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KABUL - President Ashraf Gha-ni has conferred the Mir Masjidi Khan medal on the former Af-ghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) chairman and awarded cash priz-es to players.Atif Mashal and cricket players re-ceived the awards at a ceremony at the Presidential Palace late on Saturday night, Ghani’s office said in a statement.ACB Director- General Azizullah Fazli thanked the president for his support and said they were pre-pared for the 2019 World Cup.Skipper Ashghar Afghan also commended Ghani’s consistent support to the cricketers.Cultural Advisor Asadullah Ghazanfar read out Ghani’s de-cree conferring the Mir Masjidi Khan medal on Atif Mashal.He said: “You have taken pictures with the Indian boy who cried af-ter the match. It shows your high-

SHARANA - Local police officials on Saturday said hundreds of ‘ghost policemen’ existed in the provincial capital and two districts of south-eastern Paktika province, endanger-ing relevant areas.Paktika police chief Brig. Gen. Rogh Liwanai told reporters here that they were investigating the pres-ence of imaginary police personnel in Sharana, and Yousufkhel and Jan-ikhel districts for the last 15 days.During this period, he said, they found 450 policemen who were only available on papers and of them 200 men belonged to the national police and 250 to local police forces.“The salaries of these ghost police-men are pocketed by some circles and commanders, I will introduce them to judiciary organs for interro-gation,” he said.Liwanai said a number of former po-lice chiefs of the province had taken weapons and vehicles of the police headquarters home and they should return them. However, he did not name anyone.On the other hand, an Afghan Lo-cal Police (ALP) member in Janikhel district, who wished to go unnamed, said: “I don’t perform duty and in return my half salary is taken by a commander.”The ALP member did not provide details but said ghost police were the main reason behind the fall of police posts to militants.Samar Gul Samar, a civil society activist in Sharana, told Pajhwok Afghan News that ghost policemen had created security problems in the province.“If we identify ghost policemen and replace them with real and honest persons, it would help improve se-curity,” he said.He asked the police chief to con-tinue his anti-corruption efforts and remove the distance between the government and people.Thousands of security personnel who only exist on papers are be-lieved to be regularly paid salaries across the country. (Pajhwok)

MD-530F Warriors Carry out Airstrikes on Taliban Targets in Dasht Archi

33 crime suspects detained in Balkh raids

JALALABAD - An unidentified gunman shot dead a traffic of-ficer in Jalalabad, the capital of eastern Nangarhar province, on Sunday.Attaullah Khogyani, the gover-nor’s spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News the incident took place in Maloocho Kusa area in limits of the 4th police district at around 7am.He said traffic officer Moham-mad Wais was no his way to duty when gunned down by the unknown armed man, who man-aged to flee the area. A search is underway by police.A shopkeeper in the neighbour-hood, Ahmadullah, confirmed the incident and said the killer

KABUL - The Afghan Air Force has carried out a series of airstrikes on Taliban tar-gets in Dasht Archi district of northern Kunduz province as part of the ongoing counter-terrorism operations.The 209th Shaheen Corps of the Afghan Military in the North in a statement said the airstrikes were carried out in the vicinity of Sharshara vil-lage, using MD-530F Warrior helicopters.The statement further added

escaped after the shooting and police arrived there too late to chase him. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the shoot-ing. (Pajhwok)

MAZAR-I-SHARIF - Security forces have detained dozens of suspected robbers and kidnappers during separate clearing operations in north-ern Balkh province amid increasing insecurity in the provincial capital, Mazar-i-Sharif.The security situation has been bad in Mazar-i-Sharif over the past few months. However, Balkh police chief Brig. Akram Sami told a press conference that police had de-tained 33 individuals in con-nection with various crimes ranging from disorder, kill-ings, robberies, kidnappings

that the airstrikes left at least 2 militants dead while four oth-ers sustained injuries.The anti-government armed militant groups including Tali-ban militants have not com-mented regarding the report so far.Kunduz is among the relative-ly volatile provinces in North of Afghanistan where the Tali-ban militants are actively op-erating in its various districts and carry out terrorist related activities, ...(More on P4)...(11)

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Ghani Confers Medal on Mashal, Prizes on Cricketers

Traffic Officer Gunned Down in Nangarhar

Probe Finds 450 ‘Ghost Personnel’ in Paktika Police

est ethics. The Indians say their friendship with Afghanistan is lasting.”Ghani told the players: “You have real management and discipline; your coordination and teamwork was outstanding because you are smart ... I am proud of you and you are real ambassadors of Afghanistan.” (Pajhwok)

This is a day made for fun and frivolity, Leo, not one in which you’re likely to get many of your chores done. Try as you might to fo-cus on the task at hand, there are distractions everywhere you turn. Your email pals could be sending you jokes and notes, and your

friends could be bugging you to join them for an outing of some sort. You may as well give in.

You may discover an untapped talent today, Taurus. Perhaps there’s a new machine in the office and you’re the only one who can figure out how to use it. Maybe drafting a simple business pro-

posal makes you realize how much you enjoy the writ-ing process. This is a good day for any kind of creative endeavor, as well as for paperwork of all sorts.

Expect some positive developments today that impact the whole family, Gemini. Perhaps you or your mate will receive word of a significant raise

or great job opportunity. Perhaps you meet the one who is right for you, and you know it the in-stant you shake hands. Whichever it is, don’t let the opportunity pass. If you don’t seize it, some-one else surely will.

Down

Across Yesterday’s Solution

1. Wealthy man (British slang), 2. Maguey, 3. An inheritance, 4. Any unspecified person, 5. In the past, 6. Masterstroke, 7. Foreword, 8. A type of dome-shaped structure, 9. Implement10. Zero, 11. Frozen, 12. Anagram of “Note”, 15. Vaulted 21. Whirl, 23. Tropical Ameri-can wildcat, 25. Bristle, 27. Karate school, 28. Genus of heath, 29. Scarlet, 31. Prevaricator, 32. Tall woody plants, 34. Lair, 36. Netting, 39. Tavern, 40. Tall woody plant, 43. Rats, 44. Send forth, 46. Faucets, 47. Pee-pee, 49. Overgrown with ivy, 50. A type of fabric, 53. Make fun of55. As well, 56. Game on horseback, 57. Brace, 58. Gush, 60. Jump up and down, 61. Resorts64. S, ,

1. Checks, 5. Corrosive, 9. Module, 13. Hodgepodge, 14. Testicle, 16. Meal in a shell17. A mold for setting concrete, 18. Expenditure, 19. Biblical garden, 20. Celebrates, 22. A leisurely walk, 24. Skips, 26. Complies, 27. Final, 30. Afloat, 33. Positioned, 35. Siren37. An old rustic dance, 38. Versed, 41. Spelling contest, 42. Fall color, 45. Fosters, 48. Nu-clear, 51. Pessimistic, 52. A piece of turf, 54. Sweeping story, 55. Cravings, 59. Breaks, 62. Forsaken, 63. French for “Storehouse”, 65. At the peak of, 66. Notch, 67. Units of medicine68. Roman robe, 69. Klutz’s cry, 70. Recent events, 71. God of love,

Outlook Horoscope

Pisces (Feb.19-Mar.20)

Aquarius (Jan 20-Feb.18)

Capricorn (Dec.21-Jan19)

Scorpio (Oct.23-Nov.22)

Libra (Sep 23-Oct. 22)Cancer (June 21-July 20)

Sagittarius (Nov.23-Dec.20)

Leo (July 21-Aug. 21)Taurus (Apr.21-May 20)

Aries (Mar. 22-Apr.20)

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Virgo (Aug. 22-Sep 22 )

With all the social events you’ve attended lately, Aries, it’s likely that you’ve met some people in the healing professions. These doctors, nurses, and technicians could be useful to you later. Be sure to file their con-

tact information away for future reference. On another front, expect to receive some good news concerning your finances.

You should be feeling especially confi-dent today, Cancer. You’ve been working especially hard lately, and the recognition you’ve received goes a long way toward reinforcing your feelings of self-worth.

Your life goals suddenly seem more attainable and you’ll pursue them with renewed vigor. Your confi-dence is grounded in reality. You will surely succeed.

Don’t be surprised if people surround you today, each one anxious to confer with you. It seems that you’re the author-ity on all topics, Libra. All the attention is flattering, but it makes it difficult to

get any work done. Do what you can to help your co-workers, and then tell them that the help desk is closed for the day.

Your technical skills take a real leap for-ward today, Capricorn. It seems all that training you’ve done is finally paying off. Your new skills will greatly increase your

efficiency and enhance your marketability. If you’ve been thinking about applying for a new position, get your resume ready to send out when you see an appeal-ing ad. Any move you make will be for the better.

Don’t let yourself be manipulated by needy friends, Scorpio. With today’s plan-etary energies, it’s a good time to think about setting clear boundaries. You know

which friends are there for you and lift you up and which ones tend to drain all your time and energy with the con-stant need for your immediate attention. Try saying no. You can’t fix other people’s lives for them anyway.

Don’t be surprised to see your co-workers acting a bit silly today, Aquarius. There is no getting around the high spirits that permeate the office environment. It’s al-

most impossible to get any work done with today’s planetary atmosphere. Rather than cracking the whip and trying to increase productivity, why not join in? Lighten up a little.

You’re a person of many talents, and to-day you’re likely to discover yet another one, Virgo. The delivery of a new piece of equipment makes you feel like you’ve

been given a toy for your sole enjoyment. But once you get the computer or piece of machinery up and running, you need to share it with your co-workers! They will be very impressed with your technical abilities.

This is a good day for sharing friendship with pals and co-work-ers, Sagittarius. People will be in

a light, socializing mood and not much in a working frame of mind. There’s really no use fighting this energy. Enjoy yourself today and allow yourself to detach from work issues. You can all get back to the grindstone later. The work will still be there.

Life’s been a real social whirl late-ly, Pisces. You may feel a bit over-whelmed by all the people and par-ties. It’s fun to see everyone, but a bit

daunting to renew ties with old friends and try to remember the names of new ones. Names and faces mingle to the point where you aren’t sure of your own name, much less anyone else’s. Take a deep breath, Pisces, you’re doing just fine.

abandon, accident, acuteanchor, careless, carrotchance, chasten, chess civet, crop, cutlassdaydream, drowsy,elicit, evict, expel focusfoil, frill, garlic, lean, lentil, mentor neuterocelot, play

and other crimes.The suspects were currently being interrogated and they included some illegal armed individuals who turned in two Kalashnikovs, a number of motorcycles.He said there were 20 differ-ent terrorist groups operating in Mazar-i-Sharif and a num-ber of these groups had been busted and operations against the rest were underway.The Balkh police chief issued stern warning to illegal armed individuals, days after Inte-rior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak announced creation of special ...(More on P4)...(10)