America's envoy for peace in Afghanistan has said it is too early to judge its two-decade intervention in the country a failure.
Zalmay Khalilzad insisted that Washington’s withdrawal presents Afghanistan with a unique opportunity for dialogue between its warring parties.
Speaking on a panel at the Beirut Institute on Wednesday, Mr Khalilzad, the US’s top diplomat on the peace process in Afghanistan, said US involvement could not be judged a failure as Washington’s policies had changed over the last twenty years.
“Our policy has evolved and adjusted to the circumstances. Initially, we thought the Afghans that we supported defeated the Taliban, and the Taliban disappeared and we thought that there was a military solution,” he said.
“Over time it has become clear that there was no military solution, that the Taliban had reconstituted.
“Why keep doing something that you judge is not going to work? The adjustment was made to negotiate.”
The diplomat, who served as US Ambassador to Afghanistan before taking up his role as Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation in 2018 under President Donald Trump, warned: “It’s too soon to judge it as a failure."
His comments came as the Taliban continued to make major gains across the country after an abrupt withdrawal of US forces. On Wednesday the group claimed to have captured a major border crossing with Pakistan. This week, video footage emerged of it executing 22 Afghan special forces commandos in Faryab province.
Mr Khalilzad also said he took the Taliban on their word that they would not offer sanctuary to terrorist groups.
“The fundamental reason we went was because of 9/11. The Taliban agreed not to allow Al Qaeda or other groups, therefore we came to an agreement with them, and I believe that it is too soon to judge the consequence of the decision that has been made,” he said.
Mr Khalilzad also warned against a complete Taliban takeover of the country.
“A monopoly of power by the Taliban will not stabilise Afghanistan and it will not be accepted as a player in the foreseeable future," he said.
“They can have their weight in the Afghan political future, but others need to be accommodated."
The veteran diplomat ended on an optimistic note, claiming that the US withdrawal had forced the country’s feuding groups into dialogue.
“For the first time in 43 years, the fighting parties of Afghanistan are talking to each other," he said.
“Some are disappointed, some are unhappy, but there wasn’t a realistic alternative that if we continued what we were doing for another 10 years, the problem would have been less.
“This withdrawal gives the opportunity to see if the Afghans can work it out.”
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1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
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Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
Section 375
Cast: Akshaye Khanna, Richa Chadha, Meera Chopra & Rahul Bhat
Director: Ajay Bahl
Producers: Kumar Mangat Pathak, Abhishek Pathak & SCIPL
Rating: 3.5/5
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
Friday's schedule at the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
GP3 qualifying, 10:15am
Formula 2, practice 11:30am
Formula 1, first practice, 1pm
GP3 qualifying session, 3.10pm
Formula 1 second practice, 5pm
Formula 2 qualifying, 7pm
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Turkish Ladies
Various artists, Sony Music Turkey
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The National in Davos
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Sui Dhaaga: Made in India
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3.5/5
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Company%20Profile
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Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
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Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
Ad Astra
Director: James Gray
Stars: Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones
Five out of five stars
Brolliology: A History of the Umbrella in Life and Literature
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Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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4. Shahada
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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
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
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- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
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Manchester United 1 (Fernandes pen 2') Tottenham Hotspur 6 (Ndombele 4', Son 7' & 37' Kane (30' & pen 79, Aurier 51')
Man of the match Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
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EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Mica
Director: Ismael Ferroukhi
Stars: Zakaria Inan, Sabrina Ouazani
3 stars
Tesalam Aleik
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Engine: 2.0-litre, four-cylinder
Transmission: seven-speed S-tronic automatic
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Torque: 270Nm
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A4 S4 TDI
Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel
Transmission: eight-speed PDK automatic
Power: 350bhp
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