http://www.bamdad.af/ en Copyright 2011 news Bamdad News - Afghanistan http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1553 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1553#When:05:23:46Z Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:23:46 +0000 Politics, By Qayoom Suroush
Political analysts and some lawmakers believe that, in the absence of a clear mechanism and with continued resistance from insurgents, the Afghan government’s attempt to reconcile with the Taliban will bring no positive results. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1628 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1628#When:05:18:50Z Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:18:50 +0000 Parliament, By Hamidullah Habibi
With the parliament again in session, lawmakers are enthusiastic to carry out their main duties during the upcoming year. But many analysts believe that the Wolesi Jirga remains weakened and politically marred from internal disputes which characterized its first legislative year. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1627 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1627#When:04:24:04Z Mon, 20 Feb 2012 04:24:04 +0000 Weekly Dialogue, Interviewer: Qayoom Suroush
Following a high profile meeting in Berlin, Germany on February 9th, Afghanistan's National Front (leading by government opposition group) has unearthed a barrage of controversy and debate over its proposal to transition Afghanistan from its presidential system to a parliamentary system of government.  In an interview with www.bamdad.af, Azeta Rafat, member of the Leader Committee of the Right and Justice Political Party says that changing the political system is not their party’s priority. She believes that it is not the system which is a problem, but the management of the system which created problems. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1618 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1618#When:05:03:54Z Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:03:54 +0000 Parliament, By Qayoom Suroush
The Afghan Parliament began its second legislative year on Saturday, January 12. According to Article 107 of the Afghan Constitution, the legislature has two working rounds and two seasonal recesses. Each working round lasts four and half months and each recess lasts one and half months. Usually the winter recess begins in early December and ends in mid January. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1607 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1607#When:06:38:13Z Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:38:13 +0000 Society and Culture, By Zahir Eztarabi
According to analysts, the mining and excavation of Afghanistan’s precious minerals and natural resources hold the potential to catalyze massive economic growth and enhance the livelihoods of tens of thousands of Afghans across the country. However, transparency, organization, and investment are needed to push forward this growth. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1606 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1606#When:06:05:12Z Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:05:12 +0000 Weekly Dialogue, Interviewer: Asar Hakimi
In an interview with www.bamdad.af, Faizullah Zaki, spokesman for Afghanistan’s National Front (ANF), says that centralized control of power by the president and a lack of accountability among the country’s elected representatives have led Afghanistan into its current political problems. According to Zaki, a change from the current presidential system to a parliamentary system of government is the only solution to decrease the concentration of power and overcome the current political deadlock. He explains ANF’s justification for attending the controversial meeting in Berlin, and the Front’s views on the peace talks with the Afghan government’s opposition. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1596 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1596#When:05:11:57Z Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:11:57 +0000 Politics, By Hamidullah Habibi
Peace talks with the Taliban are entering a sensitive phase, after they began a year ago through the international support of Germany and Qatar. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1591 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1591#When:06:24:43Z Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:24:43 +0000 Society and Culture, By Asar Hakimi
Sahar Gul, a new bride of 15 years of age, has been badly tortured by her in-law’s family for almost six months in the northeastern region of Baghlan province, but she is still alive. Sahar’s story has brought attention to an endemic problem of violence against women occurring throughout Afghanistan. In doing so, her story has raised the question: is violence against women a social contagion with no cure? ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1583 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1583#When:06:25:45Z Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:25:45 +0000 Society and Culture, By: Hamidullah Habibi
Kabul Municipality recently conducted an extensive campaign to clean up the city’s center, removing countless street vendors and placing them in designated areas around the city. The campaign has cleaned up many streets and improved traffic, but street vendors are increasingly concerned about their livelihoods. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1584 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1584#When:06:14:56Z Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:14:56 +0000 Society and Culture, By: Hamidullah Habibi http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1569 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1569#When:04:21:03Z Sat, 31 Dec 2011 04:21:03 +0000 Politics, By Hamidullah Habibi
The Afghan people have different views on the Bonn II Conference, which was held on December 5 in Bonn, Germany. Many of them are calling the conference useful while others are not optimistic about seeing the commitments enacted. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1573 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1573#When:04:26:21Z Thu, 29 Dec 2011 04:26:21 +0000 Parliament, By Zahir Eztarabi
Winter recess provides an opportunity for Afghan parliamentarians to go to the provinces and meet with their constituents. But many citizens see recess as a relaxing time for the MPs.  The lawmakers reject such allegations claiming that they visit their constituents during seasonal recesses to listen to their problems and seek solutions. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1568 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1568#When:06:57:15Z Wed, 28 Dec 2011 06:57:15 +0000 Weekly Dialogue, Interviewer: Asar Hakimi
In an Interview with www.bamdad.af, Mahmood Saiqal, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and the head of the delegation representing government’s opposition at the Bonn 2011 Conference, talks about the importance, commitments and goals of the conference. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1579 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1579#When:04:06:17Z Wed, 28 Dec 2011 04:06:17 +0000 Weekly Dialogue, Interviewer: Hamidullah Habibi
With the beginning of the winter season, the prices of foodstuff and fuel have risen.  This has created new problems for the people and particularly for Kabul city residents. They are blaming Afghan government officials as well as the Afghan Parliament for doing nothing effective to address the problems. In an interview with www.bamdad.af, Eng. Shirwali Wardak, the deputy head of the Economic Affairs Committee of the Wolesi Jirga, explains his committee’s achievements in this regard. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1564 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1564#When:10:11:19Z Mon, 26 Dec 2011 10:11:19 +0000 Politics, By Zahir Eztarabi
Thirty four members of Afghan civil society organizations, including a remarkable number of women, participated in the Bonn 2 conference. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1563 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1563#When:09:17:35Z Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:17:35 +0000 Weekly Dialogue, Interviewer: Qayoom Suroush
For the first time in Afghanistan, this year’s Ashura holiday was followed by a bloody suicide attack in Kabul, Mazar-e- Sharif and Kandahar cities killing more than 80 and injured many others. The Pakistan-based militant outfit, the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi al Alm, has claimed responsibility for the attack of Ashura. This incident raises concerns over emerging sectarian clashes in Afghanistan. In an interview with www.bamdad.af, Faizullah Fayiaz, one of Afghanistan leading religious scholar emphasizes that such incidents cannot damage Afghanistan’s national unity. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/videos/1552 http://www.bamdad.af/english/videos/1552#When:06:34:27Z Sun, 11 Dec 2011 06:34:27 +0000 bamdad.af
In your opinion, is the Afghan-US strategic agreement to our benefit? ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1538 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1538#When:10:11:04Z Wed, 30 Nov 2011 10:11:04 +0000 Politics, By Asar Hakimi
Two new political movements have been launched in Afghanistan, but opinion is divided on how much influence they will have or how long they will last. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1545 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1545#When:07:46:20Z Wed, 30 Nov 2011 07:46:20 +0000 Society and Culture, By Fatima Rezayee
BAMIAN – Rahila sits in front of her house, intent on her lessons. But she is not a schoolgirl – she is a 30-year old mother of three who has recently begun a literacy course in her village in the Aizdah area of Bamian city. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1558 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1558#When:06:46:21Z Tue, 29 Nov 2011 06:46:21 +0000 Society and Culture, By Humaira Ghamsar
MAZAR-E-SHARIF – Sumira Aziz, 20, has been playing ping pong in Mazar-e-Sharif’s Table Tennis Club for almost one year. She is a 12th grade student at the Hashim Barat Girls High School. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1534 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1534#When:05:04:31Z Tue, 29 Nov 2011 05:04:31 +0000 Weekly Dialogue, Interviewer: Asar Hakimi
Within last two weeks, two political parties, National Allies and Truth and Justice, announced their formation in Kabul. Both parties include prominent political figures and oppose most current government policy. Here in an Interview with Bamdad, Abas Noyan, the Spokesperson for the Truth and Justice Political Party talks about the party's vision and objectives. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1522 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1522#When:09:11:35Z Wed, 23 Nov 2011 09:11:35 +0000 Society and Culture, By Sayeed Suliaman
NANGARHAR – This southeastern province was once famous for poppy cultivation, heroin processing, and drug trafficking. Now, for the first time, farmers are trying something new, and legal: saffron. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1515 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1515#When:09:36:30Z Tue, 15 Nov 2011 09:36:30 +0000 Parliament, By Zahir Eztarabi
A group of Afghan officials travels to South Africa to study that country’s electoral system – and bring home some ideas. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1507 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1507#When:05:52:52Z Sun, 13 Nov 2011 05:52:52 +0000 Politics, By Asar Hakimi
The Afghan government says it wants to elicit the views of the people; critics argue that the Loya Jirga is a waste of time and money. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1503 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1503#When:04:38:46Z Thu, 10 Nov 2011 04:38:46 +0000 Society and Culture, By Hayatullah Ghahiz
JALALABAD–The Kunar River is wide and high these days, but the water is not being used to benefit Afghanistan. Instead, due to the inactivity of the provincial government in Kunar, say residents, this precious resource flows unchecked into neighboring Pakistan. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1493 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1493#When:05:40:26Z Mon, 31 Oct 2011 05:40:26 +0000 Weekly Dialogue, Interviewer: Asma Neazai – Nangarhar
An interview with the Head of the Nangarhar Department of Women’s Affairs, Anisa Emrani. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1489 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1489#When:08:51:23Z Sat, 29 Oct 2011 08:51:23 +0000 Politics, By Qayoom Suroush
The Afghan government has so far recovered only a small percentage of the hundreds of millions that were embezzled from Kabul Bank. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1486 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1486#When:04:49:41Z Sat, 22 Oct 2011 04:49:41 +0000 Weekly Dialogue, Interviewer: Asar Hakimi
Asadullah Saadati, spokesperson for the Rule of Law Coalition, tells www.bamdad.af why his group has abandoned their boycott of the Parliament. He also suggested that the Speaker should resign. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1482 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1482#When:05:13:52Z Sun, 16 Oct 2011 05:13:52 +0000 Parliament, By Hamidullah Habibi
Over the past year a series of clashes over the 2010 Parliamentary elections has paralyzed the legislature and brought the executive, judiciary and legislative branches into prolonged conflict. The following is a series of interviews in which www.bamdad.af asks ordinary Afghan citizens about their own views and attitudes towards the current political conflict. ]]> http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1478 http://www.bamdad.af/english/story/1478#When:07:16:17Z Mon, 10 Oct 2011 07:16:17 +0000 Parliament, By Qayoom Suroush
Semin Barakzai, whose election to Parliament from Herat was voided by the Independent Election Commission in August, has been on a hunger strike since October 2. She has appealed for a review of her case, and has said she will neither eat nor drink until the government reacts. At this point, Barakzai is in critical condition, and the long-standing conflict between the legislature and the executive looks set to deepen further. ]]>