and workplaces," Ingibjorg Gisladottir further added.

The landmark EVAW law, enacted in August 2009, criminalises child marriage, forced marriage, selling and buying women for the purpose or under the pretext of marriage, baad (giving away a woman or girl to settle a dispute), forced self-immolation and 17 other acts of violence against women, including rape and beating. It also specifies punishment for perpetrators. The law was enacted by Presidential decree and is yet to get the Parliamentary approval.

In a report titled- "Still a Long Way to Go: Implementation of the Law on Elimination of Violence against Women in Afghanistan" published in December 2012, UNAMA found that although prosecutors and courts were increasingly applying the EVAW law in a growing number of reported incidents of violence against women, the overall use of the law remained low indicating there is still a long way to go before women and girls in Afghanistan are fully protected from violence through the EVAW law.

The Afghanistan Government in an effort to fight all the challenges currently being faced, agreed to the goals set out in the Tokyo Mutual Accountability Framework (TMAF) in July, 2012. Some of the goals are- access to justice for all, in particular women, by ensuring that the Constitution and other fundamental laws are enforced expeditiously, fairly and transparently, and ensuring that women can fully enjoy their economic, social, civil, political and cultural rights.

In order to provide assistance to Afghanistan and make the law a reality, UNAMA and UN Women have urged international donors to provide aids so that the country can meet its TMAF commitments on gender equality, women empowerment and the implementation of the EVAW law. The organisations have also asked the Government to formulate specific indicators to measure progress in these areas.

It is expected by the international community including the UN Security Council that Afghanistan will respect and promote legal norms in the field of human rights, especially the rights of women and children.

Several incidents of violence against women in Afghanistan still remain unreported due to cultural restraints, social norms and taboos and religious beliefs.

In the December 2012 report, UNAMA made 29 recommendations to the Government on the EVAW law.

As of now, the EVAW law is facing a serious logjam as it has been stalled in the Lower House by the MPs on the pretext that some of the articles are against the Islamic Sharia law.

This has angered the network of civil societies in Afghanistan. They say that if the law is not approved by the Parliament then it will be the reason behind the increase of violence against women in the country.

The activists are urging the President to support the law.

Six Security Guards of Salma Dam located in the Western Herat province were killed by a road side bomb explosion Tuesday morning, officials said.

The incident happened at 9:30 am (local time) when the guards where travelling from Obe district to Chishti Sharif district of Herat province when their vehicle fell prey to a road side bomb killing all the passengers, officials said.

Provincial Security Chief, Hamidullah Hamidi confirmed the incident and condemned the incident.

"These security guards belonged to the public protection forces and the killings have a political motivation. This is the work of those countries who don't want Afghanistan to develop," Hamidi told reporters.

The Salma Dam is one of the major construction projects in Afghanistan that was initiated in 2006 with financial assistance from India.
Security was the main factor that delayed completion of the project.

Previously, Afghan security forces had foiled an insurgent attack on the US$200 million Salma Dam in the western Herat province by seizing approximately 1300 kilograms of explosives.

The National Directorate of Security (NDS) said that the attack had been planned by Quetta Shura in Pakistan and was foiled by the Afghan National Army (ANA) and NDS personnel.

Twenty children were among the 91 people killed when a powerful tornado swept through an Oklahoma City suburb, tearing down blocks of homes and two schools, local officials said.

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"The clash between the Afghan forces and Taliban insurgents that started on Tuesday in Sangin district of southern Helmand province ended and has left 26 Taliban insurgents dead," Interior Ministry Spokesman Sediq Sediqi told TOLOnews.

The clash started on Tuesday at 5:00 am (local time) in Perzo area of Sangin District of Helmand province and ended in the afternoon. This was the first face-to-face fight between Taliban and Afghan security forces this year.

Interior Ministry Spokesman Sediq Sediqi said, “Four check posts came under attack. The clash killed 26 Taliban insurgents. Five policemen, three National Police personnel and two local policemen have also been killed. Four police officials were injured in the clash,” Sediqi told TOLOnews.

 "About 10 groups of 4-5 fighters were carrying out drive-by shootings against five police checkpoints. Local Afghan security forces called for Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) reinforcements and none of the checkpoints were overrun," Col. Thomas Collins, an ISAF Spokesperson said in a statement.

 A resident of the area told TOLOnews that he has seen more than 23 Taliban insurgent's dead bodies in the area.

Meanwhile, the Spokesman for Taliban, Qari Yusuf Ahmadi told the media that they have inflicted heavy casualties on the Afghan forces.

This clash has taken place after the Taliban vowed to launch a 'spring offensive' on April 27.

The Taliban has warned the civilians to stay away from official gatherings, military convoys and centres regarded as legitimate targets by militants besides warning people not to support the Government and foreign troops.

Till date, the conflicts with the Taliban insurgents have claimed numerous lives of Afghan security forces, foreign soldiers and civilians.

President Karzai on his three day visit to India will meet Indian officials and discuss about increasing India's aid to Afghanistan both in the military and non-military sectors.

The President's office said that Mr. Karzai during his visit will seek India's cooperation for grant of aids on the basis of the strategic agreement between the two countries.

Presidential Palace has announced that President Karzai will try to strengthen the ties between New Delhi and Kabul, seek assistance from India for different sectors and talk on the implementation of strategic cooperation agreement between the two countries.

Fayeq Wahidi, Vice Spokesperson of the President said, "Based on the previously signed strategic cooperation agreement between India and Afghanistan, the Indian side is committed to help Afghanistan in equipping, training and increasing the capacity of Afghan National Security Forces along with other issues."

This development comes after the Indian counterparts said that if Afghan government seeks assistance from India for the equipping of Afghan security forces, New Delhi is ready to consider it.

At the same time, some analysts say that this visit of Karzai to India will disappoint Pakistan.

The Vice Spokesperson of the President said, "Afghanistan is strengthening its ties with India as an independent country and will always continue to do so. This relation will never be affected with the interference by a third country."

Wadeer Safi, Kabul University lecturer said, "There is a growing tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Now the Afghan government is signing a military cooperation agreement with India seeking assistance and this may upset Pakistan."

The Commander of ISAF, General Joseph F. Dunford said that Afghan forces have the capability to take charge of security from the foreign forces and make arrangements for the upcoming Presidential elections.

All the Police Chiefs of Afghanistan got together at a conference in Kabul with the ISAF Commander.

General Joseph Dunford is confident that Afghan security forces can take charge of all military operations from June, 2013 onward.

Afghan Interior Minister, Ghulam Mojtaba Patang said that Afghan police should be equipped with all necessary weapons to keep all the achievements made intact.

The issue of lack of police equipments, evaluating the challenges faced by the police and providing security for the upcoming Presidential elections in 2014 were discussed at the conference.

Patang pointed out all of the achievements that Afghanistan had made in the last decade at the conference.

"Democracy, an elected government, a Parliament, human rights, progress within the army and security intelligence are the segments where success has been achieved and all this should be used to bring peace in the country," Ghulam Mojtaba Patang said.

Meanwhile, General Joseph Dunford believing on the ability of Afghan security forces said, "You have given your lives for the people of Afghanistan, your commitment for a better future in Afghanistan gives me hope. When people ask me where we are in a campaign? I respond by answering three fundamental questions: Can Afghan forces soon assume a lead for responsibility for security this June? The answer is yes. Can Afghan forces provide a secure environment within which to conduct elections in 2014? The answer is yes. And will we be able to effect full security transition in December 2014? The answer is yes."

The comment from the General clearly showed the level of confidence he has on the Afghan security forces.

"The Army and police have some defects. We should tactfully rectify them," Afghanistan Chief of Staff Sher Mohammad Karimi said.

Afghan security forces are passing through a sensitive phase, security transition and upcoming Presidential elections are some of the major challenges.

A suicide attack took place on Monday in Pul-e-Khumri, capital of Baghlan province killing the Provincial Council Head Mohammad Rasol Mohseni, Baghlan Police Chief, General Asadullah Shirzad said.

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Based on the information received by the Ministry of Defense (MoD), all Madrasas (religious schools) which previously were the hotspots for terror activities in Pakistan have been closed and all the students of these Madrasa are now being sent to Afghanistan to carry out insurgent activities.

Spokesperson of the Ministry, General Zahir Azimi said that even though the Taliban activities have increased in the country but the Afghan National Army (ANA) has the ability to eliminate these threats.

Meanwhile, the National Security Council has ordered Ministry of Finance to buy five Russian Antonov cargo and transportation planes for the Ministry of Defense at a cost of $100 million.

General Zahir Azimi said, "Our information indicates that all madrasas which could give boost terrorism have been shut and now in order to keep the terror activities going the students are being sent to Afghanistan to carry out suicide attacks. But our security forces like always have the ability to remove all these threats and keep the situation under control."

In the meantime, Afghan security forces are facing numerous challenges including lack of facilities in Afghan Air force which was emphasized by the MoD.

General Zahir Azimi said, "The main challenge is to upgrade the Afghan Air Forces for which the Minister of Defense has expressed his concerns and the National Security Council decided to buy five Russian Antonov cargo planes."

Najeebullah Manilai Advisor to the Ministry of Finance said, "The Ministry of Finance will discuss the issue with the Ministry of Defense and money for buying these planes will be sanctioned."

It seems that government's concentration on the upgradation of the Air Force is high on pirority.

Meanwhile, ISAF called its training sessions for the Afghan security forces to be in line with Nato standards. ISAF Spokesperson General Gunter Katz believes that in the upcoming years, Afghan pilots would be able to match the level of a Nato pilot in terms of competency.

General Katz said, "I am a pilot and I went to training facilities in Shendand and Kabul and I flew MI17 planes. As a Nato pilot I can tell you what I have seen, those young student pilots are doing extremely well and each of those student pilots from Afghanistan could be a NATO pilot in the future because of high standards that I have seen in the Shendend and Kabul facilities. You can be very proud of your Air Force and your pilots who will protect you in the future. On top of it this is a moment as the first female pilot recently graduated from Shendend, which is yet another success story for the Afghan Air Force."

Air force is known to be an important part of defense forces for each country. Afghanistan is endeavoring to own a fully equipped and powerful air force but still there exists some major challenges.

Correction: TOLOnews apologies for misspelling the name of the ISAF Spokesman Gen Gunter Katz.