Nato soldiers, such as these pictured in Torkham area near the Pakistan-Afghanistan in 2014, help train and advise Afghan forces. Reuters
Nato soldiers, such as these pictured in Torkham area near the Pakistan-Afghanistan in 2014, help train and advise Afghan forces. Reuters
Nato soldiers, such as these pictured in Torkham area near the Pakistan-Afghanistan in 2014, help train and advise Afghan forces. Reuters
Nato soldiers, such as these pictured in Torkham area near the Pakistan-Afghanistan in 2014, help train and advise Afghan forces. Reuters

'No decision' made on troop presence in Afghanistan, says Nato


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Nato has made "no decision" on the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, Nato Spokesperson Oana Lungescu told The National after reports that foreign troops would be staying beyond the deadline set in a US-Taliban deal.

Four senior Nato officials told Reuters "there will be no full withdrawal by allies by April-end" because "conditions have not been met" with the US-Taliban agreement.

The US and the insurgent group agreed that US troops would leave Afghanistan by May if the Taliban cut ties with Al Qaeda and reduced violence.

But up to 10,000 Nato troops remain in Afghanistan, mostly from nations other than the US.

Ms Lungescu dismissed reports of its troops staying beyond May as misleading because a decision had not yet been made.

Ms Lungescu said on Sunday that Nato defence ministers would address Afghanistan at their meeting on February 17-18.

Taliban violence continues to undermine the peace process, and it must end

She said Nato’s mission in Afghanistan remained unchanged.

“We continue to support the Afghan security forces in their fight against terrorism and to secure their country," Ms Lungescu said.

But the 30-member Nato’s presence in the war-torn country is due to Article 5 of the treaty, which evokes the principle of collective defence to support the US from attack.

If the US were to exit, other Nato nations would be likely to withdraw too.

Echoing a widespread sentiment among Nato and European allied nations, Ms Lungescu urged the Taliban to “respect their commitments to cut ties with terrorist groups, to reduce violence, and to engage in meaningful negotiations".

“Taliban violence continues to undermine the peace process, and it must end,” she said.

The recent developments indicate growing opposition to the planned withdrawal of troops in light of a worsening security situation in Afghanistan.

“One could read this as other members of Nato signalling to President Joe Biden’s administration what their preferences are and possibly even trying to box him into a decision to stay beyond May,” said Jonathan Schroden, director at non-profit research and analysis organisation CNA.

“That’s a bit of a dangerous approach but it may influence the US review of the deal, given the Biden administration’s desire to repair relationships with its alliances after [former president Donald] Trump’s damage to them.”

But if other countries decided to stay, it would not technically be a breach of the agreement, Mr Schroden said.

“That deal was only with the US and the Taliban don’t have any deal with Nato," he said.

"That said, I’m sure the Taliban assumed that Nato would go if the US went, so they’d consider other countries staying beyond May as a violation by extension and start targeting them again."

The US has already announced its intention to review the deal signed last year with the Taliban by the Trump administration.

Various officials and government agencies such as the US Treasury have questioned the Taliban’s commitment to the deal, after it continued supporting Al Qaeda.

With the US reviewing its deal with the Taliban, a halt in the withdrawal of foreign troops was imminent, Afghan officials said.

“We have a saying in Dari – 'Aajala kar-e-shaitan ast' – which means that any work done in a hurry is the devil's work," an Afghan security official said.

"And that is what the process in Qatar was, a rushed deal without much thought.

“Everything from the troop withdrawal to the prisoner release was done in a rush, without seeking guarantees that the Taliban will uphold their promises of cutting ties with Al Qaeda. It was bound to fail."

Afghan officials have welcomed the renewed commitment from their international allies, as they continue to negotiate with the Taliban leaders in Qatar. But they remain cautious.

“The Taliban don’t seem to want to make peace, because even after committing to their demands they continue to target and kill civilians in Afghanistan,” the Afghan official said.

“As an Afghan, I will be the happiest when the international troops leave, but this cannot be done without responsibility and accountability."

Ms Lungescu said: “No Nato ally wants to stay in Afghanistan longer than necessary but we have been clear that our presence remains conditions-based.

"Allies continue to assess the overall situation and to consult on the way forward."

MATCH INFO

Fixture: Ukraine v Portugal, Monday, 10.45pm (UAE)

TV: BeIN Sports

THE BIO

Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979

Education: UAE University, Al Ain

Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6

Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma

Favourite book: Science and geology

Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC

Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.

KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPowertrain%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle%20electric%20motor%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E201hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E310Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESingle-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E53kWh%20lithium-ion%20battery%20pack%20(GS%20base%20model)%3B%2070kWh%20battery%20pack%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETouring%20range%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E350km%20(GS)%3B%20480km%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C900%20(GS)%3B%20Dh149%2C000%20(GF)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

TOUR DE FRANCE INFO

Dates: July 1-23
Distance: 3,540km
Stages: 21
Number of teams: 22
Number of riders: 198

Teaching your child to save

Pre-school (three - five years)

You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.

Early childhood (six - eight years)

Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.

Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)

Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.

Young teens (12 - 14 years)

Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.

Teenage (15 - 18 years)

Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.

Young adulthood (19 - 22 years)

Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.

* JP Morgan Private Bank 

Libya's Gold

UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves. 

The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.

Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
In numbers

1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:

  • 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
  • 150 tonnes to landfill
  • 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal

800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal

Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year

25 staff on site