KABUL: Afghan President Hamid Karzai yesterday condemned Israel’s air strikes on Gaza and called for an “immediate stop” to violence against civilians, a statement from his office said.
“President Hamid Karzai strongly condemns the strikes by Israel against the Palestinian territory that have killed and injured a number of innocent civilians,” the statement said.
“Harming civilians is unjustifiable on any side and anywhere,” the president was quoted as saying.
“Afghanistan fully supports any efforts that can ensure a ceasefire,” he added.
According to Palestinian medics, 38 Gazans have been killed and 345 wounded since Israel launched the aerial campaign on the Palestinian enclave on Wednesday.
In the same period, three Israeli civilians have been killed.
Afghanistan does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, and has supported the Palestinian cause for a separate state in the past.
“We have always defended Palestinians’ right for an independent state and we will continue to stand behind them in the future,” foreign ministry spokesman Janan Mosazai said.
Civilian casualties caused by Nato strikes in Afghanistan have roiled relations between Karzai and Israel’s top ally the United States, which leads Nato forces to fight against the Taliban insurgency.
Unesco lauds legislators for
free education
ISLAMABAD: Mandated to support and coordinate the achievement of Education for All (EFA) goals, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) has congratulated the members of Pakistan’s National Assembly and Senate for getting the bill on right to free and compulsory education passed.
This bill guarantees free quality education for approximately 70,000 out-of-school children in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). Last July, the Bill known as ‘Right to Free and Compulsory Education Bill 2012’ was passed by the Senate.
On this significant achievement, talking to the members of the parliament Dr Kozue Kay Nagata, Director UNESCO Islamabad said, “The passing of the Bill itself is a historic milestone towards Education for All in Pakistan. What matters is not only the result but also its process, that was fully participatory and consultative involving politicians of all parties, civil society and other stakeholders,” she said.
Agencies
