To Be or Not to Be...? Someone’s grief, and someone’s drinking party

Traditions of the Kyrgyz people were being formed with the help of economic, trade, domestic and other relations with kindred and other tribes that were closely related to the geography of their ha...

Iran of the 60s: unsuccessful attempt to reform

After the coup of 19 March 1953 in the socio-political history of Iran there were fundamental changes: the powers of parliament were limited and the absolute power of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi was...

Topic: Regional rivalry in the Middle East.

In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran are two countries that claim to leadership in the region. With a powerful resources and political potential these countries are the...

Culture & Living, Afghanistan

Afghan floods kill more than 90 people in one week
26.04.2012
Afghanistan|Culture & Living|Middle East

More than 90 people have been killed in one week in Afghanistan because of heavy rains and flash floods, an official said Wednesday, DPA reported.

Dayem Kakar, the director of the Natural Disaster Management Authority, said in the past week at least 41 people were injured in the floods that hit 20 provinces, mainly in the north.

He said 47 people were missing, and rescuers were still trying to find them. "Hundreds of houses were also destroyed in the recent floods and so many people have been displaced," Kakar said.

Karzai says he may bring forward presidential elections
12.04.2012
Afghanistan|Culture & Living|Middle East

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Thursday he may call presidential elections in 2013, a year earlier than scheduled, so that they do not coincide with the pullout of international forces, DPA repoted.

With international forces due to leave in 2014, officials should consider "whether that will be an agenda that we can handle at the same time," Karzai said.

Afghan forces capable of launching special operations: official
10.04.2012
Afghanistan|Culture & Living|Middle East

Afghan National Security Forces ( ANSF) is well equipped and capable of launching special operations including night raids, spokesman for the country's Defense Ministry said here Tuesday, Xinhua reported.

"The Afghan Special Operations Unit is capable and well equipped to carry out all special operations in war against insurgents," General Zahir Azimi told a press conference here.

US burning of Koran was intentional, Afghan investigator says
05.03.2012
Afghanistan|Culture & Living|Middle East

The burning of the Koran at a US military base in Afghanistan was intentional, a member of the investigating team told dpa Monday.

"We believe it is intentional," said Maulavi Khaliqdad, a member of the panel established by President Hamid Karzai.

"If they burnt one or two copies, then we could have said it could have been a mistake. But they took hundreds of such books to burn. Everyone knew those were religious books."

News that US soldiers in Bagram airbase north of Kabul had burnt copies of religious books including Koran last month caused violent protests nationwide.

Afghanistan braces for fourth day of Koran-burning protests
24.02.2012
Afghanistan|Culture & Living|Middle East

Afghan authorities braced for a fourth day of violent protests after Friday prayers over the burning of copies of the Koran by the US military, despite calls for calm from the president and an apology from US President Barack Obama, DPA reported.

"We are extra vigilant," Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said.

"We've had two reports of demonstrations, small demonstrations. But it's OK now. Nothing to worry about," Sediqqi said. "The police are on alert, of course."

Riot-control police had been deployed in Kabul, officials said.

3 Italian soldiers die in road accident in Afghanistan
20.02.2012
Afghanistan|Culture & Living|Middle East

Three Italian soldiers lost their lives in a road accident in Afghanistan on Monday, police spokesman in the western region said.

"Three soldiers of Italian troops died as their vehicle plunged into a ravine in Shindand district of Herat province 640 km west of Afghan capital Kabul on Monday," Abdul Raouf Ahmadi, the spokesman of police in Afghanistan's western region, told Xinhua.

More than 3,800 Italian troops have been serving in Afghanistan within the framework of NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to help stabilize security in the militancy-plagued nation.

Protecting Afghan civilians remains ISAF's top priority
06.02.2012
Afghanistan|Culture & Living|Middle East

A spokesman of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said on Monday that the protection of Afghan civilians remains ISAF's prime responsibility, Xinhua reported.

"The commander of ISAF, General John R. Allen, has made it clear that the priority of ISAF has been and will be on limiting civilian casualties," spokesman Brigadier General Carsten Jacobson told reporters in a weekly press briefing here.

Afghanistan sets ground rules for Taliban talks
26.12.2011
Afghanistan|Culture & Living|Middle East

Afghanistan will accept a Taliban office in Qatar to help peace talks but no foreign power can get involved in the process without its consent, the government's peace council said, as efforts gather pace to find a solution to the 10-year war, Reuters reported.

Afghanistan's High Peace Council, in a note to foreign missions, has set out ground rules for engaging the Taliban after Kabul grew concerned that the United States and Qatar, helped by Germany, had secretly agreed with the Taliban to open an office in the Qatari capital, Doha.

Kyrgyzstan sees instability at end of Afghan Mission
24.11.2011
Afghanistan|Culture & Living|Middle East

Without the development of businesses in Afghanistan besides its illicit but lucrative opium trade, the economic impact of the NATO pullout could destabilize Afghanistan and its neighbors by unleashing a flood of unemployed Afghan refugees, armed extremists and crime, Kyrgyzstan's interim president Rosa Otunbayeva said in an interview at The New York Times, published on Thursday.

Afghan gov't beefs up security ahead of Loya Jirga
14.11.2011
Afghanistan|Culture & Living|Middle East

As preparation for convening Loya Jirga or Afghan traditional grand assembly is underway in the Afghan capital city Kabul, the government has beefed up security to check any untoward incidents, Xinhua reported.

The traditional Loya Jirga -- an assembly of tribal elders, chieftains, parliamentarians and government functionaries is going to be held amid tight security within couple of days, possibly Wednesday.

As part of security measures, security checks have been strict and police have been deployed in all sensitive areas especially around the Jirga avenue and hilltops at nearby.