Reg: No 352 Volume No. 3876 Thursday May 10, 2018 Sawr 20, 1397 www.outlookafghanistan.net Price: 20/-Afs

Quote of the DaySo often the world sits idly by, watching ethnic

conflicts flare up, as if these were mere entertainment rather than human beings whose lives are being destroyed.

Shouldn’t the existence of even one single refugee be a cause for alarm throughout the world?– Urkhan Alakbarov

www.thedailyafghanistan.comEmail: thedailyafghanistan@yahoo.com

Phone: 0093 (799) 005019/777-005019Add: In front of Habibia High School,

District 3, Kabul, Afghansitan

Poverty

KABUL - President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday said efforts were being made for reforms and their institutionalisation, seeking more cooperation from the United Na-tions.A statement from the Presidential Palace said Ghani issued the call for cooperation at a meeting with UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Andrew Gil-mour in the morning.Both sides exchanged views on ensuring respect for human rights in Afghanistan, reforms and en-hanced institutional capacity, the statement said.

Ghani said: “Our words and ac-tions are based on the country’s constitution, which guarantees human rights and that’s why we have embarked on the reform pro-cess.”He acknowledged the efforts made to achieve the objective were not enough, stressing more development and seeking UN’s support in the area.Gilmour appreciated the Afghan government’s achievements in terms of promoting human rights over the last three years and promised helping Afghanistan in this area. (Pajhwok)

KABUL - In an effort to strengthen coordination be-tween the Afghan government, civil society, and me-dia, the USAID-funded Afghanistan Civic Engagement Program (ACEP) organized a two-day “Framework for Cooperation Conference” in Kabul on May 7-8, 2018. More than 230 representatives from Afghan civil so-ciety organizations (CSOs), media agencies, and rep-resentatives from the Afghan government attended. The conference focused on CSO and media financial sustainability, access to information, CSOs’ safety, and media impartiality. The conference was held in re-sponse to sector challenges highlighted by H.E. Presi-dent Ashraf Ghani during the National Conference on NGOs on March 11, 2018.Conference participants agreed to develop the foun-dation for a Framework for Cooperation document, under the guidance of the Civil Society Joint Working Group. Abdullah Ahmadi, a member of the Civil So-

ciety Joint Working Group noted that the absence of a national civil society strategy that includes an agreed upon definition of “civil society” continues to hinder cooperation.USAID Mission Director Herbie Smith acknowledged the crucial role of civil society in national development. “They set the agenda for change, support reform, and hold the government accountable.”Afghanistan’s Minister of Economy, H.E Mustafa Mas-toor, stated that the event was an important platform to discuss ideas, exchange experiences, and explore op-portunities to further coordinate a shared vision and improve civil society engagement with the government.Since 2013, ACEP has been promoting civil society and media engagement that enables Afghan citizens to in-fluence policy, monitor the government’s commitment to the people, and serve as an advocate for political re-form. (PR)

KABUL - Multiple blasts and gunfire on Wednesday rocked Kabul, triggering panic among people in the war-ravaged capital.HashmatStanikzai, spokesman for the Afghan National Police in Kabul, told Anadolu Agency the explosions took place at Police Station 13 in western Dasht-e-Barchi neighborhood and close to Police Station 10 in Shahr-e-Nau area of the city.The country’s premier spy agency National Directorate of Security (NDS), has blamed Pa-kistan-based Haqqani Network and Lashkar-e-Taiba militant organizations for orchestrating the attacks.“The enemies of Afghanistan are proving noth-ing else with these attacks other than their en-mity towards the people of Afghanistan,” it said, in a statement.Hours after the assaults, Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak told a news conference as many as five attackers targeted Police Station 10 and two suicide ...(More on P4)...(1)

KABUL - An earthquake of magnitude 6.2 struck on Wednesday in the Central Asian na-tion of Tajikistan, in its mountainous border region near Afghanistan, the United States Geological Survey said.The quake set buildings shaking in the Afghan capital of Kabul, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. The tremor hit at a depth of 96 km (60 miles), about 67 km (42 miles) south of the provincial capital of Kho-rugh. (Reuters)

KABUL - Afghan Air Force (AAF) UH-60 Black Hawk crews conducted their first operational mission in southern Helmand province, the Resolute Support said on Wednesday. The mission, which was con-ducted on Tuesday in support of the elections, took place a day after the first 31 Afghan Air Force (AAF) members graduated from mission qualification training.“It means a lot to be one of the first people to graduate,” said the air mission commander for the first Afghan operational mission. “We feel ready and are so excited, happy and proud to be part of this.”Brig. Gen. Phillip Stewart of the NATO mission said the intro-duction of the Black Hawk heli-copters and the graduates them-selves represented a shift to a new generation of leaders.Stewart was quoted as saying the new generation of leaders had been selected based on merit and professionalism, and entrusted to help create a modern and sustain-able Afghan force.“The introduction of the UH-60 marks the dawning of a new age for the Afghan Air Force,” said Stewart. “All of those who gradu-ated mission qualification school have shown tremendous hard work and dedication.“Not only are these aircraft and students the physical embodi-ment of progress, but they also represent a generational shift from the older soviet-trained forces to the younger and more progressive western-trained and educated fleet.”The UH-60 will enhance the AAF helicopter fleet and eventually replace the capabilities currently provided by the Mi-17, which is no longer a sustainable platform.AAF Commander Maj. Gen. Mo-hammad Shoaib said the Black Hawks were ideal for Afghani-stan because they were suitable for the terrain and weather, and they possessed more modern technology.The first UH-60 Black Hawks ar-rived in ...(More on P4)...(2)

Islamic State Claims Responsibility for Capital

Attack

Earthquake of Magnitude 6.2 Strikes in Tajikistan,

Near Afghan Border - USGS

Ghani Seeks UN Support for Govt’s Reform Effort

AAF Conducts 1st Black Hawk Operational Mission

Afghan Government, Civil Society, and Media to Strengthen Bonds at Framework

for Cooperation Conference