Son burns mother to death in Nangarhar
(Erada) A son burned his mother to death in Sra Rod district of the eastern province of Nangarhar, family and medics said on June 20. Ihsanullh, a resident of the Merano, said Nam Haq set alight his 70-year-old mother after dousing her with petrol. The old woman later died in hospital. Syedul Haq, the brother of Nam Haq, confirmed the matricide. "I was away from home when the incident took place," he added. A doctor at Jalalabad Hospital's surgical ward, Mir Wais Kamawal, said that the woman had died of severe burn injuries an hour after she was brought to the hospital. Syedul Haq claimed locals captured and handed over his brother to police but law-enforcement official Ghulam Dastagir said that he was unaware of the arrest. "We have neither received any information nor had anyone in custody."
(Erada is an independent daily run by the Afghan Media Resource Centre.)

Cartoon of the Day

Afghan American University launches female dormitory
(Arman-e-Milli) The American University of Afghanistan's new female dormitory, which has been established with assistance of the Afghan Wireless Communication System, AWCC, was opened yesterday by the former US ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmai Khalilzad and AWCC head Ehsanullah Bayat. Bayat said that English language courses will be launched in this building until the university starts its operation next year. The foundation of the three-storey building of new American University of Afghanistan was laid in the southwest of Kabul earlier this year. The initial academic programmes will include majors in information technology, business management and public administration.
(Arman-e-Milli is an independent daily run by a group of journalists.)

Three Pakistanis held for plot to kill Khalilzad
(Islah) Three Pakistani nationals who allegedly plotted to assassinate outgoing US ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad were arrested on June 19 in the western province of Laghman, senior officials claimed the following day. Intelligence directorate deputy chief Dr Abdullah said the Pakistanis were held with rocket-propelled grenades and two Kalashnikov rifles in Surkhakan area of Qarghayee district. Zalmay Khalilzad, ahead of his impending departure from Afghanistan, was in Laghman on June 19 to open a civil-military security and reconstruction team of American forces. Dr Abdullah claimed the Pakistanis were awaiting explosive vests from their accomplices for a "suicide attack". But they failed to get the explosive vests in time and decided to carry out a rocket attack on the diplomat, he claimed. Last year, 37 Pakistani terror suspects were arrested in different parts of Afghanistan, Abdullah said, adding intelligence officials had obtained documents proving they were plotting against Khalilzad.
(Islah is a sate-run daily published mostly in Dari.)

Mine blast wounds three coalition soldiers
(Hewad) At least three coalition soldiers were wounded in a mine blast in the Samkani district of the southern Paktia province on June 19. A spokesperson for the allied forces confirmed the incident, saying the troops were on a joint patrol with the Afghan National Army when one of the vehicles hit the mine planted on the roadside. The incident happened in Samkani district and injured three soldiers. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, it is believed the attack might be carried out by the Taleban, who have stepped up their insurgency in the south and southwestern provinces of Afghanistan.
(Hewad is a state-run daily published mostly in Dari.)

Afghan businesswomen federation on the cards
(Outlook) A federation of Afghan businesswomen will be established in a month with start-up fund from the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, an official said. Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce chairman Hamid Qaderi said USAID had promised to donate six million US dollars for the project. He added that he hoped the creation of the businesswomen federation would boost business concerns belonging to women, enabling them to play a more active role in the country's reconstruction and economic development. Although women are currently engaged in such business as construction materials, carpets and agricultural products, their role is widely regarded as peripheral.
(Outlook is an independent daily published in English.)