Obama & Ghani Chat. Two presidents recently had a video conference where they exchange pleasantries and complimented each other on "a job well done". Read a press release entitled "Readout of the President's Video Conference with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani", The White House, March 4, 2016.China Visit to Afghanistan. The military chief of China recently visited Kabul and talked to the Afghan leadership about a four-nation regional alliance against terrorism. The four countries would include China, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan. Of course, this new initiative is for China's benefit as these three of the countries border China's Xinjiang province where the population (to some extent) is supportive of the Muslim Uighur East Turkestan Islamic Movement or ETIM. Read more in "Afghanistan Welcomes Chinese Anti-terror Proposal", Voice of America, March 1, 2016.
Weapons from China? There are indications that China might increase its military aid to Afghanistan. Read more in "Afghanistan to give China military equipment wish list", Khaama Press, March 4, 2016.
Corruption - Lots of It! A high-ranking official at the Ministry of Interior has expressed deep concern over the alleged interference of influential figures and high ranking officials in high profile cases. Read more in "MoI Concerned Over Interference in Criminal Cases", Tolo News, March 5, 2016.
Russian Debt. Russia has agreed to turn debts payable by Afghanistan into non-refundable grants. This will certainly help to strengthen and expand trade, economic, and social relations between the two countries. Read more in a report by Khaama Press, March 3, 2016.
Afghan Parliament. The organization known as Democracy International has published a paper entitled A Survey of the Afghan Parliament, Wave Three. It is part of the Afghanistan Electoral Reform and Civic Advocacy Project (AERCA) and the document was issued in March 2016.
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