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More than 15 years after his last stint in Afghanistan's government, former interior minister Ali Ahmad Jalali is reportedly being proposed as the country's interim leader after the Taliban's capture of the capital triggered President Ashraf Ghani's departure.
Mr Jalali's name was reportedly put forward in secret meetings at the presidential palace as the insurgents surrounded Kabul on Sunday after a sweeping 10-day offensive that gave them control over most of the country.
Two days earlier, Mr Jalali, an academic and retired army colonel based in the US, criticised Afghanistan's leadership and the state of its army.
“Poor leadership, lack of logistical sustainability, and absence of operational and tactical co-ordination has taken a heavy toll on the lives and reputation of the dedicated Afghan soldiers,” he wrote.
During a 2011 lecture at the UAE's Centre for Strategic Studies and Research, Mr Jalali made a similar argument when Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan's president at the time, set up a High Peace Council to negotiate a political settlement with the Taliban.
“No amount of military power – foreign or domestic – in Afghanistan will produce adequate gains unless the Afghan government improves its capacity to control its territory, win the trust of the people, and prevent infiltration and subversion from abroad,” Mr Jalali said.
US-trained and educated, Mr Jalali was appointed interior minister in 2003 and served in Mr Karzai's transitional government for two years before resigning for what he said were personal reasons.
During his tenure, Mr Jalali was actively involved in reaching a political settlement with the Taliban. Efforts to strike a deal fell through when, Mr Jalali said, Mr Karzai failed to respond to an offer being made by the insurgents.
After his brief political career, Mr Jalali left Afghanistan to become a professor at the Near East South Asia Centre for Strategic Studies at the National Defence University in Washington.
Although supportive of a political solution to the conflict in Afghanistan, Mr Jalali has repeatedly pushed back against the Taliban's insurgency.
In a November tweet, he also claimed the US troop withdrawal announced by Donald Trump would send a "strategic message" to the Taliban, which would "complicate" the talks taking place between the government and the rebels at the time.
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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