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Ministry of defense
PAO
Media Analysis section
Media Analysis Executive Summary for
13- May – 2015
‘Pak-Afghan bilateral ties’ topic of discussion.
Pakistan today news
KABUL: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani Tuesday discussed at length bilateral ties and regional situation as they met here at the Presidential Palace.
The meeting was aimed at further strengthening the positive momentum in bilateral relations and helps intensify common endeavors in the pursuit of durable peace, stability and prosperity in the region, a statement from the Pakistan embassy Kabul said.
Prime Minister Sharif is in Afghan capital at the invitation of the Afghan President on a day-long visit.
The statement said “building close cooperative relations with Afghanistan is a high priority in Pakistan’s foreign policy and a vital component of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s vision of a peaceful neighborhood.”
The embassy said the prime minister’s visit takes place at a time when bilateral relations between the two countries were underpinned by unprecedented warmth, mutual trust and a shared vision of working in lockstep to build a peaceful and stable region.
This was Prime Minister’s second visit to Afghanistan and the first after the installation of National Unity Government in Kabul.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif earlier visited Afghanistan on November 30, 2013.
Prime Minister Sharif’s delegation includes Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, DG Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant General Rizwan Akhtar, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary and other senior officials.
JBLM Green Beret honored for valor in combat in Afghanistan. tri-cityherald
TACOMA, Wash. — A Green Beret was awarded the third-highest medal for valor in combat at Joint Base Lewis-McChord for his role in turning back an attack on his base in Afghanistan in 2013.
The News Tribune of Tacoma reports (http://is.gd/TBeMO3 ) that Sgt. 1st Class Earl Plumlee was awarded a Silver Star by the Army.
His award credits him with killing or disabling at least five attackers and saving the lives of hundreds.
Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Busic and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Mark Colbert were awarded Silver Stars in February 2014. Plumlee's May 1 award was delayed while military authorities debated which combat valor award to give him.
The battle killed Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis of the 10th Mountain Division. Ollis also received a Silver Star.
Dozens of Militants Killed in Afghan Military Operations.
TEHRAN (FNA)- Over 80 militants were killed in fresh military operations across Afghanistan in past 24 hours, the Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.
The Defense Ministry said in a statement that 83 militants were killed in separate military operations conducted across the country including Farah, Nangarhar, Maidan Wardak, Nimroz and Helmand provinces in past 24 hours.
Dozens of militants were also wounded in confrontations with security forces. 400 kilograms of explosive materials were recovered and 23 different types of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) defused by the security forces during these operations.
The statement further said nine soldiers were killed due to a landmine explosion and insurgent fire in past 24 hours. But the statement does not contain information about the exact location of the incidents.
10 prisoners released from Maidan Wardak jail…………khaama news
Based on a presidential decree, 10 prisoners who had not committed terrorist activities have been released from Maidan Wardak jail.
Local officials say the captivity period of dozens of other prisonders were also reduced through the presidential decree issued on the eve of the victory of Mujahideen.
These people were detained on charges involving traffic accidents and personal enmity about three years before.
Officer of the prison says that the captivity period of 35 prisoners are subject to reduce based on the presidential decree.
Zakir Hussain Sultani, acting governor of the province advised the released prisoners not to commit crimes in the future.
Currently including six children and 11 women there are 260 inmates in Maidan Wardak captivity.
Nepal-Afghanistan Earthquake: Two Killed in Bihar.
Two persons were killed in separate wall collapse incidents after two high intensity quakes shook Bihar today, over a fortnight after the devastating temblor of April 25 claimed 58 lives in the state.
One person died due to wall collapse following the temblor in Danapur area of Patna district, Senior Superintendent of Police Jitendra Rana told PTI.
State Disaster Management control room said they have received report of death of another person in Siwan district due to wall collapse after the quake.
According to state Meteorological department, the first temblor measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale was felt in Patna and other parts of the state at 12:35 pm.
Even before the people could recover from the shock, a second quake was experienced at 1:09 PM measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale, the Met office said.
Around 12 school students were injured in Zila public school under Vishvidyalaya police station in the melee to run to safety from class rooms after the quakes, a report from Darbhanga quoting school authority and parents said.
The earthquake triggered panic in many areas.
In the capital city Patna, citizens were seen running out from buildings into open spaces.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who was at his 7 Circular Road residence rushed out of the building into the lawn, sources in the CM residence said.
Sources in Raj Bhawan said Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi, who was in his chamber came out of the building, due to the temblor.
People who had assembled for a book release programme at the Raj Bhawan also ran out to the lawn.
Senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi left a press conference midway and rushed out of his Polo Road residence alongwith the journalists.
A Darbhanga report said leader of opposition in the Assembly Nand Kishore Yadav, who was also addressing mediapersons on circuit house, ran towards a lawn after the temblor.
District Magistrate In-charge of East Champaran Bharat Dubey told PTI over phone that he and and other officers had to ran out of the Collectorate office following the quake. He said details of damage was being collected.
UN's High Commissioner For Refugees Set To Visit Afghanistan. TOLOnews
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres, is scheduled to arrive in Afghanistan on Wednesday for a two-day visit to assess the progress and the continuing challenges in UNHCR's largest repatriation operation worldwide.
More than 5.7 million Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan since the current voluntary repatriation operation started in 2002.
The UNHCR said in a statement that aside from reviewing UNHCR's operation in the country, the main purpose of Guterres' visit to Afghanistan is to discuss with senior government officials long-term solutions to the Afghan refugee situation in the region. He will also address key issues for returnees to better ensure their successful reintegration, access to shelter, livelihood opportunities and socio-economic prospects.
UNHCR is also involved in coordinating emergency response to Internally Displaced Afghans and co-chairs the IDP Task Force.
This is Guterres' first visit to Afghanistan this year, but he has visited the country on several occasions since taking up office in June 2005.
Guterres is scheduled to meet President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah as well as key ministers involved in the return and reintegration of Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs).
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