RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan February 5, 2020 An Afghan media watchdog has urged the government to take note of a demand for more media freedoms after numerous local media outlets issued a joint statement denouncing the “deterioration” of access to government-related information in the country. Sayed Ikram Afzali, the head of Integrity Watch Afghanistan, said
RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan February 4, 2020 KABUL — Dozens of Afghan media outlets have joined their voices to denounce the “deterioration” of access to government-related information in the country. In a joint statement issued on February 4, 30 media outlets including privately owned national TV channels, local broadcasters, and newspapers blamed the “carelessness” of the government
Tolo News: Presidential Palace pictures of President Ghani’s meetings show his running mate Amrullah Saleh sitting next to him, which adds fuel to speculation among critics of the Ghani administration that Saleh is performing government duties unofficially. Saleh, who is running as Ghani’s first vice president, has also been referred to as a high-ranking official
Tolo News: John Sopko, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), told US Congress on Tuesday that corruption remains the top “strategic threat” to the legitimacy and success of the Afghan government, and that Afghanistan is “nowhere near” able to fund its own government–“in particular, its military and police”—with its own resources. Click here to read
Hasib Danish Alikozai Mohammad Habibzada VOA News January 22, 2020 WASHINGTON – After the Afghan Taliban announced they will observe a seven- to 10-day cease-fire with U.S troops and commit to reduction in violence against Afghan security forces, Afghan officials call the Taliban offer “ambiguous,” and push for a complete cease-fire as a way forward
Tolo News: A list seen by TOLOnews shows that a number of President Ashraf Ghani’s close aides have been chosen for Afghanistan’s key diplomatic offices abroad. Last year, President Ghani appointed Walid Tamim – who was accused of corruption and embezzlement and whose case was referred to the Attorney General’s Office – as Afghanistan’s ambassador to India.
Tolo News: Integrity Watch Afghanistan (IWA) on Friday criticized an agreement enabling the presidential operations unit to import thousands of metric tons of wheat from India. According to Integrity Watch Afghanistan (IWA), the National Procurement Authority (NPA) has taken the contract for shipping thousands of metric tons of Indian wheat into the country from one
Ariana: This is the third time that the ministry of finance will transfer at least nine billion Afghanis to its treasury which is against the law, said officials in the lower house. “The treasury of the ministry of finance is empty, and that’s why employees haven’t received their salaries,” said Ramazan Bashardust, member of the lower
Tolo News: The Afghan government will disclose the list of the peace negotiating team once the US and the Taliban finalize their peace agreement, the Presidential Palace said on Saturday, amid rumors that the Taliban leaders have agreed on a short-term ceasefire. The delegation will represent the government of Afghanistan and it will be introduced
Tolo News: The Budget and Financial Committee of the Afghan parliament on Saturday warned that they will refer acting Finance Minister Mohammad Humayon Qayoumi to the Attorney General’s Office if he refuses to provide a satisfactory explanation to them about violations in the budget and unaccountable spending on his foreign trips. The committee members said they