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Rail networks of Iran and Afghanistan will be connected by March 2018 as part of the Khwaf-Herat route, according to an official with the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways. The railroad has so far reached the border [from the Iranian side], but its extension on the Afghan soil will be completed by the end of the next Iranian year (March 20, 2018), Hossein Ashouri was also quoted as saying by Mehr News Agency. When completed, the railroad will link the Iranian city of Khwaf in the northeastern Khorasan Razavi Province to Herat, Afghanistans third-largest city. The first section of the route, from Khwaf to the mine-rich city of Sangan, became operational early September. The second section extends to the border city of Shamtigh in Afghanistan. The other two sections are in the Afghan territory covering 114 km from Shamtigh to Herat. The 62-km section 3, connecting Shamtigh to Ghurian, is being built by Iran. Ashouri said the trackbed is currently being prepared for the third section. The corridor in its entirety, from Herat to Khwaf, will connect Iranian mineral plants to those of Afghanistan, while also connecting Afghan deposits to the international waters in the south of Iran. This will be Afghanistans first railroad link to Iran and the countrys only link to the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. Upon completion, the railroad will be used for transportation of both passengers and cargo. However, exploiting its cargo capabilities is a priority for both governments, according to Reza Ahmadi with Irans Ministry of Roads and Urban Development. Ahmadi believes the railroad will have the capacity of transporting 27 million tons of cargo a year.

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Rail Linkup With Afghanistan by March 2018 - Financial Tribune

Outlook India

IS in Afghanistan: How successful has the group been? BBC News Amid a rise in attacks in Afghanistan attributed to the so-called Islamic State (IS), the BBC's Dawood Azami examines what kind of threat the militant group poses in the conflict-hit nation and the wider region. How Russia Gave A Blow To India's Stakes In Afghanistan And Later Made It Up To DelhiOutlook India Afghanistan wants reopening of border with PakistanZee News Border Row Harming Afghanistan, Pakistan Business SectorsTOLOnews Forbes -Daily Times all 58 news articles »

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IS in Afghanistan: How successful has the group been? - BBC News

Zimbabwe v Afghanistan, 4th ODI, Harare February 24, 2017

ESPNcricinfo staff

Zimbabwe 107 for 3 (Mire 46, Moor 36*) beat Afghanistan 111 (Mpofu 3-25) by seven wickets (D/L) Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Solomon Mire made light work of Zimbabwe's chase - file photo AFP

Solomon Mire and Peter Moor made light work of a rain-adjusted target of 105 in 42 overs, breaking the back of their run-chase in a 79-run opening stand to square the five-match series against Afghanistan, and set the teams up for a winner-takes-all showdown in Harare on Sunday.

After keeping the series alive in a thrilling three-run victory in Tuesday's third encounter, Zimbabwe drew level with considerably fewer nerves this time around, although they were once again indebted to the accurate seam of Chris Mpofu, who followed up his three-wicket haul in that match with 3 for 25 in 7.5 overs today as Afghanistan stumbled to 111 all out.

After winning the toss and batting first, Afghanistan's ambitions of a competitive total were dented from the outset by Tendai Chatara, who conceded a solitary run in his first three overs before extracting Ihsanullah for a 20-ball duck, caught at midwicket by Tarisai Musakanda.

Chatara then made it two in six balls when Rahmat Shah was bowled for 1, and one over later, Afghanistan had slumped to 12 for 3 when the dangerous Mohammad Shahzad tried to hit his way out of trouble, but instead slapped Richard Ngarava straight to midwicket for 9.

Asghar Stanikzai, the captain, and Hashmatullah Shahidi resisted for a while in adding 29 for the fourth wicket, but Zimbabwe's bowlers had the bit between their teeth. Mpofu accounted for both men in consecutive overs, both caught behind by Moor - the former a blinding take diving away to his right.

At 46 for 5, Graeme Cremer's legbreaks were exactly what Afghanistan's belligerent lower-order didn't want to face, and he twirled through an eight-over spell at the cost of just 12 runs to ensure there would be no recovery to Afghanistan's momentum. Samiullah Shenwari top-edged a sweep to Chatara at short fine leg for 13, before Moor held onto his third catch of the innings to dismiss Karim Janat for 9.

Afghanistan were reeling at 96 for 8 in the 35th over when rain forced a lengthy delay, and though they eked out a handful of extra runs upon resumption, Mpofu picked up his third when Rashid Khan holed out to cover to end the innings.

In reply, Mire and Moor started with intent, picking off regular boundaries to eat into the target, before Mire upped the ante with a pull for six off Janat to bring up Zimbabwe's fifty in the ninth over. He added a second two overs later, a meaty drill over the covers that required a replacement ball, and though he eventually holed out in the deep off Mohammad Nabi, his hard-hitting 46 from 50 balls had sealed the game.

Zimbabwe did wobble briefly, with Musakanda and Craig Ervine falling in consecutive overs, but with Moor steadfast, it was left to Sean Williams to complete a facile victory with almost 20 overs to spare.

ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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Zimbabwe draw level as Afghanistan misfire again - ESPNcricinfo.com

Washington Post

To Save Afghanistan, Put Pressure on Pakistan Wall Street Journal (subscription) The emboldened Taliban now controls more territory in Afghanistan than at any time since 2001. Pakistan continues to provide the group with sanctuaries and a support network on its territory. At the same time, Islamic State has made significant inroads ... Pakistan shells border with Afghanistan as tensions rise over terrorist attacksWashington Post New Fault Lines Emerge in South Asia Around AfghanistanThe Diplomat Afghanistan Demands Pakistan Hand Over Militants, Close Training CampsRadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty India Today -The Express Tribune -Townhall all 230 news articles »

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To Save Afghanistan, Put Pressure on Pakistan - Wall Street Journal (subscription)

Action taken on The News/Jang report

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Friday took notice of women trafficking in Rawalpindi and Islamabad and sought reports from the twin cities top police bosses within three days.

The notice was taken on a news story published in a section of media under caption Women trafficking in twin cities goes on unchecked and a column Sub Gongay Kun Ho Gay narrating the story of a 40-year-old woman, a mother of three hailing from Rawalpindi, who was sold to different hands and reached Afghanistan.

The abductors demanded Rs300,000 to return the lady while the police admitted that they couldnt do anything in this situation. The story further revealed that innumerable women from Pakistan were sold in Afghanistan by an organized gang (more than 150 members) through fake marriage deeds. There were also many cases where women were used for sex slavery.

The News/Jang story divulged that the FIR of 40-year-old woman was registered on January 1, 2017 with the Airport Police Station, Rawalpindi but in vain, as the police were using conventional delaying tactics.

The husband of the abducted woman received a phone call from an agent in Afghanistan who demanded Rs300,000 to release his wife otherwise he would sell her to someone else. Her husband being a daily wager could not manage such a huge amount to bring his wife back.

The story further revealed that the agent paid Rs50,000 to her husband and she was told that she would be back to Pakistan in 15 days. But when she told this reality to the Afghan handlers that she was married and had kids, the Afghan agent held her as captive and was now demanding Rs300,000 from the Pakistani agents to cover his losses.

The news story further stated that Khanna Pull, Fauji Colony, Chuhur, Koh-e-Noor Mills area in Rawalpindi city are the hubs of this gang. There are more than 150 members of this gang who apparently work under the guise of matchmakers. They track poor families having grown-up girls, bring some matches and offer them a handsome money.

Once the parents agree, they sell them off either in Afghanistan or to anyone in the country. Moreover, this gang has sold many Pakistani girls in Afghanistan or Afghan girls in Pakistan to the old villagers through fake Nikkah solemnized by a Nikkah registrar.

The Nikkah registrar is usually the prayer leader of a big mosque in the same vicinity who charges Rs5,000 per Nikkah. An aged Pakistani woman residing in Swabi leads the gangs activities in Afghanistan. She takes girls with her to Jalalabad and sells them to Afghan agents. The gang keeps on changing their houses to avoid being traced.

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CJ takes notice of women smuggling to Afghanistan - The News International