Wake up with big Explosions in Kabul

Friday; 19th August 2011.
Kabul, Government was preparing for the celebration of Independence Day. Friday is a national holiday in Afghanistan, marking the country's independence from Great Britain in 1919.

I was in completely in weekend mood and laying down in my bed with good morning sleep. I heard very loudly noise and wake up with suddenly. I saw from my window big smoke near to Interconentinential Hotel (Karte Parwan Area). My windos were shaiking and brids were flying in front of my yard due to big noise. The first blast went off at 05:38 am (01:08 GMT), with a second 10 minutes later; sporadic gunfire was also heard.

The British Council was the target of the attacks; a spokesman for the NATO-led force was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. Unconfirmed reports say there were casualties. The Taliban later said they carried out the attack. "(There were) two explosions at the British Council but at this stage, we're still gathering facts," said Maj Jason Waggoner, a spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force, according to AFP. (Source: BBC)

Kabul police official Farooq Asas was quoted by the Associated Press as saying that three people were killed in the blasts. But details are not yet coming. There are other reports are saying some municipal workers also killed.

There is fighting is still going on, unconfirmed report said three internationals were killed and one of them is Nepali security guard. It is not yet confirmed that whether he was working in British Army or security guard.

Being a development worker in Kabul and Afghanistan, life is always stressful due to this type of unexpected casualties and explosions. My office security focal persons Mr. Sadery called to me and said “today is movement blocked and please stay at home until further notice”. Now we cannot go out from the home.

We were invited for the lunch at UNOCA by our friends. My friend Manoj Khadaka told me he postponed this plan. We cannot have any pre plan here. After this attack, an hour later I started to do my YOGA and I did full course of my Yoga an hour. I realize this is the only ways to minimize this stress of working in war zone like Afghanistan.

By; Nahakul K.C. 11.am. Kabul.

My Impressions about Sub National Governance Institutions

My Impressions about Sub National Governance Institutions:

Kabul

My Impression about the Local Governance Institution is this is very new process in Afghanistan. District Development Assemblies (DDAs) are converting informal Shuras (committees) to formal local governance institutions. Informal social/village leaders called Khan, Malik, Qadir are still more powerful then members / executive officials of DDAs. Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) are trying to establish formal local governance institutions as per Sub National Governance Policy (SNGP) of the country. These DDAs more democratically elected representative. Some of the case it is noticed there is some indifferences between people’s representatives and local bureaucrats District Governor’s especially in the case of corruption and transparency. Geographical difficulties to travel one places in to another places is most constraints. Security is one of the most crucial situations in this country. Many districts along the broader site of Pakistan is still high influence of Taliban or anti government forces.

Despite above mentioned difficulties Community Development Councils (CDCs) and District Development Assemblies (DDAs) are most visible and successful local governance institutions at the sub national governance (district) level. Sub National Governance Initiatives very new in Afghanistan and there are huge possibilities to support for establishment, strengthen and institutionalizations, resource mobilization to the local governance institutions at at the local level. There is need of formal election as per Independent Election Commission (IEC) of these exiting LG institutions to make them formal and legitimize institutions per the local development which is help to reduce poverty and improvement rural livelihoods of the prosperous future of the Afghanistan. It is long way to walk.

02/04/2011

DDA Members are becoming capable to run District Development Assemblies (DDAs)

Nahakul K.C. [1]

Capacity building team of NABDP recently conducted three different modules of trainings in the Logar provinces during the 21st July -2^nd August 2010. The capacity building team of Community Empowerment Component (CEC) facilitated the training with the support of Provincial Directors of Rural Rehabilitation and Development of Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD).

Main objectives of the trainings were to enhance the level of awareness in the District Development Assembly (DDAs) to establish and strengthened the local governance institutions in the district.

After the Capacity Building training on Local Governance and Conflict resolutions, Gender mainstreaming, Project Cycle Management, the Participants were able to; describe local governance in a good manner, the role of DDA and women in stabilization of local governance, developed procedure of DDA establishment and structure of DDA. Members were able to develop themselves structure, obligations and responsibilities of sub-committees those were established under the DDAs. Members of DDA were able to learn how to minimize conflicts, describe and analyze the factors affecting conflicts. They learn to resolve those issues in the societies in to Islamic perspectives. DDAs were agreed to mainstream women’s participation in to meetings, implement and monitor of development project in to their respective district.

In the second Module of Project Cycle Management participants were able learn the various subject matters i.e.; Definition for the participation and participatory planning of the projects that explained about the importance of people participation in to the projects and local resource mobilization. Understand the project cycle management (identification, designing, appraisal, feasibility, implementation, monitoring and evaluation).

During the training, the facilitators were explained the roles and responsibilities of Executive and Sub Committees of DDA;

· Procedure of sub-committees (finance and procurement committee, project management committee, monitoring and evaluation committee, and natural disaster management committee). Roles and responsibilities of the sub committees,

· Definition and role of civil society and engaged in to local development

· Role of DDA in conflict solutions.

· Gender and gender equity in line with women rights in Islam perspective.

Facilitators are explaining about the roles and responsibilities of DDAs in to local development

Facilitators observed and Participant told us at the end of the training session the following points were major achievements from these trainings;

§ During these 4 days workshops 32 participation were attended. Four social workers of the Rural Rehabilitation and Development Department also participated among others: the acting head of the Rural Rehabilitation Department, provincial council representatives, provincial government and local municipality representatives, Social leaders.

§ Group work, brain streaming, questions & answers, lectures and snow balling process were applied in the training.

§ The Second module of course was trained to the Executive Committee and the three sub-committee members, totally consisted of 12 DDAs members.

• Development issues on mentioned topic were discussed between male and female member of the DDAs. The most important thing which was notices to us is that; the participation of the women was more than men in discussing issues.
• Positive and sensible changes were appeared on behaviour of the DDA members, for example exchange of the views and ideas and having flexibility in to the development. They made plan to run their assemblies in professional ways.
• Active participation in to groups works, proposals discussed in small groups and sharing their group plan in to big groups for discussion and exchanging of the views.

Ms. Lailoma the principal of girl’s school of Khoshi District, she proposed to implement women projects in the district. “Women of the district are able and eager to implement livelihood projects, because the district is suitable for agriculture and raising livestock”. Haji Naeb the Khoshi District DDA chairman also describe about the training “It’s very good methods to develop our needs based on most urgent needs in to District Development Plans”.

Women DDA members are discussing about their needs during the group work

During the training following major issues also observed;

The DDA members have actively participated in the Participatory Planning process for the preparation of District Development Plan. They have discussed over how to get access in to technical and financial resources for the proposed development projects. Practically, women's role in the selection of projects and establishment of the relevant check lists. DDAs shown their constraints to establishment of check lists for the different projects monitoring carried out by themselves.

DDAs are in various stages. And there are difficulties to follow up the biding and preparation for different projects. Maintenance of the project commodities, storing equipments in proper and safe place is one of the issues. Timely payment of instalment for different project activities was considered another issue. After this capacity development, the DDAs and their respective members are able to efficiently conduct their respective district development assemblies (DDAs).

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[1] . Currently working for National Area based Development Programme of Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD/UNDP) as Decentralization & Local Governance Management Support in Kabul-Afghanistan.

Trip to Kathmandu-Sharjaha- Kabul:

Nahakul K.C.; Kabul

21/02/2011

Recently I was travelling to Nepal for my annual leave and R&R (rest and recreation leave which is provided to international employee working in non family duty stations). The trip was made via new route via Kabul-Sharjaha- Kathmandu vis.vs. This trip was able to manage due to recent flight schedule of Air Arebia. This trip was able to make same day reach to Kathmandu Nepal. Where I was able to save two travel days, when I used to travel via Delhi route. Thanks to Air Arebia.

Delhi-India route is better transit points for Nepalese travelers despite some minor misbehave of Indian Immigration Officers. There is no need visa and outside of the airport we can travel easily. Our food, culture and traditions is similar there is good environment. There are a lot of budget hotels and Karol Bagh and PahadGunj.

This trip of Kabul-Sharjaha- Kathmandu vis.vs encouraged to me write some feelings due two reasons; one was our foreign policy and lack of business competency of Nepalese private sectors and second one is about Nepalese labor market out of the Nepal. First let me take an opportunity to brief about the Nepalese private sectors and government neglected to tap opportunities with tie-up business relationship with Afghanistan. Being SAARC member and neighboring countries there are more potentialities for business opportunities in the minerals, labor and other bi-lateral issues. Here are more than 40000 ex Gurkhas, security staff and logistical workers and 200 plus professionals of various sectors are serving to the Afghan government, American and private companies. Second one; what I observed in this trip all most all seats (275 seater airbus) was full of Nepalese labors form various middle east countries, Doha, Dubai, UAE and Afghanistan. This author rarely found professionals are travelling by this airbus. Most of the labor class people from Nepal and pilgrims were traveling from Kabul to Sharajaha who were visiting to Karbala.

It shows more opportunities and threat for country like Nepal. The labor market has opportunity to get income and send remittances to the Nepal and their families. This remittance is one of the strong back bond economic strengthen of the country. But many labors are sharing their feelings and pain which they felt in their working countries. There are fundamental issues how government of Nepal can prepare to send trend and skills labor in to these labor markets. Now, Nepal is ruled by the pro communist parties, which are principally disagreed to send Nepalese youths abroad for the labor markets. What is their plan to stop them in Nepal and how??? So Nepalese communists should be clear before talking radical issues among the youths they should think twice.

We are just seeing to Afghanistan as War Zone country, but there private sector of Afghanistan is becoming stronger day by day. Six private companies are managing international flights and domestics. Where in Nepalese private sector is able to manage domestic flights except by Buddha Air.

My advices are to government of Nepal to learn from Afghanistan and Arabian countries, to promote private airlines for the promotion of tourism and to make success of Tourism Year 2011. In the longer national flagship airlines needs to be none politicized which is very much important to make success of the counties. This is the time for Public Private Partnership to promote this sector.

Closely observing Suicide Attack in Kabul

Closely observing Suicide Attack in Kabul. By; Nahakul K.C.

12/11/2011

Kabul

We were on the way to our office Minisitiry of Rural rehabilitation and Development near to Darluman palace. Me, my friends, Manoj Kahdaka, Munir Barmak and our driver Sultan we were together in that travel.

It was suicide attack on the way to office. It was only 20 miters far from our vehicle. All of sudden we hear very loudly sounds in back site of our car. It was so loudly sounds that our cannot controlled it was sacking all areas. I all of sudden close my eyes and ears. I could not remember few seconds. Later on when I open my eyes our car was stranded along the road side. Peoples were running here and there. We saw peace of dead bodies nearby our car. It was so scary moment. I never had such close suicide attack sounds in my life.

My friend Munir was praying to “Allaha” and I was praying to “ Save Bhagwan Save Bhagwan” my friend Manoj was also sayinh Hey Pashupati Nath”. In the last moment of life we are just remembering to our gods . Later on we all were expressing thanks to God for saving our life. Usually I wont belief in luck. But today I believed in luck because our car was 60 to 80 KM per hour speed. Our car was able to scape only 30 miter far from that accident place.

Later on we came to know there were at least three were killed including an Afghan intelligence staff and 32 other people were wounded in a suicide Blast in Kabul on Wednesday morning and officials said the bus was carrying employees of National Directorate of Security.

The incident happened at around 08:00 am in Serahi Alauddin area when a suicide bomber rammed his motorcycle into bus carrying government employees.

Describing the Kabul suicide bombing as inhuman and brutal act, President Karzai strongly condemned the attack in a statement released by his office later on the day.

The wounded were immediately rushed to Isteqlal hospital which is very near to the site of the incident, that the 32 wounded people were admitted to the hospital.

"One died of his wounds, and one more patient is in a critical condition," she added.

It is not yet clear how many of the wounded are ordinary civilians. Mrs Dalil said the number of casualties may rise as three other ambulances were on the way to the hospital.

Taliban has taken responsibly for the incident.

Practical TIPS to save from this type of Incidents:

· Avoid same route every day going and returning to office

· Be careful with suspicious motorbikes or who are wearing Burkas (scarf) people and coming nearby begging

· Don’t go to close suspected places

· Reach to safe place as earliest as possible and report to the management or security coordinator as earliest as possible

· Early to office avoiding the rush hour may be a safer option