[email protected] Eye on the News TUESDAY . OCTOBER 14 . Truthful, Factual and Unbiased Vol:IX Issue No:72 Price: Afs.15 www.face book.com/ afghanistantime s www.twitte r.com/ afghanistantime 2014 -Mizan 22, 1393 HS France pledges € 10m for Bamiyan, Wardak AT News Report BAMIYAN: The government of France has pledged €10 million for agriculture, environment and administrational development projects in central Bamiyan and Wardak provinces. The French Ambassador in Kabul, Zhan Michael Marlo, told mediamen on Monday that the aid would help the provinces for coming three years. The ambassador told newsmen about his recent trip to Bamiyan. He said the fund was aimed at bringing positive changes in the life of people. He mentioned that the international community has provid- ed more aid to Afghanistan but all have not been utilized. He stressed that transparency in using the fund was vital for the people and government of France. He added that would make efforts to ensure the transparency in using the fund. He also said the fund would be utilized in implementing reconstruction projects in Koh Mard, Saighan and Yakawlang districts of Bamiyan, as well as Hese Awal and Hese Do-i-Behsud districts of Wardak province that would cover different sectors including enlivenment, agriculture, livestock, temporary shelters and some other sectors in coming three years. I ndia’s role in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria will be a key focus as Canada’s Foreign Minister John Baird arrives on Monday to chair the 2nd Indo-Canadian Strategic dialogue with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday. Mr. Baird, who is travelling to India days after the Canadian parliament endorsed helping the U.S. with strikes on IS targets, called fighting terrorism the “biggest test of our generation.” Mr. Baird will speak to Ms. Swaraj about helping with security in Afghanistan, months after Canada pulled its forces from the ISAF. During the talks, India and Canada will discuss nuclear energy, space cooperation as well as the CEPA agreement (economic partnership agreement) that has been in a logjam despite negotiations since 2008.High-profile visitMr. Baird’s five-day trip marks another high-profile reach-out to the new government by a western country. As the U.S., Canada had a visa ban against Prime Minister Narendra Modi according to its law on immigration and refugee protection, but had started to reverse its policy in 2011. The former Canadian High Commissioner Stewart Beck had reopened ties with Gujarat, with Canadian trade delegations regularly participating in investor summits. As the U.S. that nominated Richard Verma as Ambassador last month, Canada has just nominat- 3 uplift projects: MoEW signs contracts AT News Report KABUL: Contracts for three uplift projects worth Afs40 million was signed between the Ministry of Energy and Water (MoEW) and private companies on Monday. According to officials, the contracts include reconstruction of irrigation canals in Kandahar, Nangarhar and Kunar provinces. The contracts were signed in a ceremony attended by MPs from the three provinces. The MoEW acting minister, Mohammad Arif Noorzai, said all contracts are done through free competition and after a bidding process. He told the lawmakers that he signed off the contracts and suggests the MPs to monitor implementation of the projects in a bid to prevent delay in this regard. ed a new High Commissioner of Indian origin. Nadir Patel, who emigrated from Gujarat with his family decades ago, was formerly Canada’s Consul-General in Shanghai.Urban developmentDuring the visit, the Canadian Foreign Minister, who is accompanied by Trade Minister Ed Fast, will discuss funding urban infrastructure and education. “We are looking towards working with Canada on specific projects of skilling in India, that’s one focus,” said External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin. “Number two is the Prime Minister’s focus on those 500 Indian cities where we want to focus on urban planning and improvement in urban living conditions.”Indomitable spiritMr. Baird said India and Canada “should channel the indomitable spirit” of boxer Mary Kom, whose biopic was screened at the opening of the Toronto International Film Festival last month. (The Hindu) 1 killed, 25 injured including US troops in Kabul blasts AT Monitoring Desk KABUL: Afghan security forces have retaken the Sangin district of southern Helmand province from Taliban insurgents, said an official source. Gen. Zahir Azimi, spokesman for the Ministry of Defense (MoD), told Tolo news that Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) managed to regain control of Sangin district after four months clashes with armed insurgents. He added that Afghan forces were currently fighting to root out militancy in the district. Azimi said, “ suffering of the people of Sangin district is over now, as Afghan forces are now launching operations to maintain security in the district. “ AT News Report He said that the air support of foreign troops played an important role in driving Pakistan-backed militants out of Sangin district. Azimi gave it out that signing of the bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) has strengthened cooperation and coor- dination between Afghan forces and foreign troops. The spokesman for the Ministry of Interior (MoI), Sediq Sediqi, also said that cooperation have increased between Afghan and foreign forces. “The international forces provide us with support, whenever we ask for it,” he added. ISAF in a press statement hailed the performance of the Afghan forces in Sangin operations and said that their troops were ready to provide aviation support to Afghan forces after 2015, if needed. KABUL: A suicide car bomber targeted a convoy of NATO troops in Kabul here on Monday, killing a civilian wounded three US soldiers. Gen. Farid Afzali, Kabul crime branch chief, told media-men that the suicide car bomber targeted NATO convoy early on Monday morning. The spokesman for the Ministry of Interior (MoI), Sediq Sediqi, said that the suicide blast took place around 7:00 A.M in Qabelbai area of Kabul, eastern part of the city. Taliban insurgents claimed the responsibility of the attack. Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the insurgent group, said that the According to another report, an IED blast in Qarabagh district of Kabul province wounded 22 people. The IED went off in a crowded market in the district around 9:30 A.M on Monday. attack was carried out in response to signing of the bilateral security agreement (BSA). According to another report, an IED blast in Qarabagh district of Kabul province wounded 22 people. The IED went off in a crowded market in the district around 9:30 A.M on Monday. No group has claimed the responsibility of the blast yet. This document was created with Win2PDF available at http://www.win2pdf.com. The unregistered version of Win2PDF is for evaluation or non-commercial use only. 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