In light of the ongoing debate over the law on Elimination of Violation Against Women (EVAW), United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and UN Women on Monday have urged the Afghan authorities to accelerate their efforts in the implementation of the law.

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Six Security Guards of Salma Dam located in the Western Herat province were killed by a road side bomb explosion Tuesday morning, officials said.

The incident happened at 9:30 am (local time) when the guards where travelling from Obe district to Chishti Sharif district of Herat province when their vehicle fell prey to a road side bomb killing all the passengers, officials said.

Provincial Security Chief, Hamidullah Hamidi confirmed the incident and condemned the incident.

"These security guards belonged to the public protection forces and the killings have a political motivation. This is the work of those countries who don't want Afghanistan to develop," Hamidi told reporters.

The Salma Dam is one of the major construction projects in Afghanistan that was initiated in 2006 with financial assistance from India.
Security was the main factor that delayed completion of the project.

Previously, Afghan security forces had foiled an insurgent attack on the US$200 million Salma Dam in the western Herat province by seizing approximately 1300 kilograms of explosives.

The National Directorate of Security (NDS) said that the attack had been planned by Quetta Shura in Pakistan and was foiled by the Afghan National Army (ANA) and NDS personnel.

Twenty children were among the 91 people killed when a powerful tornado swept through an Oklahoma City suburb, tearing down blocks of homes and two schools, local officials said.

The state medical examiner's office released the latest death toll but the number was climbing rapidly, as emergency crews combed through smashed homes and the collapsed remains of an elementary school in Moore, Oklahoma.

Stunned weather forecasters reported a two-mile (three-kilometer) wide swath of vicious winds and television news helicopters tracked a dark funnel plowing through densely-packed suburbs.

"We've had a massive tornado, a huge one that has passed through this community," Oklahoma's Governor Mary Fallin told a news conference.

"We know there are a lot of injuries. We know we've lost a tremendous amount of structures throughout this community and throughout the state," she said, as the Moore Police Chief urged people to leave the area.

"There are a lot of safety issues, gas lines, power lines, things of that nature, that we have to take into consideration and there's just not much else that can be done there at this time," police chief Jerry Sillings said.

The 91 dead included at least 20 children, most of them under the age of 12, Amy Elliott, of the state medical examiner's office, told AFP. CNN reported that at least 145 people had been hospitalized.

Reporters for local broadcaster KFOR-TV saw children as young as nine being pulled out of the Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, a residential community of 55,000 just south of Oklahoma's state capital.

Anxious parents were being kept at a distance while search-and-rescue workers scrambled to free the students.

A second elementary school, Briarwood, was also hit but did not appear to have sustained casualties.

From its news helicopter, KFOR's cameras captured scenes of widespread destruction, with street after street of single-story homes in Moore stripped of their roofs and cars piled atop each other like toys.

Utility lines were down and gas lines exposed, triggering localized fires. The Moore Medical Center was evacuated after it sustained damage, and state authorities called out the National Guard to help rescue efforts.

US President Barack Obama meanwhile declared a "major disaster" in Oklahoma and ordered federal aid to supplement local recovery efforts.

On Twitter, the National Weather Service gave the tornado a preliminary rating of EF-4, indicating that it packed winds of 166 to 200 miles per hour (267-322 km/h) -- more severe than a category five hurricane.

In downtown Oklahoma City, tornado sirens went off at least three times and the Interstate 35 highway -- a busy north-south artery through the American heartland -- was closed to all but emergency vehicles.

In Moore, live images from KFOR showed people wandering among the debris and even a couple of untethered horses from a local stable that somehow managed to survive the punishing storm.

"I had no idea it was coming," said a stable worker, who told how he survived the "unbearably loud" twister by taking cover in one of the stalls.

Monday's tornado followed roughly the same track as a May 1999 twister that killed 44 people, injured hundreds more and destroyed thousands of homes.

Tornadoes frequently touch down on Oklahoma's wide open plains, but Monday's twister struck a populated urban area and raised fears of a high casualty toll.

Because of the hard ground, few homes are built with basements or storm shelters in which residents can take cover.

Oklahoma City lies inside the so-called "Tornado Alley" stretching from South Dakota to central Texas, an area particularly vulnerable to tornadoes.

On Sunday, a powerful storm system churning through the US Midwest spawned tornadoes in Iowa, Kansas and Oklahoma, destroying homes and killing at least two people, US media reported.

Fallin had already declared a state of emergency for 16 Oklahoma counties due to the tornado threat on Sunday, and added five more on Monday after the storms hit its capital.

In Washington, a White House official said Obama was getting regular updates and that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) stood ready to provide assistance.

"The administration continues to urge all those in affected or potentially affected areas to follow the direction of state and local officials as this severe weather continues," the official added.

The clash between the Afghan forces and Taliban insurgents in Sangin district of southern Helmand province killed 26 Taliban insurgents, local officials told TOLOnews.

The clash started on Tuesday at 5:00 am (local time) in Perzo area of Sangin District of Helmand province and is still continuing. This is the first face-to-face fight between Taliban and Afghan security forces this year.

Provincial Governor's Spokesman, Mohammad Omar Zowak confirmed the ongoing clash to TOLOnews.

"About 10 groups of 4-5 fighters were carrying out drive-by shootings against five police checkpoints. Local Afghan security forces called for Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) reinforcements and none of the checkpoints were overrun," Col. Thomas Collins, an ISAF Spokesperson said in a statement.

"In this clash 26 Taliban insurgents have been killed. Four Afghan Police personnel also lost their lives and five were left wounded," Zowak added.

"Afghan security forces together with the Police and Public Protection Forces are fighting against the Taliban insurgents in the area," Zowak said.

A resident of the area told TOLOnews that he has seen more than 23 Taliban insurgent's dead bodies in the area.

Zowak told TOLOnews that so far no civilian causalities have been recorded.

Meanwhile, the Spokesman for Taliban, Qari Yusuf Ahmadi told the media that they have inflicted heavy casualties on the Afghan forces and that they are moving forward in the area.

This clash has taken place after the Taliban vowed to launch a 'spring offensive' on April 27.

The Taliban has warned the civilians to stay away from official gatherings, military convoys and centres regarded as legitimate targets by militants besides warning people not to support the Government and foreign troops.

Till date, the conflicts with the Taliban insurgents have claimed numerous lives of Afghan security forces, foreign soldiers and civilians.

President Karzai on his three day visit to India will meet Indian officials and discuss about increasing India's aid to Afghanistan both in the military and non-military sectors.

The President's office said that Mr. Karzai during his visit will seek India's cooperation for grant of aids on the basis of the strategic agreement between the two countries.

Presidential Palace has announced that President Karzai will try to strengthen the ties between New Delhi and Kabul, seek assistance from India for different sectors and talk on the implementation of strategic cooperation agreement between the two countries.

Fayeq Wahidi, Vice Spokesperson of the President said, "Based on the previously signed strategic cooperation agreement between India and Afghanistan, the Indian side is committed to help Afghanistan in equipping, training and increasing the capacity of Afghan National Security Forces along with other issues."

This development comes after the Indian counterparts said that if Afghan government seeks assistance from India for the equipping of Afghan security forces, New Delhi is ready to consider it.

At the same time, some analysts say that this visit of Karzai to India will disappoint Pakistan.

The Vice Spokesperson of the President said, "Afghanistan is strengthening its ties with India as an independent country and will always continue to do so. This relation will never be affected with the interference by a third country."

Wadeer Safi, Kabul University lecturer said, "There is a growing tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Now the Afghan government is signing a military cooperation agreement with India seeking assistance and this may upset Pakistan."

The Commander of ISAF, General Joseph F. Dunford said that Afghan forces have the capability to take charge of security from the foreign forces and make arrangements for the upcoming Presidential elections.

All the Police Chiefs of Afghanistan got together at a conference in Kabul with the ISAF Commander.

General Joseph Dunford is confident that Afghan security forces can take charge of all military operations from June, 2013 onward.

Afghan Interior Minister, Ghulam Mojtaba Patang said that Afghan police should be equipped with all necessary weapons to keep all the achievements made intact.

The issue of lack of police equipments, evaluating the challenges faced by the police and providing security for the upcoming Presidential elections in 2014 were discussed at the conference.

Patang pointed out all of the achievements that Afghanistan had made in the last decade at the conference.

"Democracy, an elected government, a Parliament, human rights, progress within the army and security intelligence are the segments where success has been achieved and all this should be used to bring peace in the country," Ghulam Mojtaba Patang said.

Meanwhile, General Joseph Dunford believing on the ability of Afghan security forces said, "You have given your lives for the people of Afghanistan, your commitment for a better future in Afghanistan gives me hope. When people ask me where we are in a campaign? I respond by answering three fundamental questions: Can Afghan forces soon assume a lead for responsibility for security this June? The answer is yes. Can Afghan forces provide a secure environment within which to conduct elections in 2014? The answer is yes. And will we be able to effect full security transition in December 2014? The answer is yes."

The comment from the General clearly showed the level of confidence he has on the Afghan security forces.

"The Army and police have some defects. We should tactfully rectify them," Afghanistan Chief of Staff Sher Mohammad Karimi said.

Afghan security forces are passing through a sensitive phase, security transition and upcoming Presidential elections are some of the major challenges.

A suicide attack took place on Monday in Pul-e-Khumri, capital of Baghlan province killing the Provincial Council Head Mohammad Rasol Mohseni, Baghlan Police Chief, General Asadullah Shirzad said.

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Based on the information received by the Ministry of Defense (MoD), all Madrasas (religious schools) which previously were the hotspots for terror activities in Pakistan have been closed and all the students of these Madrasa are now being sent to Afghanistan to carry out insurgent activities.

Spokesperson of the Ministry, General Zahir Azimi said that even though the Taliban activities have increased in the country but the Afghan National Army (ANA) has the ability to eliminate these threats.

Meanwhile, the National Security Council has ordered Ministry of Finance to buy five Russian Antonov cargo and transportation planes for the Ministry of Defense at a cost of $100 million.

General Zahir Azimi said, "Our information indicates that all madrasas which could give boost terrorism have been shut and now in order to keep the terror activities going the students are being sent to Afghanistan to carry out suicide attacks. But our security forces like always have the ability to remove all these threats and keep the situation under control."

In the meantime, Afghan security forces are facing numerous challenges including lack of facilities in Afghan Air force which was emphasized by the MoD.

General Zahir Azimi said, "The main challenge is to upgrade the Afghan Air Forces for which the Minister of Defense has expressed his concerns and the National Security Council decided to buy five Russian Antonov cargo planes."

Najeebullah Manilai Advisor to the Ministry of Finance said, "The Ministry of Finance will discuss the issue with the Ministry of Defense and money for buying these planes will be sanctioned."

It seems that government's concentration on the upgradation of the Air Force is high on pirority.

Meanwhile, ISAF called its training sessions for the Afghan security forces to be in line with Nato standards. ISAF Spokesperson General Gunter Katz believes that in the upcoming years, Afghan pilots would be able to match the level of a Nato pilot in terms of competency.

General Katz said, "I am a pilot and I went to training facilities in Shendand and Kabul and I flew MI17 planes. As a Nato pilot I can tell you what I have seen, those young student pilots are doing extremely well and each of those student pilots from Afghanistan could be a NATO pilot in the future because of high standards that I have seen in the Shendend and Kabul facilities. You can be very proud of your Air Force and your pilots who will protect you in the future. On top of it this is a moment as the first female pilot recently graduated from Shendend, which is yet another success story for the Afghan Air Force."

Air force is known to be an important part of defense forces for each country. Afghanistan is endeavoring to own a fully equipped and powerful air force but still there exists some major challenges.

Correction: TOLOnews apologies for misspelling the name of the ISAF Spokesman Gen Gunter Katz.

Afghanistan's Lower House Speaker Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi on Monday said that a special commission needs to be set up to review some articles of the law on elimination of violence against women.

The Speaker added that religious scholars from outside the House can also be a part of the commission and participate in the reviewing of the law.

Over the past few days, the discussion on the law has changed its course and taken a complete political turn. 

The lawmakers believe that there is no need to discuss it in the Lower House as it is an endorsed law. On the other hand, some say that if the religious scholars are consulted and their participation is sought in the lawmaking process then it will help in eliminating all the flaws.

"We repeatedly asked administrative board of the Parliament not to include the law on elimination of violence against women in its agenda, unfortunately they included it. The law is valid and no changes should be made in it," Kabul MP Farkhonda Zahra Naderi said.

"Where should the women facing atrocities go? The shelters are a necessity for such women. Efforts should be made to legalise the law," Member of Parliament Sima Joinda said.

Another lawmaker Ghulam Hussain Naseri said, "There are some people who lack knowledge on Islam but at the same time comment on some articles of the law. The law should be made in consultation with great scholars in order to make a stronger law."

"Whatever is against the Quran will be rejected. The regulations of Islam should be considered while making the law on elimination of violence against women otherwise it will be rejected by us," MP Abdul Rahman Rahmani said.

The law on elimination of violation against was approved by a legislative decree of the President in 2009.

Afghanistan Investment Support Agency (AISA) on Monday said that foreign investors are awaiting the approval of new mining law in Afghanistan.

The officials of AISA said that as soon the new mining law is approved, traders who are interested in the mining sector can practically start investments in Afghanistan.

The officials believe that mining sector is a fine opportunity to bring investments into the country, and for this to happen the investors are asking for a fine law in this sector.

"Majority of the foreign investors willing to invest in the mining sector are waiting for approval and signing of the mining law. Once the law is approved they will start their work. In the absence of any law, they will not invest in Afghanistan," Head of AISA Wafiullah Iftikhar said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Mines officials said that they will send the law to the National Assembly within this week.

"We hope that the new law will be approved soon and pave the way for great investment opportunities. Till such time Afghanistan needs to strengthen its economy," Head of Law Department in the Mines Ministry Sayed Zaman Hashimi said.

The mining law was approved by council of ministers and sent to the Justice Ministry for consultation and approval.

 A wave of 12 bomb attacks across Iraq killed at least 15 people and wounded dozens more on Monday, security and medical officials said.

Two car bombs exploded in the main southern port city of Basra, killing seven people and wounding 35, the officials said.

In the Iraqi capital, seven car bombs and a roadside bomb hit eight different areas of Baghdad, killing six people and wounding 57.

And in Samarra, north of Baghdad, another car bomb killed two Sahwa anti-Al-Qaeda fighters and wounded 12, while a roadside bomb in the north Iraq city of Mosul wounded three people.

Violence in Iraq has fallen from its peak in 2006 and 2007 but attacks are still common, killing more than 200 people in each of the first five months of this year, according to figures tallied from official sources.

A suicide attack took place on Monday in Pul-e-Khumri, capital of Baghlan province killing the Provincial Council Head Mohammad Rasol Mohseni, Baghlan Police Chief, General Asadullah Shirzad said.

The Council Head was entering his office building when the suicide bomber wearing police uniform came closer to the Council Head and blew up. The explosion killed the bodyguards including his assistant.

Baghlan Police Chief, General Asadullah Shirzad said that the incident happened at 10 am which killed 13 and injured 10 civilians. The killed included four bodyguards of the Council Head and eight civilians.

Several visitors at the Council Head's office were also among the injured and killed. They were there in the office for various works.

The injured have been rushed to the Pul-e-Khumri and Nasaje hospitals in the province.

The blast site has been cordoned off and the roads leading to the Council office have been closed by the police.

Sultan Mohammad Ebadi Provincial Governor said, "Unfortunately we witnessed another tragedy where many of our innocent people were killed and injured including the Baghlan Provincial Head. We pray to the almighty Allah for a speedy recovery of those injured and paradise for the ones who lost their lives."

Meanwhile, President Karzai in a statement has condemned the killing and said that those who carried out the attack are enemies of Afghanistan.

This is the third consecutive suicide attack that took place in Afghanistan. The previous ones happened in the Shah Shahed area of Kabul and Kandahar province. In the blasts 50 were killed and dozens injured.

Taliban has claimed responsibility for the blast.

Commander of the Infantry Forces of Afghan National Army (ANA) Lt. General Murad Ali while on a visit to the south-east Paktika province emphasized on mobilisation of security forces in Paktika province.

A delegation headed by Murad Ali, Commander of the Infantry Forces of ANA inspected the country's borders and said that the Ministry of Defence wants to mobilise the security forces of Paktika province with heavy weapons since it is a border province.

"Necessary guidance has been given to enable the mobilization of the security forces and this needs to be done soon," Murad Ali said.

Meanwhile, Paktika's Governor Muhibullah Samim called the role of local police in maintaining the security of the borders as crucial. He said that currently there are about two thousand local police receiving training and after the completion of training these men will be moved into the eight districts of Paktika province.

"I am emphasizing on enhancing the local police force because they are very effective in keeping the borders secured," Pakatika's Governor Muhibullah Samim said.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai wants that the laws governing Independent Election Commission (IEC) and Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) must be approved.

President Karzai in an interaction with the Heads of Parliamentary committees asked the MPs to approve the laws governing the IEC and ECC.

This development happened at a time when President Karzai made some changes in the law and resent it for approval to the Parliament.

A number of MPs believe that the Presidency will use all possible ways for the changes made in the law to be accepted.

It is said that the President asked the lawmakers to decide over new adjustments and approve it at the earliest.

"I think that if the law is approved soon then many of our problems will be solved before upcoming elections," Member of Parliament, Sayed Hussain Alimi Balkhi said.

The transferring of the ECC's responsibilities to the Attorney General is one of the changes made by President Karzai.

"The Presidency is against ECC. The Parliament has approved the creation of this Commission. I think, if the commission is not established, the upcoming election will face lots of challenges and it might so happen that the President may even support his favorite nominee in the election," Member of Parliament, Ghulam Farooq Majroh said.

The laws governing the IEC and ECC were approved by the Afghanistan National Assembly. Many political parties consider the law to be of utmost importance for the upcoming election. But it is unclear as to when the law would be reapproved by the Parliament.

Afghan Senators on Sunday's session said that the networks of foreign spies stationed at the Presidential Palace are working for their own interests. The foreign spies had been positioned in the Palace on the orders of the President.

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Afghanistan government will not sign the security agreement with US until the end of war in the region and overall stability is visible.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai in a telephonic conversation with the US Secretary of State said that he will never sign the security agreement when violence is still prevalent in Afghanistan.

President Karzai stressed that stability and end of war are the main conditions of Afghanistan to sign the agreement.

Afghanistan Presidency said in a statement that signing the agreement in an unstable situation means that Afghan civilians will be sacrificed at the hands of foreigners daily.

"President Karzai stayed firm on his position. The signing of security agreement does not have any meaning if peace does not prevail in Afghanistan," University lecturer Mohammad Taher Hashimi told TOLOnews.

Meanwhile, President's firmness in the decision over signing the security agreement received mixed reactions. Some say that such a stand will damage the efforts on signing the agreement in the future.

"Peace is a sustainable process. The mindsets should change. The security issue is important. We cannot connect all important issues such as security to peace which still does not have clear definition for several people," MP, Farkhonda Zahra Naderi said.

The signing of the security agreement is extremely crucial considering the current situation- where violence has reached the once considered-to-be secured parts of the country and security forces facing severe shortages.

"The agreement means that security forces be strengthened that can fight insurgency and security be assured. First the foreign intervention should be stopped," former Military General Atiqullah Amarkhil told TOLOnews.

Previously, President Karzai said that negotiations on signing the agreement reached its final stage but if the US does not accept Afghanistan's conditions it will not sign.

It is believed that the security agreement will secure Afghanistan and prevent foreign aggressions.

Oil and Gas Enterprise Department of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries on Sunday said that a number of Afghani and Pakistani traders are smuggling Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) into Pakistan due to its high price in the Pakistani market.

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Integrity Watch Afghanistan (IWA) on Sunday said that Afghanistan has failed to make much progress in building a strong governance system.

IWA in its survey said that Afghanistan has received 33 points out of 100 amongst 58 other countries which were surveyed by the organization for having good governance.

Based on the survey, illegal mining, lack of access to information and lack of suitable environment to live are the basic obstacles that Afghanistan is facing and preventing it from having a good governance system.

The organization's survey revealed that Afghanistan has some progress in its judicial system.

"Based on the results of the survey that we have done, Afghanistan has come out as a failure in having good governance and that is why the country got 33 points amongst other countries of the world," Head of Integrity Watch Afghanistan Yama Turabi said.

The organization believes that the country has some serious problems. The major one is illegal mining. "Illegal extraction of country's natural resources, accountability to people, and lack of cooperation with various organizations are the basic challenges in Afghanistan," Yama Turabi said.

Afghanistan secured the 49th place amongst 58 countries of the world. Integrity Watch Afghanistan surveys good governance in all the developing countries at an interval of two years.

Afghanistan's network of civil societies on Sunday said that the law on elimination of violence against women is not in opposition to Islamic Sharia law and should not be scrapped in the name of Islam.

The activists warned that if the law is abolished then all the efforts made in the field of women rights over the last 11 years will go down the drain.

Meanwhile, a number of MPs said that the country's religious scholars have a different view about Islam and if these scholars with differences participate in the legislative process then it will change the entire course of lawmaking.

"Religious scholars in the country have diverse perceptions and if these scholars interfere with the legislative process then they will harm the entire lawmaking process," MP, Mohammad Hassin Fahimi told TOLOnews.

Afghanistan's network of civil society said that none of the articles in the law is against Islam and nothing should be incorporated in the law by using Islamic values and keeping personal vendetta in mind.

"None of the articles in the law is against Islam or the Constitution," civil society activist told TOLOnews.

"If the act is abolished then 11 years of government's achievements will go down the drain," Sayed Nasir Mousawi a civil society activist told TOLOnews.

The network of civil society organisations in Afghanistan say that if the law is not approved by the Parliament then it will be the reason behind the increase of violence against women in the country. The activists are urging the President to support the law.

"Afghanistan civil society network strongly supports this law and will not permit any one to scrap the law," Marzia Yazdan Panah, a civil society activist told TOLOnews.

One of the articles in the law states that the legal age for marrying girls is 16 years but a number of lawmakers consider this article to be against the Islam Sharia law.

On the other hand, a number of religious scholars said that in Islam once the girl is biologically mature then only she can be married. Thus, fixing the age for marriage is not right.

"In Islam when the girl matures then only she is ready for marriage and that there is no specific age mentioned. This is because the body growth varies from person to person," Hafiz Abdul Qayoum, member of Afghanistan Ulema Council told TOLOnews.

The comments came in after the law on elimination of violence against women received negative response from a number of MPs and was finally dropped from the Parliament's agenda on Saturday.

The law was to be voted in the Parliament but a number of MPs raised their voices against some articles and demanded that the House should repeal it.

Afghan Senators on Sunday's session said that the networks of foreign spies stationed at the Presidential Palace are working for their own interests. The foreign spies had been positioned in the Palace on the orders of the President.

The senators stressed that the spies constantly advise the President keeping their selfish motives in mind. This poses a great threat for the country.

"Specific networks of foreign spies are appointed on the orders of the President and they go to the extent of infiltrating into the cabinet which is really worrying," Senator Abdul Hanan Haqyoun said.

"Hezbi Islami (Islamic Party) representatives come to the table for negotiations but the talks fail and they start fighting against government," Senator Hadayatullah Rahayi said.

Meanwhile, the numerous killing of civilians in the country by Taliban and other armed opposition groups raised the Senates' concerns.

"Hezbi Islami, Taliban or any other group involved in the killing of innocent lives in the country are committing a big crime. Also, the government must nab the masterminds behind the numerous terrorist attacks," Speaker of the Senate Fazal Hadi Muslimyar said.

"Huge amount of explosives are routed into the country with the help of the security officials. Without their help it is not possible to distribute explosives to different parts of the country," Senator Daoud Asas said.

At the same time, a number of senators asked President Karzai to give the order of hanging all those responsible for killing civilians and those involved in organized crimes.

"We are asking the government especially the President to sign the execution orders of those who have been charged for civilian killings," Head of Complaints Committee of Senate, Zalmai Zabuli said.

The senators argue that till the government doesn't make a clear policy against government's armed opposition groups and other enemies, it will be difficult to achieve lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan.