Karzai announces Bacha Khan Peace Medal JALALABAD: President Hamid Karzai announced a new medal in the name of nationalist leader Abdul Ghafar Khan (late), known as Bacha Khan. The president made the announcement during a ceremony held here in connection with the construction of his mausoleum and a museum in Jalalabad, capital of the eastern Nangarhar province. The gathering, held in the Qasr-i-Shahi of this eastern city, was also attended by head of the Awami National Party (ANP) from Pakistan’s North-Western province Asfandyar Wali Khan, Begum Nasim Wali, governors of the eastern provinces and a number of cabinet ministers. Addressing the meeting, President Karzai paid tribute to Bacha Khan by highlighting various aspects of his life and his struggle for the Pashtun nation. Karzai said Bacha Khan’s life was an embodiment of untiring struggle for the welfare of humanity. He said Bacha Khan was against violence and terrorism. Karzai said terrorists were killing journalists, religious scholars, tribal elders, doctors, engineers and common citizens, but the movement of Bacha Khan was against terrorism. The president said the government of Afghanistan was going to launch a medal in the name of Bacha Khan. It would be given to people, both local and foreign, in recognition of their struggle for peace. Bacha Khan’s grandson and central president of the Awami National Party (ANP) Asfandyar Wali Khan told the gathering that he had grown up in this country. "I am Afghan, here (in Afghanistan) as well as there (in Pakistan)," said Asfandyar, who added Pashtuns on both sides of the Durand Line (Lar Au Bar) had same culture, history and religion. They always helped each other in their hour of trial. On this occasion, Asfandayar said the Bacha Khan Welfare Organisation would construct a high school in Jalalabad. The welfare organisation had opened its branch in the city a few months back. In his speech, Governor of Kabul Haji Din Mohammad asked the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan to end visa condition for citizens traveling between the two countries. He also asked for strengthening of links between the universities of Peshawar and Nangarhar | 
