AFGHAN TV NEWS

Tolo TV Headlines
National Security Advisor Dr Rangin Dadfar Spanta said that we should not call those who support terrorism as terrorism allies, if we want to mobilize Afghans in the fight against terrorism and defeat Al Qaeda.

The National Security Council in a press statement said that necessary attention has not been paid by our allies with respect to foreign support of international terrorism, its sanctuary and training centres.

The British Ambassador to Kabul on Tuesday urged the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan to play an active role in ensuring permanent peace in the region.

ISAF military spokesperson has rebuffed the reports of civilian casualties by foreign forces in the Sangin district of Helmand.

NATO’s top commander in Afghanistan General David Petraeus on Tuesday paid a short visit to the Musa Qala district of Helmand.

The Afghan Information and Culture Ministry on Tuesday suspended the programmes of Emroz TV, due to the telecasting of immoral programmes and fueling religious discord. Meanwhile, the Head of Emroz TV Najibullah Kabuli said that the decision had been made under pressure from Iran.

Ariana TV Headlines
In a meeting with provincial officials, the Head of the Independent Election Commission (IEC) Fazel Ahmad Manawi said that despite the current problems in the country, the upcoming parliamentary elections will be held as scheduled. Mr Manawi also asked the IEC’s provincial officials to keep their impartiality and remain sincere during the elections.

National Security Advisor Dr Rangin Dadfar Spanta asked Afghanistan’s international allies to apply a transparent policy in the fight against terrorism.

NATO’s top commander in Afghanistan General David Petraeus on Tuesday paid a short visit to the Musa Qala district of Helmand, meeting with provincial officials to assess the security situation in the district.

NATO announced that it recovered one body of a NATO missing soldier in Logar.

Shamshad TV Headlines
Afghan political analysts believe the release of thousands of US classified documents related to the Afghan war is another strategic plan of the US to prepare the people’s mindset for new strategies in the region.

At press conference on Tuesday, the British Ambassador to Kabul said that the Afghan Government is capable of spending international aid properly, adding that Britain has agreed to fund projects through Government channels.

AFGHAN PRINT MEDIA

Outlook Afghanistan
Pentagon officials studying leaked documents about the war in Afghanistan have not found anything top secret, a Defence Department spokesman said on Tuesday. "From what we have seen so far the documents are at the 'secret' level," Col. David Lapan said.

Afghan National Security Adviser Dr Rangin Dadfar Spanta addressing reporters on Tuesday called for targeting of militant safe havens across the Afghan border where Government opponents were being trained and funded.

The Taliban publicly flogged a man and a woman for having illicit relations in Ghazni, an eyewitness said on Tuesday.

The Taliban have significantly stepped up efforts to intimidate tribal elders across the country, suggested NATO intelligence reports.

NATO killed three civilians and wounded five others in Logar on Monday evening, local officials said.

UNAMA is deeply concerned about reports of civilian casualties in Rege in Helmand Province on 23 July. It is essential that the current ISAF-Afghan Government investigation be completed in a thorough, transparent and timely manner, and that the findings be made public as soon as possible. UNAMA's human rights office is also gathering information on this matter. "While the Government and ISAF determine the facts of what occurred in Rege, where reports detail a large number of civilian deaths and injuries, I once again highlight the need for all sides to meet their obligations to protect civilians," said Staffan de Mistura, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA.

The Ministry of Information and Culture on Tuesday banned a private TV channel, Emroz, alleging that it was harmful to sectarian harmony, unity and national interest. A day earlier, the Cabinet asked the ministry to ban the channel as it posed a threat to the rule of law in the country.

A Pakistani Minister on Tuesday said that the country will repatriate some three million remaining Afghan refugees by 2012.

President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday ordered the National Security Council (NSC) and the foreign ministry to go through nearly 92,000 leaked US military documents which suggest that regional spy agencies are fuelling the Afghan war, the Presidential Office said in a statement.

Leaked Afghan war logs show former Pakistani spy chief Hamid Gul connived with al-Qaeda and Taliban to hatch a plot to assassinate President Karzai.

Afghanistan Times
NATO and Afghan Government officials are probing allegations of civilian casualties by international troops in Helmand, the Western military alliance said on Tuesday.

Three years after President Hamid Karzai appointed a commission to investigate a mass grave site in the Chimtala plains north of Kabul city, the site, the commission and the truth are missing.

Afghan Foreign Affairs Minister Zalmai Rassul yesterday met with Lakhdar Brahimi who led a UN delegation on regional affairs. They discussed different issues including political and military process in the country and the region. The Afghan Foreign Minister also praised the cooperation with in UN which resulted in a successful Kabul Conference. Brahimi expressed hope that implementation of the decisions made at the Consultative Peace Jirga and the Kabul Conference will be pave the way for the maintenance of peace and for development in the country.

State Media Editorials

Hewad Daily
International troops combating terrorism should prioritize the following: 1. terrorism is not an Afghan phenomena and they should not plan heavy military activates in the rural areas of the country; 2. save heavens of terrorist are located outside the country and those terror nests should be destroyed first; 3. prevention of civilian casualties by international troops will boost the relation between the Government and the people, and international troops and people; 4. training of Afghan troop; 5. implementation of rehabilitative and development projects across the country especially in the war effected places; 6. supporting the implementation good governance process and supporting the reconciliation process.

Anis Daily
Violence against journalists sometimes is less about the position of the Government as about the poor awareness of officials about the rights of journalists.

Private Media Editorials

Outlook Afghanistan
The Taliban are easily recruiting those who lost their relatives and family members in counterinsurgency operations by international troops. Therefore, Afghan and international forces have to work closely with the civilians to exchange information and identify targets. This can help in confidence-building and participation in the peace process, and minimize civilian casualties during counterinsurgency operations.

Arman-e-Milli Daily
The Government of Afghanistan should not comply with terrorist demands and not let freedom of expression fall victim to dire terrorist plans. There are some concerns that a number of circles within the Government try to limit the freedom of media in the country.

Daily Afghanistan
The editorial claims that the reaction of the Information and Culture Ministry to shut down Emroz TV programmes shows the Government’s objection to press freedom rules. Afghans would never accept their religious and social beliefs be played by media under the name of freedom of media.

Mandegar Daily
Referring to the release of thousands of US classified documents related to the Afghan war, the Daily says that America should now elaborate on why the figure of Afghan civilian casualties had been withheld and how Taliban militants received sophisticated weapons.

Hasht-e-Subh Daily
The suspension of Emroz TV programmes rang the warning bell to all media outlets that the Government could act above the law and take quick action to implement the laws.

Rah-e-Nejat Daily
Referring to the recent civilian casualties by foreign forces in the Sangin district of Helmand, the Daily said a lack of serious efforts by Afghan officials to prevent civilian casualties also means there is a lack of serious efforts to punish the perpetrators.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Bamyan (Radio Bamyan) Headlines
The correspondents and reporters of Bamyan province on Tuesday received the media code of procedure on how to cover and release the news on the parliamentary elections.

Paktya (RTA) headlines
The Afghan security forces seized over 61 kilograms of heroine in Paktya province, a local official said on Tuesday.
Paktya (Paktya Ghag Radio) Headlines
Five insurgents were killed and four others wounded when militants attacked a private security firm in Gelan district of southern Ghazni province, an official said on Tuesday.

The Afghan and NATO forces killed four Taliban militants and arrested four others in Andar district of southern Ghazni province, Sher Khan Yousafzai, the district chief said on Tuesday.

Kandahar (RTA) Headlines
Two rockets missed their target at Zabul governor’s house early Tuesday evening and hit the civilian houses, wounding two children, Mohammad Ashraf Nasiri, the Governor’s spokesperson said.

NATO to Implement New Plans to Improve Security in Helmand, David Petreaus
General David Petreaus, the NATO commander in Afghanistan, visited Musa Qala district of southern Helmand province on Monday. While talking to the locals, Petreaus announced NATO’s new plan to further strengthen the security in the district, adding that NATO will ensure the security of the upcoming parliamentary elections in Musa Qala.

Herat (RTA) Headlines
The government of India is determined to complete the Salma Dam Project in Herat by the end of the next Afghan year, an Indian delegation announced while in its meeting with Herat Governor.

A delegation of Herat Provincial Council travelled to Adraskan district in order to review the overall situation in the district.

Nangarhar (RTA) Headlines
The UN Human Settlement Programme (UN-HABITAT) with the consultation of National Solidarity Programme constructed a sixteen-room school in Khushkumbat village of Bihsood district of Nangarhar province. The project cost US$ 135,000 and more than 2,800 students will benefit from it.

Japan's Shanti Volunteer Association constructed a Madrasa (religious school) in Surkhrod district of Nangarhar province, at a total cost of US$ 45,455.

A total of 41 projects, including 34 intakes and seven canals were completed in Kot district of Nangarhar province. The projects were funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with a total cost of US$ 994,103 and over 26,000 families will benefit from them.

Two women and three children died as a result of heavy floods in Spinghar and Achin districts of Nangarhar province which also damaged residential houses and infrastructures.

Nangarhar (Radio Kileed) Headlines
Heavy floods in different parts of Laghman and Nengarhar provinces have caused casualties and damages, unconfirmed reports say.