JAAFARI TO MALII…………………………………………………1$!
TENACIOUS TEHRAN………………………………………………...177
TENACIOUS TEHRAN ' II……………………………………………(2#
MONSTER TURNED GHOST…………………………………………($7
MAIN BATTLEGROUND……………………………………………...(")
RESURGING TALIBAN………….……………………………………$2!
AL&AYS ACCUSED…...………………………………………………$")
%HASE III ' &EE IV…………………………………………………!!!
BLUE UMBRELLA …………………………………………………….7!#
ISLAMIC FASCISM……………………………………………………)")
RECOLLECTING
The war has been raging for more than four-and-a-half years. No end is in sight as the intended goals have not been achieved as yet. This proved that Bush Administration was right when after !11 it vowed to fight a global war that could last for decades.
This is the only truth about the ongoing war. The aim of defeating terror has been almost forgotten. The news and reviews now rarely ma"e a mention of this evil. #sually$ these pertain to global!regional hegemony% control of resources of wea"er countries$ particularly oil% proliferation of  nuclear weapons% insurgencies$ civil war and sectarian strife.
The initial claim about &holiness' of the war has been completely compromised. The ugliness of so-called noble prete(ts has been e(posed. )iberation of &oppressed' people has resulted into more oppression. The dreams of peace and stability have turned into nightmares of anarchy.
*romise of reconstruction has been forgotten in fulfilling the urge for  misappropriating the resources of con+uered lands. The balloon of  democracy has been pric"ed by victory of ,amas and re-emergence of other  slamic groups elsewhere.
The rusaders often tal"ed of winning hearts and minds of the con+uered people$ but events have proved that they were never interested in that. They only want complete submission of the /uslims by destroying their defence capabilities and capturing their economic resources.
f winning of hearts and minds was desired$ it could have been achieved by spending less than half of the war e(penditure on economic well-being of the targeted people. By doing that$ they could not only win the hearts and minds$ but also the souls of many /uslims li"e Abdul 0ahman of  Afghanistan.

 
 billion followers of this great religion. Those waged ihad against in4ustice have been hunted$ "illed$ captured$ detained and tortured li"e beasts.
America blames /uslims for lac"ing in spirit of peaceful coe(istence. But$ the truths of its short history and geographic isolation from the old civilied world reveal that America utterly lac"s the ability to e(ist with nations having differences with them. They only "now one way% eliminate the one who disagrees% and their military prowess ma"es it possible.
The values of slam have been ridiculed by e(ercising the right of  freedom of speech. The strength 5estern media has been fully utilied to achieve the aim of hurting sentiments of the /uslims. The need for  6nlightenment of slam has been pressed hard$ which could only be achieved through acceptance of 5estern values li"e secularism.
7espite the evil intentions of the aggressors$ they have achieved +uite a few successes. This can lead to drawing wrong inferences. t can be said that possession of military might is more important for winning a conflict than a noble cause. But$ drawing such conclusion will be premature$  because$ as already said$ the war is yet far from being over.
The most important winning factor has been causing$ preserving and e(ploiting the disunity of /uslims. The use of enemy within has been the lethal strategy of the rusaders. *an4sheris were used in Afghanistan and 8urds in ra+.
 Now$ they plan to use Baluch$ Arabs$ Tur"men$ 8urds and Bahais in ran. 9imilarly$ as the war progresses$ the ethnic diversity of *a"istan will be e(ploited in fulfillment of the evil design. The )ong 5ar 9trategy clearly spells out the use of &dissidents' in achieving the intended goals.
The term dissident$ however$ does not include 8ashmiris$ hechens$ /orros and other /uslim groups see"ing an end to oppression. t only means the groups in slamic countries which could be useful for further  fragmentation of the /uslim 5orld.
/oreover$ rulers in slamic 5orld have been intimidated and coerced to support the war on terror unconditionally. This has resulted in yet another  "ind of division in the /uslims. The rulers and the ruled have been alienated from each other which will obviously result in birth of more dissidents.
:
 
&futility' of military option even in opposing invasions and resisting occupation of /uslim countries.
They only tal" of need for dialogue between two civiliations$ despite the ever increasing belligerence of the other side. onse+uently$ *alestinians have been left to starve% the core issue has been buried under the debris of  composite dialogue% hechens have been completely forgotten% /uslim minorities in *hilippines and Thailand have been left at the mercy of the  pro(y crusaders.
All this has been paid in advance as price of the anticipated peace. But$ rulers of the /uslim 5orld have ignored the basic fact that there can be no peace for the one who is not prepared and willing to wage war. That is why they have lot of roadmaps but no peace. ;or *a"istan$ the peace process has only yielded onions$ potatoes$ meat$ films$ sugar$ and cement.
The march of the rusaders in pursuit of the )ong 5ar 9trategy continues. ndia has been formally inducted as strategic partner to further  escalate the rusades. They are now galloping towards ran$ which is not far  from *a"istan.
ran owed a lot to the &terrorists' who have been and continue fighting resolutely against occupation of ra+. n the absence of their resistance$ the rusaders would have been in Tehran by now and preparing to advance towards slamabad$ bringing them closer to the achievement of final goal of  destroying military capability and nuclear deterrence in entire slamic 5orld.
/uslim rulers have ignored the importance of unity and opted for  falling one by one in misconception of being on the right side of the rusaders. They are sleep-wal"ing towards their unenviable end. The situation demands that they must listen to the message of +bal )ahori conveyed a century ago in his poem Jawab-e-Shikwa.
3<th /arch 2<<=
JAAFARI JAM
Bloodshed in ra+ continued and analysts "ept debating for an appropriate name for the tragedy. 9ome called it insurgency$ or resistance to occupation% the &nobles' preferred to term it cross-border terrorism% and others named it sectarian strife$ or civil war.
aafari$ the 9hiite nominee for prime minister's post$ resisted manipulation and intimidation by the occupation forces and refused to step down. This resulted into political stalemate causing frustration in the interested parties.
America pondered over ranian leaders' offer. &The slamic 0epublic of ran will hold tal"s with the #nited 9tates about ra+ to help the process of building a government there$ and to support the ra+i people'$ said /otta"i. 0ice said tal"s with Tehran on ra+'s slide toward civil war &might  be useful'$ but they would not cover ran's nuclear programme.
There was no progress in 9addam trial. The accused$ however$ while appearing in the court on 1:th /arch urged ra+is &to unite and resist the invaders and their bac"ers. 7on't fight among yourselves.' ,e also wanted his trial to remain in ra+. Bush however vowed to finish ra+ mission.
n *alestine$ ,amas continued facing opposition of the civilied world and srael. 6ven Abbas re4ected smail ,aniya's proposed plan to form government because he wanted ,amas to be clear on demands of  international community regarding srael.
ritics of war continued condemning illegal and immoral &holy war.' Thousands of protesters in Britain$ Australia and Asian countries demonstrated on third anniversary of ra+'s invasion and demanded pullout of occupation forces. ran also "ept causing embarrassment to the superpower and its willing allies by stic"ing to its right to ac+uire nuclear  technology.
ROUGH SEAS
>
 
ra+ "ept bleeding. Two intelligence officers were shot dead in western Baghdad on 11th /arch. Ne(t day two blasts in 9adr ity "illed 3=  people and wounded 1< others. 9i( persons were "illed and 13 wounded when a #9 convoy was attac"ed near Baghdad Airport. Two civilians were "illed and si( wounded in mortar fire in the capital and three were shot dead in another incident. ;ive soldiers were wounded in roadside bombing. Two  policemen were wounded in 7ura. Two persons were shot dead in 7uluiyah. ?ne person was "illed in /o+dadiya and a police ma4or in /ahmudiya. A  policeman was "illed and four wounded in Ba+ouba. About @< persons$ including #9 soldiers were "illed on the day.
*olice recovered more dead bodies on 1 th /arch from in and around Baghdad bringing the total to >@ in two days. Two days later$ authorities found 2: more dead bodies. #9 forces launched biggest post- occupation operation in 9amarra area with 1$:<< troops and :< aircrafts.
?n 1@th /arch$ thirteen people$ including si( #9 soldiers$ were "illed. The sie of operation was curtailed. Ne(t day$ four people were shot dead in drive-by shooting in /osul. 9i( persons were wounded in similar attac" in )atifiyah. A policeman was "illed by roadside bomb blast in 8ir"u". A civilian was "illed when a left-over cluster bomb e(ploded in Ba+ouba. 9eventeen dead bodies were found in Baghdad. #9 forces arrested =< people in the ongoing operation in 9amarra area.
Three police commandos and three civilians were "illed near Baghdad on 2<th /arch when a bomb targeted a police patrol. Three persons were "illed in roadside bombing near 8ir"u". Another roadside bomb "illed four   persons protecting infrastructure near /usayyib. unmen "illed one  policeman and wounded another in Amiriya. ?ne policeman was "illed and another wounded by a suicide bomber in Ba+ouba. #ndisclosed number of  dead bodies was found in and around the capital. Nine people were wounded in drive by shooting nears 8arbala.
?n 21st /arch$ gunmen attac"ed a 4ail north of the capital and more than 3< prisoners were freed. Ne(t day #9 troops thwarted a dawn attac" on another prison and captured :< of the attac"ers.
@
 
insurgents. ?ne policeman was "illed and a doen others wounded in s"andariyah. Two policemen were "illed and two wounded in an ambush north of the capital. Two persons were "illed in drive-by shooting. Three civilians were wounded in mortar fire. ?ne person was wounded by troops in armou". 9i( dead bodies were found in the capital and eight more were  brought to hospital in ;allu4ah by #9 troops. 6ight policemen were wounded in car bombing in ,aditha. Three hostages were freed by #9 troops in Baghdad after a successful raid.
Bombing outside a 9unni mos+ue in 8halis on 2th /arch "illed five  people and wounded 1: others. unmen "illed three policemen in west Baghdad and three wor"ers of a power station were "illed in Ta4i. ;our   persons were "illed by gunmen in 9aydiyah and one policeman was "illed in roadside bombing. Baghdad police found 13 more dead bodies. Two  policemen and two civilians were "illed in roadside bombing in Baghdad. Ten persons were wounded in mortar fire in Tal Afar. ?ne policeman was "illed and a doen wounded in s"andariyah. A 7anish soldier was "illed and another wounded near Basra.
?n 2=th /arch 3< dead bodies were found near Ba+ouba. #9 troops attac"ed a mos+ue near Baghdad and "illed 1= people. Ne(t day a suicide  bomber "illed < people and wounded 2< others at an army base near Tal Afar. 9even people were "illed and 23 wounded in mortar fire in Baghdad. Three more people were "illed elsewhere in the country. unmen in police uniform "illed people in Baghdad on 2th /arch.
heney blamed al-Caeda for fomenting civil war in ra+$ but said their  attempt had failed. Allawi blamed occupation forces for civil war in which ra+ was losing :< to =< people every day. After the raid on mos+ue$ 9hiite #A said$ &#9 forces and ra+i 9pecial ;orces committed a heinous crime by attac"ing the /ustafa mos+ue in the neighbourhood of #r. Baghdad overnor refused to cooperate with occupation forces.
?n 3<th /arch$ the Boston lobe criticied Arab )eague. &The most dramatic D and pathetic D failing of the summit was its effort to address the twin specters of sectarian warfare and ranian influence in ra+.'
STAYING THE COURSE

 
associates D who are describing their own situation and must be watching with fear the progress that ra+ has made over the past three years.'
&onsider that in three years ra+ has gone from enduring a brutal dictatorship to electing a provisional government to ratifying a new constitution written by ra+is to electing a permanent government last 7ecember. n each of these elections$ the number of voters participating has increased significantlyG'
&The terrorists are determined to sto"e sectarian tension and are attempting to spar" a civil war. But despite the many acts of violence and  provocation$ the vast ma4ority of ra+is have shown that they want their  country to remain whole and free of ethnic conflictG Another significant transformation has been in the sie$ capability and responsibility of ra+i security forces.'
&Though there are those who will never be convinced that the *+, /0
I+ / 3o5 5 *o$ anyone loo"ing realistically at the world today D at the terrorist threat we face D can come to only one conclusionH Now is the time for resolve$ not retreat.'
0umsfeld said a +uic" withdrawal would tantamount to handing over  ermany bac" to Nais. Bush announced that #9 troops would stay in ra+
until 2<<. T5 lo66/ li"e ohn ,ughes "ept supporting the contention
of Bush Administration.
5hile refusing to e+uate ra+ with Iietnam$ he wrote$ &in Iietnam the enemy was inspired by a nationalistic bid to seie territory and install a socialist regime$ whereas the enemy in ra+ is motivated by a perversion of  slamic dogma and a fanatical intent to impose it upon an entire region.' Jn Iietnam insurgency was inspired by socialist ideas$ but in ra+ it was  perversion of slamic dogma with fanatical.K
&n ra+ the hope of the enemy is that the American public will grow tired of the continuing casualties and the lengthy political maneuvering over  the formation of a new government$ and put such pressure upon the Bush Administration to withdraw American troops that *resident Bush would be unable to resist it.'
&5hat B,5 5+ 0o 60 3o08  about is his passion for the  promotion of democracy in ra+ and countries elsewhere to whose people it has been deniedG Iictory in consolidating freedom in ra+ would be an e(ample that would inspire hope for freedom in countries elsewhere in the /iddle 6ast.'
1<
 
&The conse+uences of failure would be far-reachingG eorge Bush may be faulted for some things but not his belief that freedom is od-given for all people. t is not appropriate that America$ founded on the cornerstone of freedom$ should see" to e(tend it to others presently less fortunate.'
harles 8rauthammer discussed the difficulties faced in
9:o*+/;+/o0 o< I+. &Now the 8urds have 4oined with the
opposition 9unni and secular parties to oppose the 9hiite bloc. The result is two large competing coalitionsH JaK the 8urd-9unni-secular bloc$ which controls about 1< seats in the 2>:-seat parliament and would constitute the  barest ma4ority% and JbK the 9hiite bloc$ which itself is a coalition of seven not-always-friendly parties and controls 13< seats$ slightly less than a ma4ority.'
&But to protect minorities and force the creation of large governing coalitions$ the ra+i constitution essentially re+uires a two-thirds ma4ority to form a governmentG The result for now is stalemate$ which could lead to disaster if the whole system disintegrates because of the impasse. ?r it could lead to a more effective$ less sectarian government than aafari's.'
&The :+/0 o6=*/> o< US A:6++9o Falmay 8halilad$ who wor"ed miracles in Afghanistan$ is to ma"e sure that the nterior /inistry is  purged of sectarianism by giving it to some neutral figure$ perhaps a secular  9unni with no ties to the Baath *arty. 9imilarly$ with the 7efence /inistry which controls the army.'
&The 8urd-9unni-secular bloc wants a new prime minister who will establish a national unity government. Because the #nited 9tates wants  precisely the same outcome$ the ,9 9<*/o0 / > 8oo9 03  in a landscape of almost unrelenting bad news.'
7avid gnatius loo"ed at the problems from slightly different angle. &The country's political leaders seemed to realie$ as they stood at the brin"  that they would either come together or ra+ would fall apart. 9o far they seem to be choosing unity D or at least serious tal"s about unity.'
&8halilad told me in an interview in his office after 5ednesday's session that the tal"s had produced 0+/> +8:0 o0 3o 6+/*
?o/0H ;irst$ the parties endorsed the idea of a unity government that would include all the ma4or factions. 9econd$ they agreed that this government should have a top-level &national security commission' that would include representatives of all the ma4or political parties. ?perating by consensus$ this
11
 
 body would frame the broad outlines of policy$ sub4ect to the ra+i constitution.'
&The ra+i political 9/+lo8, 3/ll :o> /0o + 03 +09 ?o0/+ll
<+*/o, +8 soon$ when the leaders begin bargaining over who will hold top positions in the new government. Those negotiations could blow apart the fragile hopes for a unity government.'
The ,indu wrote$ &with ministry-ma"ing running into serious difficulty$ ra+'s political leaders have sought to brea" the impasse by setting up a National 9ecurity ouncil that will formulate broad policies on security and economic issues. The hope is that the 1-member ouncil$ which will represent all the ma4or political formations$ will be able to draw the different sects and ethnic groups into the decision ma"ing process. T5/ ?l+0 / 0o
l/@l o 3o@. 5hile the *resident and *rime /inister will be the members of the ouncil$ they will be free to override its collective decisions that affect their spheres of authority. 9ince there is no constitutional provision for  creating such a body$ non-official members can have no real authority over  the e(ecutive branch.'
MAING HAY
srael "ept perpetrating + o/: with renewed vigour. ?n 1th
/arch$ sraeli troops bro"e into ericho prison$ pulled out prisoners and guards$ destroyed much of the building$ and captured a group of prisoners lin"ed to the assassination of an sraeli cabinet minister$ who had been ac+uitted by a *alestinian court. Three *alestinians were "illed in the raid. British and #9 had removed their monitoring teams from the site 4ust before the attac". *alestinians attac"ed #9 and 6uropean offices in aa 9trip and 5est Ban" in retaliation and destroyed British ouncil building in aa ity. Ne(t day$ *alestinians held a general stri"e against sraeli raid.
?n 1=th /arch$ one sraeli soldier was "illed in 5est Ban". sraeli troops detained five *alestinians. 9i( days later$ a *alestinian activist was "illed and another wounded in sraeli raid in ericho. Ne(t day$ sraeli troops "illed three more *alestinians in aa 9trip.
,amas was able to secure some +uiet support from Arab countries$ including 9audi promise on aid. ?n 1@th /arch$ it announced completion of  <o:+/o0 o< + 8o>0:0 two wee"s ahead of deadline. The cabinet will  be approved by Abbas before sending it the *arliament. 9enior ,amas
12
leader$ 9hei"h /ohammad 9ayyam$ while addressing annual congregation of in *eshawar$ said ,amas would continue struggle against ews.
?n 2th  /arch$ Ol: ?+ 3o0 /0 l*/o0. Bush and Blair  wasted no time in congratulating the democratically elected &state' terrorist. The winner wasted no time in announcing that srael's borders will be fi(ed unilaterally. The same day$ /ahmud Abbas led Arab opposition to sraeli acting premier's plan to set the borders of the ewish state unilaterally after  his election win. 9udan's ?mar al-Bashir urged his Arab counterparts not to succumb to the international community's efforts to isolate ,amas over its refusal to recognie srael$ disavow violence and honour previous peace agreements.
5alid / 9adi advised ,amas to show fle(ibility. &H+:+ 5+ o
*@o0 3/5 5 ,l o< 5 8+:$ especially state succession rules. overnments don't go around rescinding past accords by the stri"e of a pen or a whisper. There are rules for canceling accords$ stipulated either in the accords themselves or in international law relevant to bilateral and international agreements.'
&,amas "nows now the rules of the game. ,amas as an insurgency is one thing$ but ,amas as part and parcel of the established government in the *alestinian territories is +uite anotherG The thorny issue in this vein may not be recogniing and accepting srael's right to e(ist or the various accords already struc" between the *alestinians and srael$ but rather to what e(tent ,amas would want to impose slamic fundamentalism and the 9haria on the *alestinian peopleG f ,amas chooses to depart from this road$ then there could be problems along the way$ given the fact that the *alestinians are a multi-religion people and have got used to separating religion from state affairs.'
7r Caisar 0ashid had similar advice for both sides. &,amas has to do something tactical lest the time should seal the famous two-state solution in the favour of srael. 9imultaneously$ cornering ,amas at this 4uncture may catapult *alestine into chaos and anarchy. This holds the potential to destabilie the /iddle 6ast region. ,ence$ the time *+ll <o ?,90* <o:
6o5 /9.'
Arab News was of the view that showing <l/6/l/ +09 ?,90*
3o,l9 6 /::+/+l. &This situation might not ma"e much of a difference. srael under 9haron was not negotiating with the *alestinians when ;atah of  *resident /ahmoud Abbas was in charge% now that ,amas is forming a government$ srael is still not tal"ing to the *alestinians while deciding for 
13
 
itself what and what not to concede. As the outlines of ?lmert's plans emerge$ it loo"s increasingly clear that they do not leave the *alestinians with much.'
The News agreed with Arab News. &srael really has no &problem' with either ,amas or /r Abbas. t's only that / ?:+00 ?ol/* /
o??o//o0 o< ?+* 3/5 5 %+l/0/+0$ by actively sabotaging it and!or  simply dragging its feet on it. That's the "ey to what srael calls its security$ indeed to its very survival. /r 9haron's stand-in 6hud ?lmertGis ably doing both.'
The uardian agreed too% &srael is now demanding of a ,amas government that it discharge the same role of preventing all physical threats to srael that it earlier demanded of the much less intransigent asser Arafat and the *)?$ but with absolutely no incentive to do so$ e(cept the possibility that the leavings of a unilateral partition of the 5est Ban" will at some future point be labeled a &state' and handed over to them. This is + */? <o
9/+ that is obvious to most outsiders but seems invisible to those li"ely to form srael's ne(t government.'
immy arter wrote$ &the ?-:/00 o6+*l o ?+* / I+l
*olo0/;+/o0 o< %+l/0. There were 4ust a few hundred settlers in the 5est Ban" and aa when became president$ but the )i"ud government e(panded settlement activity when left office. Although *resident Bill linton made strong efforts to promote peace$ a massive increase in settlers occurred during his administration$ to 22:$<<< Jnot including 6ast erusalemK$ mostly when 6hud Bara" was prime minister. Their best official order to the *alestinians was to withdraw 2<L of them$ leaving 1@<$<<< in 2< settlements$ covering about :L of the occupied land.'
&t's ,l 9/8+*<,l 5+ 5 /00+/o0+l *o::,0/
/0<<*,+ll +09 6 as aans are deprived of staples$ such as bread and dairy products due to srael's two-month closure of the 8ani cargo crossing  between aa and 6gypt'$ said )inda 9 ,eard.
&#nder Article :: of the fourth eneva onvention &to the fullest e(tent of the means available to it the ?ccupying *ower has the duty of  ensuring the food and medical supplies of the populationG But who cares about eneva onventions nowadaysE srael has consistently displayed a total disregard for them with its ?ol/* o< *oll*/> ?,0/5:0 while its closest ally the #9 has circumvented themG'
&9urely$ the #9 is angered over the humiliating 4ail siege$ especially when it$ li"e Britain$ signed an agreement guaranteeing the safety of 9a'adat
1
 
and others. ou've guessed it. t isn't. n fact$ the #9 has made it clear that it would veto any #N censure motion.'
/a"au /utua wrote$ &the #nited 9tates and the 6uropean #nion D  who write the chec"s for the *alestinian Authority D must not *, o<< +/9 to the ,amas government. 7oing so / 5o/859 ,09:o*+/* +09
<ool5+9. )iberation movements normally mellow in the aftermath of   political victory.'
,amid Ansari said$ &away from the controversy about academic freedom$ an sraeli comment has defined the bottom line in the debateH &7efending the occupation has done to the American pro-srael community what living as an occupier has done to srael D :,99/9 6o5 / :o+l
*o:?+ +09 / +/o0+l l<-/0 *o:?+.'
Albadr 9 9 al-9hateri opined that in reality srael is 0o lo08 + @
US +. &*assionate attachment of one nation for another produces a variety of evils'$ said eorge 5ashington. ,e added$ &sympathy for the favourite nation facilitating the illusion of an imaginary common interest in cases where no real common interest e(ists$ and infusing into one the enmities of the other$ betrays the former into a participation in the +uarrels and wars of the latter without ade+uate inducement or 4urisdictionG But$ that is what has e(actly happened in the #9-srael special relationship.'
Arab News observed$ &what is disturbing is that the international community 9o 0o : o +??*/+ 5+ 5/ 03 6+l+0* o<< 5
6 > +/08 ?o/0 for a real settlement. JAs the two hard line parties from either side are in power.K No one e(pects the Americans$ with their  narrow world view and purblind support for srael$ to recognie the opportunity.'
R+/9 o0 =+/l /0 J/*5o  invited widespread bitter criticism. /athew Tostevin wrote$ &srael acts alone as 5estern countries ac+uiesce +uietly and *alestinians scream condemnation in powerless rageG The seiure of  9a'adat$ accused by srael of involvement in the "illing of an sraeli cabinet minister in 2<<1$ will certainly help interim *rime /inister 6hud ?lmert ahead of a /arch 2@ election he was e(pected to win.'
&Go-/-+lo0 :o> + l/@l o 6 *0+l o Ol: ?l+0  to set  borders by giving up some isolated ewish settlements but "eeping big chun"s of the occupied 5est Ban"G The unilateral approach appeals to many sraelis cynical about prospects for negotiated peace with the *alestinians and an(ious to fi( borders on srael's terms to ensure a ewish ma4ority$ ma(imie security and "eep all the erusalem.'
1:
 
&5hile ?lmert stresses his aim of setting a permanent border$ it is already pretty much a fait accompli along the line of a 5est Ban" barrier  e(pected to be completed this yearG 5estern diplomats say they see no signs that Abbas is willing or able to stand up to ,amas in a way that could let them continue weighty dealings 4ust with him.'
&That was apparent in the way that #9 and British monitors$ who had  been at ericho prison under a deal since 2<<2$ left their posts on Tuesday minutes before sraeli forces stormed inG British and the #nited 9tates had warned Abbas a wee" ago that the monitors would go if he did not address security concerns. Neither country criticied the sraeli raid.'
&The *alestinian response to the operation e(posed the difficulty of  countering unilateral sraeli measures. Abbas and ,amas ali"e could do little more than fulminate against the raid$ warn of perils ahead and hold Britain and the #nited 9tates responsible for what had happened.'
ulf News opined$ &the barbaric offensive by srael on the ericho  prison$ literally under the noses of the two western great powers$ ?l+/0
o0* +8+/0 35 5 ?+* /0 5 M/99l E+ :+/0 + :/+8G n attac"ing the prison and arresting Ahmad 9a'adat and others$ with perhaps the blessing of the #nited 9tates and Britain$ srael again undermined the leadership of *alestinian *resident /ahmoud Abbas. The attac" showed him unable to protect his people. t also provided *alestinian factions$ some of  which do not recognie the peace process$ with more reasons to continue their armed struggle.'
8haled 7udar was of the view that &today we can + 8oo96 o
5 ?+* ?o*. The political process was finally buried in ericho and srael has no intentions or even interests in finding *alestinian partners. srael thin"s that it is today in a position where it can impose a solution on the *alestinians. srael believes that it is no longer obliged to fulfill its obligations.'
/anal Alafrangi said$ &it is common "nowledge that srael does whatever it wants$ whenever it wants. N/5 5 US 0o B/+/0 3/ll 8
/0 5 3+ o< 5 I+l/ +809+ . A close loo" at the current situation in the region reveals there is an incessant attempt by the sraeli government to stir  up angry Arab sentiment$ undermine efforts to form a viable *alestinian administration$ ma"e ,amas loo" powerless$ and divide *alestinians amongst themselves.'
&5hile 5ashington and )ondon have cited concern for the safety of  their citiens as the 4ustification$ it is inconceivable that either the
1=
 
*alestinians or sraelis would have harmed the monitors. This has been established by the fact that most 5esterners ta"en hostage during the riots that followed the raid were soon set free. All in all$ the 3/59+3+l o< 5
,?>/o +??+ o 5+> 60 /0099 o ?o>o@ H+:+   into an indiscretion'$ wrote the ,indu.
9eumas /ilne focused on British policy. &ac" 9traw has brought Britain's standing in the Arab and /uslim worlds to its lowest point for half  a century. By withdrawing British monitors from a *alestinian 4ail in ericho on Tuesday$ the government as good as 5+099 o> o I+l 5 ?/o0
/ 5+9 :+9 +0 /00+/o0+l +8:0 o ?o*. n doing so$ it colluded with its American co-sponsor and D at the very least tacitly D with the sraeli occupation regime in an armed attac" on the prison and the seiure of an elected political leader regarded by many *alestinian as a national hero.'
&n srael the ericho operation is of course highly popular and regarded as a boost for ?lmert's electoral credibility as a tough successor to 9haronG t certainly represents an un4ustifiable abandonment of  international responsibilities to protect an occupied people and help achieve their human and national rights$ denied by nearly si(ty years. But it is also a 5/85l 9+08o, ol o +9o? /0 5 :o /0<l+::+o *o0<l/*  on the  planet D and one which puts at ris" the security of people in Britain$ as well as the /iddle 6ast.'
Andrian ,amilton said$ &what we have now is a <o/80 ?ol/* 5+
5+ lo / 3+ since ra+ went sour and a foreign secretary who chatters on$ putting a burbling$ brave face on whatever he's as"ed to do ne(t. 5hether he believes in it at all no one "nows and$ worse$ few seem interested in finding outG The British this time conveniently scampered leaving the sraelis to do their worst. t wasn't brave. t breached all our  commitments to the *alestinians. But it did not get us out of a hole.'
The New or" Times blamed ,amas for the raid. &The list of  misdeeds is$ as usual$ lengthy and widespread. The H+:+ 5o,l9 0o 5+>
?o>o@9 I+l 3/5 *5+ +6o, </08 A5:+9 S+9++ $ the head of  the *opular ;ront for the )iberation of *alestine$ who is being held in the "illing of 0ehavam Feevi$ the sraeli tourism minister$ in 2<<1.'
&5hatever the 5est might say$ for the ma4ority of /uslims$ H+:+
:+/0 + :6ol o< 5 %+l/0/+0 <9o: ,88l $ and is not seen as a terrorist outfit. This is a difficult realiation for the 5est$ but what is more
1>
 
important is to realie that the reasons for this support rest in unfair  international politics and not slamic ideology'$ opined /asooda Bano.
0amy Baroud elaborated$ &even srael's initial sense of vindication has turned sour$ as ,amas D despite its lac" of e(perience in international  politics D has managed to win the trust of various governments outside of  5estern hemisphere$ and is proving e+ually savvy in ma"ing its conditions for a final settlement with srael appear plausibleG %+l/0/+0 5+>
,**<,ll :+0+89 o /:? 5/ ?ol//*+l 3/ll  as an irrevocable part of their regions political reality% a very disturbing realiation indeed in the eyes of the #9 and srael who have diligently wor"ed for decades to undermine the *alestinian people's aspirations.'
&But even more dangerous is that *alestinians were +uietly rewor"ing their political and ideological divergence in intense meetings in aa$ with the hope that a national unity government would replace the less favoured option of a ,amas-only government.'
&5hat's troublesome is the fact that a national unity government that includes the defeated pro-#9 ;atah movement would deny the Bush Administration and srael the chance to scrutinie$ undermine and eventually topple a lone ,amas government.'
The uardian wrote on the outcome of I+l/ l*/o0. &The new *alestinian government led by the slamist ,amas has scorned /r ?lmert's  plans and there are scant prospects of negotiations. But it is worth remembering that *resident linton's parameters D the closest the two sides ever came to a deal D assume that the biggest settlements$ illegal under  international law$ are now immovable$ and can be swapped for land elsewhere.'
&f that is to happen$ there will have to be negations$ with international involvement as laid down by the currently morbid &road map' to peace. U0/l++l/: :+ 3o@ <o + 35/l  D and any withdrawal is better than none D but it can be no substitute for agreement between the two peoples who are destined to share this one small country.'
O%%OSING &INDS
Analyst 7aniel 9chorr observed that three years after the invasion of 
ra+ the 5o/* o< >/*o has been replaced by &progress.' &There is
evidence of real progress'$ says *resident Bush. &5e continue to ma"e great
1@
 
 progress' echoes eneral eorge asey. Nic" ?livari was of the view that &#9 forces now find themselves potentially caught in the middle of a sectarian civil war as 9hiite militias have stepped up reprisals after years of  9unni guerrilla attac"s.'
*hillip 8nightly as"ed occupation forces to be prepared for the worst. &f sectarian violence escalates further$ #9 troops must be withdrawn from  patrol and confined to their barrac"s and garrisonsG M+ +0?o :,
6 :,9 <o +?/9 3/59+3+l of those troops from volatile cities in the e(plosive central region of ra+Gin greatest dangerG'
&The #nited 9ates lost one war not too long ago in Iietnam. onditions are ta"ing shape that could result in the same outcome in ra+. No o ?l+0 0o3 <o 5/ +?o*+l?/* ?o/6/l/ 3o,l9 +0+:o,0 o
*/:/0+l 08l* on the part of our political and military leadership.'
&The character of warfare and violence is being transformed. The warfare of the future is not 5orld 5ar $ or even 8orea or Iietnam. t is /ogadishu and ;allu4ah D low-intensity conflict among tribes$ clans$ and gangs. 5e are not prepared for that "ind of warG The #nited 9tates is /0
9+08 o< </09/08 *o:6+ <o* +??9 in a civil war that they cannot  prevent$ control$ or win. America's army is in danger$ and that danger is  possibly 4ust around the corner.'
ary ounge wrote$ &for if the last si( years have proved anything$ it is 5 l/:/+/o0 o< 5 :/l/+ :/85 + 5 *0+l ?l+0@ o< <o/80
?ol/*. ndeed$ shorn of meaningful diplomacy or substantial negotiation$ it has failed even on its own narrow$ nationalistic terms of ma"ing America safer and securing its global hegemony. n short$ in displaying his strength in such a brash$ braen$ rec"less and ruthless manner$ Bush has asserted power  and lost authority and influence both at home and abroad.'
&As events in ra+ have soured$ the ability of the Bush Administration to deliver on these threats has diminished considerably. 5ith its military overstretched and its diplomatic goodwill spent$ it has been forced bac" to the table from a relative position of wea"ness$ because nobody trusts it or   particularly fears it. f anything$ 6o5 I+0 +09 No5 o+ 5+> 60
:6ol909 6 / <+/l, /0 5 G,l<.'
&The most important single factor that shapes Americans' attitudes to any war is whether they thin" America will win$ e(plains hristopher elpi$ an associate professor of political science at 7u"e #niversity who specialies in public attitudes to foreign policy. ?ver the past year$ the  percentage of Americans who believe the #9 is &certain to win' has
1
 
 plummeted from >L to 22L% those who are either certain it will not win or   believe this to be unli"ely have risen from 1L to 1L.'
/a( Boot opined$ &it might have been possible to avoid such a costly and protracted conflict in ra+ if entral ommand and the 7efence 7epartment had been better prepared for the &post-conflict' phase of  operations. But$ as we now "now$ there was a horrifying and /0?l/*+6l
<+/l, o ,09+@ +9,+ ??++/o0 for running ra+ after the fall of 9addam ,ussein.'
9yrian political commentator ;aisal Cassem said the ra+ war$ supposed to herald the demise of autocratic rule in the region$ had in fact 6ol9 A+6 8o>0:0 which offer their citiens stability$ security and in some cases prosperity. &?ne of the conse+uences of the invasion was to give new life to these regimes.' ary ounge wrote$ &The issue is not whether the developing world is ready for democracy D as the administration "eeps arguing D but if the #9 is ready for the democratic choices made by the developing world.'
Arab News criticied the raid on a 9hiite mos+ue. &The only things that seem apparent from these actions is that the #9 military$ increasingly
concerned at the 8o35 o< S5// :/l//+ and their influence within the
ra+i police and armed forces$ are 6l+9l /08 o *l/? 5/ 3/08 .'
&The nightly tit-for-tat "illings leave a dawn harvest of corpses. The authorities seem powerless and$ as the rest of a local police chief suggests$ there are probably death s+uads operating among the police themselvesG All this is a far cry from 5ashington's *l+/: 5+ + l/+6l *+9 o< I+/
?ol/* +09 +: / 6/08 *+9  to ta"e over from coalition forces. ndeed one recent &success' story of which *resident Bush boasted D the #9-ra+i military base at Tal Afar near /osul was yesterday the scene of a suicide  bombing in which over < would-be recruits were slain.'
brahim al-aafari$ however$ ban"ed a lot on ra+i security forces. &The long-term solution to this problem will be multifaceted. 5e must ensure that all *,/ <o* */> ?o? +/0/08 +09 5+ 5 / +
*5+/0 o< *o::+09 that holds commanders and officers responsible for such abuses. n addition$ the various militias that fought 9addam ,ussein's regime honourably must be fully integrated into ra+'s security forces without concentrating any particular group into any one division.'
/any analysts felt that no criticism of ra+ 5ar could be complete
without B,5 6+5/08. ary ounge wrote &5ith his approval ratings at
2<
 
 Ni(onian lows and the mid-term elections on the horion$ many of his fellow 0epublicans regard him as a liabilityG 9tumbling across the political landscape$ rallying support for lost causes$ he resembles 6rnest ,arrowden in the *icture of 7orian ray$ a character whom ?scar 5ilde described as &one of those middle-aged mediocrities$ who 5+> 0o 0:/ 6, +
5oo,85l 9/l/@9 6 5/ </09.'
/olly vins wrote$ &it loo"s as though Bush does better on foreign  policy when he's being +0 /ol+/o0/. /aybe he should 4ust stay at home and cut more ta(es for the rich$ or go e(pose some A agent for political  paybac" against her husband$ or 4ust spy on American pacifists.'
/aggie /itchell 9alem opined$ &Bush is not concerned about the defection of neoconservatives who once bac"ed the war$ li"e 5illiam Buc"ley and ;rancis ;u"uyama. ,is problem is with millions of Americans who are /0*+/08l 9//ll,/o09 3/5 5/ l+95/?.'
7avid /artin described B,5 +6/l/ o 5/0@ +5+9$ by +uoting some of his remar"s in the recent news conferenceH
• &The decision to end the #9 military presence in ra+ will not be hisG
it will be for &future presidents' to decide.'
• &As far as the increasing national debt$ future presidents will have to
tac"le that problem.'
• &iven the precarious state of the economy$ it would be irresponsible
of me to interfere at this point in time. really thin" it's best if  someone else handles it.'
• & handed out those ta( cuts. 9o how would it loo" if all of a sudden
too" them bac"E Again$ thin" it's better that someone new ma"es that decision.'
• &t's unrealistic to e(pect a war on a concept to end any time soon. 9o
'll leave that one to a future president to deal with as well.'
• About drug plan he said$ &tin"ering with the plan now could ma"e the
situation even worse. Best is to let some future president try to fi( it.'
• ?n hurricane relief he said$ &wait a few years and see where help is
really needed. Then some future president can clean up the mess.'
• &)et's face it. Anything tried to do now would 4ust need to be fi(ed
up by some future president anyway. thin" it's best for the nation if  4ust do nothing.'
21
 
The Boston lobe had polite advice for Bush after he sought e(planation on some issues. &But as a first step toward regaining public trust$ Bush would be wise to *+ +/9 5/ /,:?5-l/ 5o/*. nstead of  asserting his will to stay the course and win an undefined victory against enemies whom he also declines to define$ Bush ought to level with the American public about the comple( problems that are so apparent in ra+.'
&B,5 09 o ?l+/0 why it is worth trying to help ra+is avoid such a war$ what he is doing toward that end$ and what will happen if the arduous deal-bro"ering efforts of the #9 Ambassador to ra+$ Falmay 8halilad$ fail to forge a national unity government that includes 9unni Arab leaders as well as 9hiites and 8urds. n the same vein$ Bush should e(plain his design in authoriing 8halilad to open discussions with ranian officials about ways 5ashington and Tehran may cooperate to prevent the disaster of  a civil war in ra+.'
&f the ongoing tal"s 8halilad has been supervising among ra+'s  parliamentary factions does produce a broad-based unity government able to stamp out the insurgency$ it will be those friends who$ sooner rather than later$ will want the Americans to discuss a timetable for their departureG f  it will be necessary to tal" to ra+'s politicians about a timetable$ it ought to  be possible or Bush to begin discussing that imminent prospect$ and other  realities of the ra+ 5ar$ with the American public.'
)os Angeles Times advised$ &as it enters its fourth year$ the 3+ /0
I+ 9</ /:?l//* *5++*/;+/o0  from both ends of the political spectrum. The heroism of #9 forces and of ordinary ra+is going about their  daily lives is inspiring. But the future of ra+ remains shrouded in gray uncertainty.'
Arab News counseled him to desist from adopting cheaper ways. &5hy were #9 officials so "een to publicie the attac"$ releasing video footage almost as soon as it startedE *resumably o *o0>/0* + 3+
A:/*+0 ?o?l o?/0/o0 that there is much more to do in ra+ and that this is not the time to lose heart and want American troops out.'
B/ 9/9 0o ?+ 5 ?oo9l. Andrian ,amilton said$ &the
charge against Tony Blair is not that he made the wrong 4udgment but that he never properly made the 4udgment at all. H oo@ 5 8+> 9*//o0 +
?ol//*+l l+9 *+0 :+@ +09 30 +lo08 3/5 B,5  because supporting America seemed the right thing to do and because it was actually much easier to do so than to face all the problems that a refusal would have  brought. t would have ta"en far more courage to refuse Bush than to 4oin
22
 
himG Being prime minister$ Tony Blair told *ar"inson$ it was all about &ma"ing decisions.' But leadership is about 4udgment. And where ra+ was concerned$ Blair made the one without e(ercising the other.'
Andrew /urray wrote$ &both ac" 9traw and the #9 Ambassador to Baghdad have recently been instructing the ra+is as to what sort of  government they must form D three months after the supposedly decisive national elections too" place.'
&0eliable estimates for violent civilian deaths under the occupation range well over 1<<$<<<. ;ai" Ba"ir$ the director of the Baghdad morgue$ has had to flee the country after revealing that more than >$<<< people had  been "illed$ often after torture$ by officers of the #9-supervised interior  ministryG B/+/0 5+ +?9 5 *o0,0*. /ost people understand that the terrorist threat &over here' is in large measure a conse+uence of what we are doing &over there.'
?ne of the conse+uences$ both for Britain and America$ is that 5ashington has been forced to loo" towards Tehran to help get them out of  the +uagmire. &9ome people have pinned their hopes on ran's offer to engage in tal"s with the #nited 9tates regarding 9hiite slamist groups. ?thers see even that as problematic since this might &fuel resentment among 9unni Arabs who already are deeply suspicious of Tehran'$ wrote ;arah Fia.
&The #9 goal is a coalition government that can stay put for ne(t four  years. But the danger$ in the words of one 9unni leader$ isH &5e first need to see if the country can hold together for the ne(t four years before worrying about whether the government will last that longG ra+'s dissolution into three ra+is is on the cards and there's little being done to prevent that.'
A9+:+0 I+0 once again threatened to use oil as weapon. 5est
wanted 2-wee" deadline for ran to stop nuclear wor". ran threatened to +uit world nuclear treaty$ but said 0ussian proposal was still negotiable. ?n 13 th
/arch$ Tehran vowed not to bac" down in nuclear standoff. #N9 failed to forge united stance as hina said diplomacy can still resolve the issue.
?n 1=th /arch #9 reaffirmed its policy of pre-emptive and warned that ran might pose the biggest threat to its national security. apan cut oil imports from ran over nuclear crisis. Britain was still in favour of drawing #9 into tal"s with ran. 5hite ,ouse said ran's offer to hold tal"s with the #9 on ra+ was probably 4ust a ploy to &divert pressure' Tehran has drawn over its nuclear programme.
23
 
?n 2<th /arch$ five nuclear powers and ermany "ic"ed off tal"s to map out a long-term strategy to deal with ranian nuclear crisis. Ne4ad said ran will master nuclear technology and tal"s with #9 will only be for  ra+is' interest. ?n 2th /arch$ Big-: agreed on te(t of statement urging ran to abandon uranium enrichment. /eanwhile$ 8urd rebels in 5est ran "illed three ranian 0evolutionary uards in a clash.
 Ne(t day the #N9 unanimously approved a statement giving ran 3< days to abandon its uranium enrichment activities$ but did not mention steps it might ta"e if Tehran fails to comply. ran re4ected #N9 demand. /utta"i said ran was prepared for possible sanctions. ran formally offered &regional' venture for nuclear enrichment. 6lBaradei said ran posed no imminent threat and imposing sanctions on Tehran would be a &bad idea.'
8amal /atinuddin was of the view that &strategic defiance would ma"e him JNe4adK a hero in the eyes of many in the /uslim 5orld but may spread disaster for his nation. Totally halting the process of the enrichment of uranium would mean capitulation and would be unacceptable to a proud nationG #nfortunately$ while + ,??o3 *+0 >/ol+ /00+/o0+l
+/ and norms and get away with it$ 3+@ 0+/o0$ which depend on the international community for their prosperity$ *+00o 9o o. Ahmedine4ad must accept this brutal fact of inter-state relations.'
&T5+0 6l/> / *+0 3/5+09 +0*/o0 by the 9ecurity ouncil. ran has several options if the matter is referred to the #nited Nations 9ecurity ouncil and sanctions are imposedG t can restart enrichment of  uranium on a large scale. t can ban A6A inspectors from coming to ran. t can use oil as a weapon. t can provide active support to those opposing #9 and allied forces in ra+.'
&ranian leadership is aware that even the mighty U0/9 S+ / 0o
/0 + ?o//o0 o o?0 ,? +0o5 <o0G ran today stands at a crossroad. 5isdom not bravado is needed. ts leadership must weigh carefully as to which path it must adopt.'
,oward )a;ranchi wrote$ &as the #nited Nations 9ecurity ouncil ta"es up ran's nuclear programme this wee"$ the US +09 F+0* 3/ll 6
+09/08 /9 6 /9 in opposition to any leniency for the Tehran regime$ a far cry from the bitter antagonism over ra+ that bloomed in the same venue three years ago.'
*ascal Boniface opined$ &ma"ing a comparison between North 8orea and ran$ Tehran has come to the conclusion that a regime with nuclear 
2
 
weapons can "eep the #9 off its shores. The ranians feel that had ra+ been in possession of nuclear weapons$ there would have been no #9 invasion.'
&The 3/00 o< 5/ 3+ : o 6 I+0 . ts strategic influence has  been reinforced$ it could play an active role in ra+ and see with great  pleasure the #9 trapped in the ra+i +uagmire. 7ue to its involvement in ra+$ 5ashington has lost a large part of its bargaining power with Tehran.' 5ashington never believed in bargaining power$ while possessing means to intimidate and invade.
;arah Fia said$ &ran's ability to stir S5/+ :+=o/ /0 0/856o,/08
I+ / /099 + US 3o . But most important are the natural resources it's endowed with. t is the fourth largest producer of the world's oil$ the second largest e(porter of oil among oil producing and e(porting states and  possesses the world's largest gas reserves. The world desperately needs ran's crude oil thus allowing it to use it as a weapon. 5ith Tehran's  potential of manipulating oil prices providing a &real' bac"-drop$ *resident Ahmadine4ad's threat does not seem an empty one when he saysH &The world needs the ranian nation much more than the ranian nation needs the world.'
*atric" 9eale said$ &belatedly and reluctantly$ the #9 has come to realie that ra+'s neighbours cannot be e(cluded from what happens in that country and must be consultedG ,ardliners in both camps$ ranian conservatives and American neo-conservatives$ neither want dialogue nor  compromise. I+l +09 / A:/*+0 </09 who have great influence in shaping American policy 3o,l9 l/@ 5 US o 9o I+0 0o +l@ o /. The #9 wants to limit the tal"s to ra+ while$ at the same time$ continuing to mobilie the world against ran to force it to abandon its ambition to master  the uranium fuel cycle. This is a recipe for future.'
CONCLUSION
Blair in the company of senior rusader$ Bush is spreading od's messageH "eep the /uslims bleeding. To this end ra+'s ethnic and sectarian divide has been e(ploited successfully not only to bleed ra+is but also spread it to the entire region as and when re+uired.
9hia-9unni fighting has helped in saving casualties of occupation forces by shifting the focus away from them. ra+'s possible dissolution through 9hia-9unni civil war &would create ideal conditions for srael to e(pand and dominate the area'$ in words of / B Na+vi.
2:
 
The prospects of civil war have been brightened by constant dictations to the elected members of the parliament and aafari's refusal to step down from the candidacy of premiership. The situation has been muddied to the e(tent that even if aafari decides to step down the fighting is li"ely to continue.
The critics of war have influenced American public opinion against the war in ra+$ but not to a degree which could force Bush to change the course. The rusaders were still wor"ing on spreading the holy war to liberate ranian people "ept &hostage' by the clerics.
31st /arch 2<<=
INGDOM OF ARZAI
nsurgents were able to intensify their operations in 2<<:. Fawahiri  praised the martyrs in Afghanistan. ;oreign /inister$ Abdullah accused al- Caeda and Taliban of suicide attac"s. Afghan defence ministry$ however$ denied lin"s between ra+i and Afghan fighters. The only lin" was the inspiration drawn by *ushtoons from Arab 9unnis.
8arai$ while on visit to 7evos$ said on 2>th  anuary that foreign troops would be re+uired for about ten years. 6(pansion of NAT? began with arrival of vanguard contingent from Britain in mid ;ebruary. NAT?  planned to complete its e(pansion as occupation force by end of the year. /ilitary chief said NAT? troops would be in Afghanistan for years.
7rugs remained a concern of the civilied world. 0eports indicated rise in poppy cultivation and drug smugglers were growing bolder in Afghanistan. Taliban were lin"ed to drug traffic"ers and were blamed for  deadly violence.
The ritual of democratiation of Afghanistan had been completed. 8arai boasted that there were no warlords in Afghanistan. n fact all of  them were now wearing robes of overnors or ministers or democratically elected parliamentarians. That was why /alalai oya feared assassination.
/ore than half a million Afghans faced ris" of starvation during the current winters. *overty and corruption were blamed for fueling insurgency$ yet reconstruction of the country did not receive due attention of the donors. ,owever$ trial of Afghan convert to hristianity under slamic 9haria law in /arch caused concerns to the hristian 5est and 8arai was forced to &e(tradite' the convert to taly.
INSURGENCY
*ashtoons continued resisting the occupation of Afghanistan. ?n 1= th
anuary a suicide bomber in 9pin Bolda" "illed 2< and in4ured the same
2>
 
number of people. Another suicide bomber "illed three Afghan soldiers and two civilians in 8andahar% four soldiers and ten civilians were also wounded. Ne(t day$ Annan condemned attac"s on anadians$ as in4ured anadian soldiers were being sent home.
?n 1@th anuary$ Taliban commander$ /ulla 7adullah said hundreds of  guerrillas were ready to carry out suicide missions. Ammunition cache was found on Ta4i"-Afghan border. ;our days later$ five captives were got freed from Taliban in chance encounter with police in rishi". A police commander was shot dead in an ambush in hani. 9even Taliban prisoners escaped from *ul-e-har"i 4ail. A-run secret detention camp was reported near 8abul.
Taliban attac"ed an army post in *a"ti"a on 2 th anuary and "illed two soldiers and wounded two others. Ne(t day$ a grenade e(ploded outside ndian consulate in 8andahar. 9ecurity forces arrested two suspected suicide  bombers. ;innish soldiers were attac"ed near /aimana. An army base in #rugan was sub4ected to roc"et attac". ;our *a"istanis were arrested in 8andahar at an army chec"point.
A tan"er supplying fuel to #9 troops was destroyed on 2=th anuary in 8andahar area. Two policemen were "illed in roc"et attac" on their  chec"point. Two #9 soldiers were wounded in roadside bomb blast in 8unar. Ne(t day a roadside bomb "illed two policemen and wounded two others in ,elmand province. Another bomb targeted #9-led convoy near  8andahar.
?n 2th anuary$ three more schools were torched in ,elmand. Three  policemen were wounded in a bomb attac" that targeted a convoy of #9-led forces in southern 8andahar. Ne(t day$ an Afghan-#9 convoy was attac"ed southeast of 8andahar. 9econd #9 soldier was found guilty of punching detainees in Afghanistan and was awarded =-month 4ail.
;ive Bangladeshis were arrested on 31st anuary with suspected lin"s to Taliban. A roadside bomb was defused near #9 6mbassy and a Taliban commander was held in 8andahar province. Ne(t day$ three *a"istanis$ one ra+i and one ranian were arrested in Nimro province after crossing over  from ran. An army vehicle was damaged in remote-controlled bomb e(plosion near 8andahar. Nine suspects were arrested.
?n 2nd  ;ebruary$ a suicide bomber in woman dress "illed three soldiers and two road wor"ers in 8host. t was reported that al-Caeda fighters were coming from ra+ to fight in Afghanistan. Ne(t day$ fighting  between Afghan security forces and Taliban erupted in ,elmand province
2@
 
and the coalition ground and air forces were mobilied to bomb the area. Twenty-three people$ including three policemen$ were reported "illed. Taliban claimed "illing several policemen.
Taliban "illed a district chief and two policemen in ,elmand on th
;ebruary. Twenty-five Taliban were "illed in two encounters in /usa Cala and Nawad areas and in operation that had started a day earlier in ,elmand  province. Two people were "illed and three wounded in 8andahar by remote-controlled e(plosion. ?ne Taliban commander was "illed in southern Afghanistan near *a"istan border. Ne(t day$ a landmine blast "illed si(  people and wounded four in 8andahar.
Taliban claimed "illing five soldiers in 8host on = th ;ebruary. #9 forces "illed a suspected militant and wounded another at a crossing point on  border with *a"istan. /ilitants attac"ed a #9 patrol in eastern Afghanistan "illing a serviceman. A suspected al-Caeda suicide bomber was arrested in /aar. Three policemen were wounded in ,elmand. ?ne person was wounded by bicycle bomb in 9pin Bolda".
?n >th ;ebruary$ a suicide bomber "illed 13 people outside police head+uarters in 8andahar. n another e(plosion a Tur"ish engineer$ an ndian and his driver were "illed in ;arah province. Taliban also claimed "illing two British and two Afghans with remote-controlled bomb.
unmen burnt down a girl's school in )aghman province on th
;ebruary. 9i( people were "illed in sectarian clashes. Ne(t day$ two Afghan soldiers were "illed in roadside bombing on the border between 8unar and  Nuristan. A convoy sent to their aid was attac"ed with e(plosive device "illing si( soldiers and wounding seven. ;our anadian soldiers were wounded when a roadside bomb damaged their armoured vehicle near  8andahar. Two persons were in4ured when police fired at anti-9hiite  protesters in ,erat.
Two Nepalese were "idnapped in 8abul on 11th  ;ebruary. 9even Afghan detainees returned from uantanamo Bay. Two days later$ Taliban ambushed a convoy and "illed @ Afghan soldiers in ,elmand% one Taliban was also "illed. ;our #9 soldiers were "illed in bomb blast in #rugan and some #9 soldiers were "illed in fighting. ?ne Afghan soldier was "illed and five wounded in roadside bombing in 8unar. *olice seied ><< homemade  bombs in 8unar province.
?n 1th ;ebruary$ a female /* escaped attempt on her life in *arwan% her guard was in4ured. Ne(t day two security agents were beheaded in ;arah.
2
 
9ecurity forces arrested a Taliban commander in hani% a policeman was shot dead and two soldiers were "illed in roadside bombing.
?n 1=th ;ebruary$ four policemen were "illed in an attac" by gunmen and two were "illed in bomb blast. Taliban attac"ed a post in Nimro and "illed one policeman and wounded four others. ;our #9 soldiers were "illed in landmine blast in #rugan. 7ead bodies of two talian aid wor"ers were found in 8abul. Ne(t day$ one health clinic was torched in ,elmand.
Two dead bodies were found in a river in ;aryab on 1@ th ;ebruary. Two days later$ ,B) transport car was robbed in 8abul. Taliban burnt a school in ,elmand. ?n 22nd  ;ebruary$ a bomb attac" targeting erman troops in 8undu "illed two persons and wounded 13 others.
Taliban claimed attac"ing #9 vehicle in Nangarhar on 23rd ;ebruary. 9uicide bomber was "illed in a failed attac" on #9 convoy near 8andahar. Taliban "illed four Afghan soldiers in ,elmand. Two days later$ an e(plosive device was destroyed in front of oalition base in 8abul.
?n 2=th ;ebruary$ two persons were wounded in bomb blast in 8host and a girls' school was bombed. 6ight persons were "illed in riot in *ul-e- har"hi 4ail. 9i(ty Taliban surrendered to Afghan government in ;aryab and aw4an provinces. Ne(t day$ Afghan prisoners handed over dead bodies as tension eased in *ul-e-har"hi 4ail.
Iiolence again flared up in the 4ail on 2@th ;ebruary. 8idnappers freed a Nepalese and another died in captivity. Two days later$ one Afghan soldier  was "illed and two wounded in attac" by Taliban in ,elmand province. Nine  people were arrested in ,erat in murder case of three 6uropean aid wor"ers.
?n 3rd /arch$ five anadian troops were wounded in suicide attac"  near 8andahar. *olice claimed "illing eight Taliban and arresting ten in ,elmand% four policemen were also wounded. Taliban "illed the chief  government official in 9angin district.
?n th  /arch$ a anadian soldier was wounded in a clash near  8andahar% one rebel was "illed. n another incident a ;rench soldier and two rebels were "illed. Afghan intelligence agent and four others traveling with him were "illed in roadside bomb blast in ,elmand. Taliban attac"ed ndian onstruction ompany in a western province on a road lin"ing Bandar  Abbas% some vehicles were destroyed and 2< Afghan guards were missing.
n4ured anadian soldiers died of wounds on :th  /arch. Another  soldier was wounded in attac" by an Afghan with an a(e. Afghan authorities
3<
 
claimed that 1= Taliban commanders surrendered in ,erat$ ;arah$ hor$ and Badghis provinces. A #N wor"er was shot dead in ;arah on >th /arch.
?n 12th  /arch$ former Afghan president$ 9ibghatullah /u4addadi$ head of a commission for encouraging Taliban defections$ was slightly wounded in suicide car bomb attac" in 8abul% four persons$ including two attac"ers were "illed. ;our #9 troops were "illed in roadside bombing on a convoy in 8unar. Afghan official in alalabad claimed capturing a *a"istani three days earlier on suspicion of lin"s to al-Caeda and Taliban.
 Nine policemen were "illed on 1>th  /arch in a bomb blast in /aiwand area while escorting the bodies of four Albanians "idnapped and "illed last wee". Taliban "illed one security guard of a construction company in Fabul.
?n 1@th /arch$ Taliban fighters "illed Cari Baba and four persons traveling with him in an ambush in hani area. Cari Baba was a former  governor and /u4ahideen commander$ who had 4oined Ahmad 9hah /asood. Three Taliban were "illed when they attac"ed a convoy in ulan district.
Taliban raided a police post near 8andahar and "illed two policemen on 21st /arch and four policemen were missing. A suicide bomber rammed his car into convey of ;rench troops in 9pin Bolda" area. Ne(t day$ Taliban claimed "illing a #9 soldier in 8unar.
?n 23rd /arch$ a police chief was shot dead by his guard in ,elmand  province. oalition forces claimed "illing si( Taliban in ongoing operation in southern Afghanistan. Three days later$ four Afghans were "illed in landmine blast in ,elmand.
9even Taliban were "illed and si( Taliban$ one civilian and one soldier  were wounded on 2>th /arch in gun battle in 9angin district of ,elmand. A roadside bomb blast "illed three villagers and wounded two others in the same province. Ne(t day$ a remote controlled bomb blast in Nimro  province "illed two foreigners and three Afghans employed by a #9 security firm.
?n 2th /arch$ militants attac"ed the coalition base in 9angin district of ,elmand province with mortars$ 0*s and small arms "illing one American and one anadian soldier and wounding four foreign and one Afghan soldier. ?ccupation forces retaliated by dropping :<<-pound and 1$<<<-pound bombs. The coalition forces claimed "illing 12 attac"ers. )ater$ the forces attac"ed surrounding areas and "illed 2< more people.
31
 
A police director and his brother were shot dead in ,elmand on 3< th
/arch. A remote-controlled bomb struc" a police truc" in 8host wounding si( policemen. A suicide car bomb attac" on a anadian convoy in 8andahar  failed as attac"er detonated e(plosives prematurely wounding seven civilians.
?n 31st /arch$ Taliban attac"ed a police post in ,elmand province and lost si( men in the process. A suicide bomber was "illed in unsuccessful attempt in 8andahar province. Border police commander accused of "illing 1> *a"istanis near 9pin Bolda" was detained by Afghan authorities.
#nidentified gunmen "illed the spea"er of Ta"har provincial legislature on 1st April. A botched suicide attac" on a #9-led coalition convoy "illed the bomber. 9ecurity forces shot dead an alleged accomplice on the bomber. A blast hit #9 forces convoy in 8unar. Ne(t day$ a Taliban  pretended to be a traveler was allowed to stay at a police post in ,elmand and as policemen went to sleep$ he "illed four of them and escaped.
Taliban shot dead a senior intelligence official in hani province on :th April. Two days later$ a suicide attac"er wounded two #9 soldiers and one American civilian in ,elmand. Ne(t day$ a suicide car bomber attac"ed a NAT? base in ,erat "illing two guards and one policeman and wounding seven people$ including an talian soldier. t was fourth attac" on foreign troops in three days.
Three #9 soldiers were wounded in suicide attac" on > th April and ne(t day two Afghans were "illed in a similar attac" in the west. ?n th
April$ two bombings within minutes of each other wounded 11 people in 8andahar. A suicide car bomber attac"ed an army base in *a"ti"a and wounded si( soldiers.
unmen "illed five wor"ers at a clinic in Badghis province on 1< th
April. Two policemen were "illed and two wounded in roadside bombing in ,elmand. ?ne driver delivering supplies to foreign troops was also "illed.  Ne(t day$ seven children were "illed in roc"et attac" in 8unar province.
?n 12th April$ a roadside bomb in 8andahar "illed one policeman and wounded two others. *olice claimed arresting three Taliban in a separate incident. #9-led forces launched ma4or operation in 8unar province and claimed "illing si( insurgents. The #9 military investigated the reported sale of military secrets smuggled out of its main base on stolen computer discs and sold in a baaar. The information included classified military assessments of enemy targets$ names of Afghan officials alleged to be corrupt and details of American defences and personnel.
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Three policemen were "illed in roadside bombing in 8host on 13 th
April. A suicide bomber attac"ed a convoy wand wounded three British soldiers and an Afghan national near )ash"ar ah. Afghan forces "illed two insurgents and arrested two others in #rugan. 9ecurity forces e(changed fire with insurgents in a village south of 8andahar. oalition helicopters fired roc"ets at a village where /ulla ?mar lived once. Ne(t day$ #9 military bought bac" stolen flash drives from shop"eepers.
?n 1:th April$ 1 suspected Taliban and = policemen were "illed in a  battle near 8andahar. Taliban attac"ed three police posts in Fabul and lost 1 fighters. *olice arrested 1: people. Ne(t day$ police "illed four suspects in Fabul. 9even civilians were "illed by coalition forces in 8unar. ;orces recovered roc"ets and landmines and "illed an insurgent by artillery fire. Taliban torched tan"ers in /aiwand supplying fuel to #9 forces. *olice arrested 12 people for alleged involvement in "illing of a local commander  in ;aryab province. British troops vowed to see" and destroy insurgents.
The tactics of suicide bombing adopted by the insurgents caused concerns to occupation forces. n mid ;ebruary$ Taliban vowed to increase attac"s. ,e"matyar also urged Afghans to e(pel foreign troops. ;orces in Afghanistan and ra+ shared intelligence to curb suicide blasts and a #9 commander warned of more attac"s by rebels.
#9 nstitute of *eace said that A<85+0/+0 3+ :o 9+08o,
5+0 I+. #9 military apprehended negative effects on NAT? and other  allies. But$ it claimed that Taliban had abandoned attempts at serious military campaign and were now fighting a propaganda war.
&t is becoming increasingly obvious that Afghanistan has not stabilied since the #9-led invasion in 2<<1 followed by the installation of  the hand-pic"ed ,amid 8arai as president. ?n the contrary$ the situation is worsening rapidly with increased violence'$ wrote Burhanuddin ,asan.
,e added$ &the Taliban$ meanwhile$ have gained control of large parts of the country. t is feared that Afghanistan may prove to be another ra+ for  the #nited 9tates. The *a"istan government is also coming under pressure from the opposition for playing America's game in its tribal belt where civilians are being "illed almost daily.'
OCCU%ATION
 
+;+/ @? ?l+9/08 <o + o< o**,?+/o0 <o*   for indefinite  period. n anuary$ he warned that country could again be used as terror   base. Border security conference opened in Catar on 2> th ;ebruary$ to focus on increase in cooperation with the country's seven neighbours. ?n 23 rd
/arch$ 8arai told the opening session of a two-day conference on global terrorism in An"ara that &terrorism is in today's world the worst menace. t is a challenge that we all have to address together.' #N supported 8arai's viewpoint by showing concerns over worsening security.
America continued wor"ing for e(pansion of NAT? mandate in Afghanistan. 7uring third wee" of anuary$ #9 officials visited ,ague to discuss 7utch role anew. *ressure was mounted on 7utch government to deploy troops in #rugan. 8abul also appealed to ,olland for continued military support. ?n 3rd ;ebruary$ 7utch government ?"ayed troops for  #rugan% NAT? hailed the 7utch decision to send 1$<< soldiers.
0est of the e(ecution of e(pansion plan went smoothly. ?n 2<th
anuary$ 9lova"ia agreed to send military e+uipment. n ;ebruary$ Australia decided to double the number of its troops. 7anish *arliament decided to increase its military contingent. Bulgaria too" over command in 8abul. A contingent of 1:< British soldiers arrived for new mission.
?n 1st /arch$ anada too" over command in 8andahar and its *rime /inister slammed critics of Afghan mission. After attac"s on anadian soldiers$ they were ordered to fly only Afghan flag on their posts and vehicles. anadian lawma"ers mulled review of Afghan mission.
n ;ebruary$ ndia urgently dispatched 3<< commandos to Afghanistan to provide security to the ndian wor"ers in area between 8andahar and ranian border. The area is ad4acent to troubled Baluchistan where ndia has  been supporting the terrorists with money and weapons.
/usharraf had re+uested America for not allowing few things in Afghanistan$ out of which deployment of ndian troops in Afghanistan was the only one which had not been disregarded. As *a"istan failed to raise the issue forcefully at the right level$ America was encouraged. 7uring his visit to New 7elhi Bush invited ndia for more involvement in Afghanistan.
nvolvement of NAT? in Afghanistan as occupation force faced last minute opposition from some 6uropean countries. 5illiam *faff wrote about >+/o0 o< F+0* on e(tension of NAT? mandate. &;rance bloc"ed a  proposed NAT?-6uropean #nion meeting on terrorism because NAT? &was not intended to be the world's gendarme.' t is a military defence alliance of 
3
 
e+ual partners. A ;rench diplomat said$ &we do not wish to have NAT? involved in everything$ or imposing its agenda on the 6#.'
&This is part of ;rance's consistent opposition to e+ually consistent American efforts to turn NAT? into an agent of #9 policy$ and to convince the 6# members that NAT? should be the e(clusive security organiation of  the 5estern alliance$ and that 6urope should abandon its embryonic independent security policy and 6uropean rapid reaction force.'
&The Bush Administration is firmly committed to the notion that +l-
+9+ ?0 + :/l/+ ?o6l: 5+ ,/ + :/l/+ ol,/o0 . t has to stic" to this story or else it has no e(planation for the invasions of  Afghanistan and ra+. 9o *resident eorge 5 Bush "eeps ma"ing speeches about al-Caeda's supposed conviction that it could go from success in ra+ to mobiliing all of slam$ restoring the rand aliphate and con+uering the world. That's a military problem.'
,e then commented on the reason behind ;rance's reluctance to active military role in war on terror. &0adicaliation of young /uslim militants in 6urope is superficially religious$ but usually ta"es place outside mos+ues and &more often than not involves individuals with college education.' The sources of e(tremism are social and political alienation$ e(clusion Jand unemploymentK among the offspring of immigrant communities$ but the international drama mobilies them.'
5hen D,*5 9+889 5/ < on e(pansion of NAT? mandate$ )os Angeles Times urged them on. &The 7utch are usually reliable #9 allies% if it had been$ say$ Belgium getting in the way of a "ey NAT? initiative$ it would have been neither surprising nor significant. 9o the 7utch reluctance was especially worrisomeGit reflects popular attitudes in the Netherlands$ where half the respondents in a recent poll opposed the deployment and only 3@L favoured it.'
&t is hard to "now whom to blame more for thisH the 7utch$ who apparently fail to recognie their own e(posure to terrorist threats$ or the Bush Administration. 6uropeans are concerned about 5ashington's unilateral approach to foreign policy$ which has turned 7utch sentiment against the once-non-controversial Afghan missionG But in the end$ it's important for 6uropeans to ac"nowledge that their continent is not a secondary theater in the war on terror D it's center stage.'
America was able to get NAT? involved in Afghanistan in occupation role despite opposition from some 6uropean countries. The uardian wrote$ &NATO$ which until recently was floundering for a purpose in the post-cold-
3:
 
war world$ was left out of the war for Afghanistan and split over ra+$ 5+
<o,09 + *5+ll08/08 03 ://o0 . ts $<<<-strong force is about to e(pand to 1:$<<<.
"ram 9ehgal did not agree. &Anyone with even scant "nowledge of  the &*rinciples of 5ar'$ and it is applicable in terrorism as much as in modern warfare$ will appreciate that A<85+0/+0 / 0o >/+l 8o,09$ the *ersian ulf is. 7espite all the rhetoric about going the distance it is most li"ely that #9 troops will pull out of Afghanistan in the near future$ rather  than out of ra+. ;or the moment #9 troops are being replaced by NAT? forces but what happens when NAT? countries begin ta"ing casualties in some numberE The #9 may "eep a to"en presence in Afghanistan to ensure ,amid 8arai$ who is probably more fearful from his friends than his enemies$ doesn't ta"e off into the blue yonder.'
anadians were the first to stutter after suffering some casualties. 0andi Adamson did not li"e that. &As civilian and soldier deaths continue$ C+0+9+ 3/ll 5+> o l+0 o 9+l 3/5 5+5 +l/ . 6ach death also  brings about a roller coaster of public surveys. ?ne indicated that =2 per cent of respondents were against anada's involvement in Afghanistan$ once it was e(plained that we were there in &combat' capacity. ,ave we forgotten that anadian citiens were murdered on !11E ?r that we are included on ?sama bin )aden's list of target countriesE f it weren't so frightening$ the idea that a nation was surprised its military might be involved in something$ well$ dangerous and violent$ would be laughable.'
The uardian also found the ground reality a bit harsh. &ndependent e(perts have coined the ominous phrase &ra+isation' to describe what is happening in ,elmand and other southern provinces where anadian and 7utch troops are based. S,/*/9 6o:6/08 o0* ,0@0o30 /0 A<85+0/+0
+ o0 5 /. ncidents are growing in fre+uency$ intensity$ sophistication and cruelty.'
t added$ &NAT? insists its personnel will not be destroying poppy crops D which provide up to ><L of the country's income D leaving that to the Afghan authorities. But it is hard to argue with the notion that the more successful the deployment is at impeding the drugs trade$ the more British troops are li"ely to come under attac" by those involved. T5 0,
630 o?/,: +09 /0,80* : </850/08l *l+.'
7rugs were still a ma4or threat$ according to a #9 official. The #N also "ept raising alarm about poppy cultivation. n anuary$ 8arai as"ed his country to end poppy growing before it ends us and alleged that drugs
3=
 
financed suicide blasts. n ;ebruary$ some of his ministers were reported involved in drug trade.
8abul sought help from Thailand to combat poppy cultivation. /eanwhile$ crac"down against drug trade continued. ?n 23rd ;ebruary$ two 9outh Africans were arrested with heroin at 8abul Airport and Ta4i" border  guards clashed with Afghan drug smugglers. Ne(t day$ policemen were arrested with @<<"g of heroin. ?n 3rd April$ biggest ever operation was launched on a notorious drugs baaar on the border with *a"istan. About a wee" later$ an Afghan drug smuggler was held in Ta4i"istan.
&,asty poppy eradication in Afghanistan can sow more problems. *easant farmers left without new livelihoods are heeding the call to 4oin the insurgency'$ warned Ianda ;elbab-brown. A #8 parliamentary report said the same. &Attac"ing drugs trade could ma"e the country more dangerous for  British troops and other NAT? peacema"ers$ and provo"e more violence in the short term.'
RECONSTRUCTION
0econstruction of Afghanistan suffered due to donors' fatigue. Annan hoped that )ondon moot scheduled for 3<th  anuary would ease Afghan concerns. The international conference was e(pected to unveil a five-year   blueprint on security$ human rights$ development and narcotics.
?n 2@th anuary$ 8arai planned to see" M billion for reconstruction. 9pea"er of the *arliament wanted foreign aid going to the government. Two days later$ 8arai discussed country's needs with 0ice. But$ wastage in aid came under spotlight at )ondon conference.
#N chief while addressing the conference said the world has sta"e in helping war-ravaged country. 7onors pledged M 1<.: billion out of which #9  promised M 1.1 billion e(tra and ran pledged another M 1<< million aid. ;inance /inister hailed the outcome the conference$ but #N called for more.
5orld Ban" said investment climate in Afghanistan was improving and offered M 3< million for health sector. 7espite the pledges$ lac" of funds hit food aid programme for *a"istan and Afghanistan. *a"istan planned to  build a faculty bloc" in Nangarhar #niversity. n April 8arai visited New 7elhi and ndia pledged M :< million more for Afghanistan.
7uring the period completion or start of some development pro4ects was reported. n ;ebruary$ ndian engineers started building a big dam in the
3>
 
 province of ,erat. oalition forces installed windmills in the south. Two new TI channels started transmission in ,erat. n /arch$ uplift plans were launched in ,elmand province. talian team completed construction of two schools in ,erat.
8abul continued striving for regional economic cooperation. n anuary$ Afghanistan promised security of TA* gas pipeline. ran$ Afghanistan and Ta4i"istan agreed to sign /o# on electricity e(change. Afghan refugees' problem$ however$ was yet to be addressed seriously. ran too" decision unilaterally and announced that all refugees must leave by 9eptember% otherwise they will be treated as illegal immigrants.
Afghanistan continued e(periencing the impact of multi-national inter-action. n ;ebruary$ 8abul deported > hinese women for selling wine and se(. The worst impact was felt after an Afghan court wanted to try an Afghan convert to hristianity under slamic 9haria law on 1 th /arch.
Before the court could formally start the legal proceedings$ the civilied world reacted. ?n 23rd /arch$ 0ice raised concerns with 8arai over the case. Ne(t day$ ,oward vowed to press the case with 8arai and said the case has made him feel sic". Afghan clerics responded by demanding that the convert should be "illed.
?n 2:th  /arch$ 8arai intervened to find an &amicable' solution. 9upreme ourt 4udge$ /aulawiada insisted the court would act independently. &5e have nothing to do with diplomatic issues. 5e'll do our   4ob independently.' The very ne(t day the honourable court ruled$ &the case$  because of some technical as well as legal flaws and shortcomings$ has been referred bac" to the prosecutor's office.' Afghans protested against dismissal of the case and the convert sought asylum overseas.
The puppet regime found the way out. t announced that mental tests would decide the fate of the convert. ?n 2@th /arch$ #9 said it understood that the convert would be freed from 4ail. Ne(t day talian *rime /inister  offered asylum to the convert. ,e was +uietly sent to taly$ perhaps due to lac" of facilities for carrying out mental tests in Afghanistan.
?n 2nd April$ Afghan clerics threatened violence if the convert was not  brought bac" from taly and put on trial. Two days later$ 8arai defended release of hristian convert saying that the 4udiciary had acted properly and had not been swayed by the international outcry over the case.
&;our years after the Taliban's fall$ *o0,*/o0 <<o /0
A<85+0/+0 :+/0 +9'$ opined 9u"hmani 9ingh. ,e added$ &the plan
3@
 
includes ambitious goals li"e disbanding all illegal militias by 2<<>$ enrolling =< percent girls and >: percent boys in primary schools by 2<1<$ and e(terminating the opium trade.'
,e attributed the failure in implementation to indifference of donors. &Two previous international donors' conferences ended in pledges of a little more than M 1 billion$ but eventually less than M : billion was deli