Category: Afghanistan

There are around 1.7 million Afghan refugees who are being forced by the Pakistan establishment to leave Pakistan….reports Asian Lite News

The Afghan Cultural Association in Austria (AKIS) and the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPO) organized a session on Tuesday in Vienna, Austria, over the forceful expulsion of Afghan refugees from Pakistan and its implications for Europe. The said session was attended by around 30-35 SPO party members, including senior members such as Gerhard Spitzer, SPO Party Secretary of the 21st District of Vienna, Bernhard Herzog, District Councilor of SPO and Jurgen Bozsoki, Head of the SPO office in 10th District.

Ghousuddin Mir, the President of the Afghan Cultural Association in Austria, was the main speaker during the session. During his speech, Mir elaborated on the implications that Europe might face shortly because of the forceful expulsion of Afghan refugees from Pakistan. He also presented on the human rights violations of Pakistan against Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

Elaborating on the same issue, he mentioned that, as per the UNHCR report, Pakistan hosts around 2.8 million Afghan refugees, out of which 1.5 million Afghans are estimated to be living in Pakistan without any documentation, including some 600,000 who arrived in the country following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021.

Evidently, in October 2023, the Pakistani government ordered a sudden crackdown on Afghan refugees and migrants who have been living without any documentation. There are around 1.7 million Afghan refugees who are being forced by the Pakistan establishment to leave Pakistan. More than 60% of these Afghan refugees have been residing in Pakistan for more than 15 years, the same press statement claimed.

Furthermore, most of these Afghan refugees are not willing to go back to Afghanistan and would make efforts to use the regular migratory route to reach Europe. This refugee situation created by Pakistan would have an impact on Europe, the statement said.

Additionally, Pakistan has traditionally been the first migratory stop for Afghans leaving Afghanistan. Most of the Afghans had made Pakistan their home and have been staying there with their children for years. However, this scenario would change because of this indiscriminate and unwanted action by Pakistan. In the coming years, more Afghan refugees would move towards Europe, possibly en-masse in batches. This would put pressure on the migratory systems in Europe. Austria being the gateway to Europe could receive more Afghan refugees on this front.

The statement further stated that this sudden action by Pakistan is neither required nor a solution for the terror threat faced by them. Most of these Afghans have been residing in Pakistan for a very long time and have never been a threat to the country. The reasons for the recent spurt in terror attacks across Pakistan are not because of these Afghan refugees. It is due to the actions of the Pakistan Army vis-a-vis the terror organisations such as Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan. Pakistan’s Army has provided space for these terror organisations to grow and are now finding it difficult to control them. They have shifted the blame on poor Afghan refugees for political reasons to hide their inability.

The statement also implicated that, the international community must raise their concerns with Pakistan and ensure that the Afghan refugees are treated by the International Human Rights law and that any action by Pakistan complies with these international instruments.

Many SPO members also raised questions on the present status of this issue and discussed on role of the party in addressing the rights of the Afghan refugees in Pakistan and to reduce the negative fallout of such issues on Europe. (ANI)

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The WFP has raised an alarm regarding the plight of Afghan migrants forcibly expelled from Pakistan…reports Asian Lite News

The Human Rights Watch recently highlighted Afghanistan’s decimated public health system due to reduced foreign aid and Taliban’s gender-based abuses. This has left millions vulnerable to malnutrition and illness, exacerbating the healthcare crisis. The Taliban’s rule has plunged many into poverty and hunger as sanctions and frozen assets cripple the economy.

The World Food Programme reported record-high malnutrition rates, with women and girls disproportionately affected due to Taliban restrictions on education and employment, hindering access to healthcare.

The WFP has raised an alarm regarding the plight of Afghan migrants forcibly expelled from Pakistan, revealing that they are currently resorting to borrowing money merely to survive, Khaama Press reported.

In a recently released video clip, the organisation disclosed that in the span of nearly five months, over half a million Afghan migrants have been forcibly deported by the Pakistani government.

Highlighting the grim situation, the WFP emphasised that Afghan migrants find themselves compelled to borrow funds for survival, devoid of any facilities or support. The organisation’s website underscores that the majority of expelled migrants are currently in a state of confusion, as reported by Khaama Press.

Expressing deep concern, the World Food Program stated that some returning migrants are still grappling with hunger, identifying a critical need for food assistance.

In response to this humanitarian crisis, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations of the Taliban in Afghanistan announced a significant development. The Japanese ambassador reported a commitment of 100 million yen in assistance for various sectors, aimed at supporting the returning migrants in Afghanistan.

The funds are earmarked for crucial necessities, including shelter, tents, winter clothing packages, and health services for Afghan migrants, according to the Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations, Khaama Press reported.

UN seat

 Afghanistan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, said Afghanistan’s permanent seat in the United Nations must be given to the Islamic Emirate, the media reported.

Kabir made the remarks on Saturday in a meeting with Roza Otunbayeva, the UN secretary-general’s special representative for Afghanistan, saying that the international community should recognise the current government and all conditions for recognition have been met, Xinhua news agency reported.

The senior official also called sanctions on the Islamic Emirate and government officials unfair, stressing that the move would affect its interaction with the world.

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Initial assessments suggest that the victims were interred during the Afghan calendar year 1358, equivalent to the period between April 1979 and March 1980….reports Asian Lite News

In Afghanistan’s eastern Khost province, the chilling discovery of a mass grave containing approximately 100 bodies has unearthed haunting echoes of the country’s tumultuous past under the Soviet-backed government. Mayor Bismillah Bilal revealed that the grave was stumbled upon during the construction of a small dam in the Sarbani area of central Khost.

Initial assessments suggest that the victims were interred during the Afghan calendar year 1358, equivalent to the period between April 1979 and March 1980. Mayor Bilal, speaking to AFP, emphasized that the bodies, all seemingly civilian, included some adorned in women’s attire. Local residents pointed to the grim aftermath of the 1978 communist coup, attributing the deaths to the ruthless campaign of violence that ensued under the Soviet-backed regime.

Salam Sharifi, whose father vanished during the communist era, lamented the atrocities inflicted upon the victims, describing the harrowing manner in which they were brought to their final resting place without due process. As municipality workers, aided by residents, delicately extracted the skeletal remains, the somber reality of the unknown identities of these martyrs became increasingly poignant.

Afghanistan’s history is scarred by decades of conflict, including the Soviet invasion, subsequent civil war, and the more recent US-led occupation. Mass graves, poignant reminders of the nation’s turbulent past, have been discovered sporadically, bearing witness to the atrocities endured by countless individuals.

This recent find joins a grim roster of similar discoveries, including a mass grave found in 2009 containing at least 20 bodies from the Soviet-backed government era. More chillingly, in September 2022, another mass grave was uncovered in Spin Boldak, a site synonymous with intense clashes between former Afghan government forces and Taliban insurgents during their protracted struggle for control before the latter seized power in 2021.

As Afghanistan grapples with its tumultuous past and uncertain future, each unearthed mass grave serves as a stark reminder of the profound human cost exacted by decades of conflict and political upheaval.

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With millions facing food insecurity, urgent international assistance is required to avert a humanitarian catastrophe….reports Asian Lite News

Afghanistan recently convened a conference in Kabul on January 29, bringing together special representatives and ambassadors from neighbouring and regional countries. The aim was for the Taliban regime to garner support and cooperation from these nations. Despite being unrecognized globally, the Taliban regime sought recognition and acceptance through this diplomatic endeavour.

During the conference themed ‘Afghanistan’s Regional Cooperation Initiative’, Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi emphasized the Islamic Emirate’s respect for others’ interests while seeking reciprocal respect for Afghanistan’s interests and development choices.

Among the participants was India, alongside China, Russia, and Pakistan, indicating broad international engagement in Afghanistan’s affairs. India’s involvement assumes significance amidst growing Chinese influence in the region and underscores the importance of maintaining dialogue with the Taliban, notwithstanding official recognition.

Meanwhile, longstanding border disputes between Afghanistan and Pakistan, particularly concerning the Durand Line established in 1893, persist. The boundary delineation remains contentious, exacerbated by the concentration of Pashtuns on both sides and recent escalations leading to border closures and heightened tensions.

The closure of key border points like Torkham and Spin Boldak by Pakistan, coupled with increased scrutiny on cross-border trade, has severely impacted Afghan traders and exacerbated an already dire food crisis. With millions facing food insecurity, urgent international assistance is required to avert a humanitarian catastrophe.

Recognizing the urgency, the United Nations will convene a meeting of Afghan envoys in Doha on February 18 and 19, inclusive of women representatives and civil society members. This collective effort seeks to address Afghanistan’s multifaceted challenges and chart a path towards stability and sustainable development in the region.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in a report highlighted that Afghans are dealing with extreme hardships, and about 85 per cent of them live on less than one dollar a day, as reported by TOLO News.

According to the report, the situation became markedly worse after the Taliban took control over Afghanistan in August 2021, particularly for women who are currently facing severe restrictions that bar them from education and jobs.

Moreover, the latest UNDP research indicated that the real GDP of Afghanistan has declined by 29 per cent since 2020 and still continues to decline, TOLO News reported.

Reportedly, the decrees on women’s rights alone are estimated to have caused an economic loss between USD 600 million and USD 1 billion.

According to the report, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Director, Asia-Pacific, Kanni Wignaraja, said that they aim at supporting women-owned businesses, job creation, and basic social services, among other goals.

“We focus on direct support to women-owned businesses, job creation, basic social services, renewable energy and disaster risk management to keep local economies running, ensure food and energy security, improve people’s wellbeing and protect them from disasters,” Wignaraja said.

Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) said that one in three Afghans do not know where their next meal will come from, as reported by TOLO News.

In its report, the WFP emphasised that it urgently needs USD 670 million to reach 15.2 million men, women and children with lifesaving food, nutrition, and livelihood support.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, highlighted that the WFP warns that every province of Afghanistan is currently facing severe food insecurity.

“WFP warns that every province in the country is currently in crisis or worse levels of food insecurity. Previously, large-scale and sustained donor contributions helped carry millions of Afghans through two difficult winters and pulled back more than 5 million people from the brink of famine,” Dujarric said.

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The former president took to social media platform X about his discussion regarding the Doha meeting with Sinirliglu…reports Asian Lite News

At a time when people in Afghanistan are grappling with economic woes under Taliban rule, the former President of the country, Hamid Karzai, has underscored the importance of the Doha meeting for Afghanistan and expressed hope for positive steps from global powers during the event, according to Khaama Press.

Karzai announced his meeting with Feridun Sinirlioglu, the Special Coordinator for the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Afghanistan, highlighting its importance.

The former president took to social media platform X about his discussion regarding the Doha meeting with Sinirliglu.

During their discussion, Hamid Karzai hailed Sinirlioglu’s independent assessment of Afghanistan as “realistic and practical,” according to Khaama Press.

The United Nations will be hosting the Doha summit, on February 18-19 which will include special officials from nations having specific responsibilities in Afghanistan.

According to reports, a Taliban representative has been invited to the next conference in Doha.

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, the international world has not formally recognized their administration. This invasion has resulted in a number of crises, including humanitarian, political, and economic issues inside the country, Khaama Press reported.

The engagement of different parties, including the United Nations and regional entities, demonstrates a coordinated effort to solve Afghanistan’s difficulties. Earlier in January, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in its latest report, indicated a worsening economic insecurity under the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan, Afghanistan-based Khaama Press reported.

The UNDP report, released on January 18, revealed that 69 per cent of Afghanistan’s population faces a shortage of necessities, including suitable living conditions, healthcare, essential goods, and vital job opportunities.

According to this report, the social and economic situation in Afghanistan has darkened since the Taliban seized power, resulting in severe economic insecurity for the people of the country.

According to the UNDP report, currently, seven out of 10 people in Afghanistan are not able to meet their basic life requirements and face economic insecurity, according to the Khaama Press report. The findings of the report continue to highlight the restrictions on women’s rights and its impact along with the collapse of the banking system in Afghanistan.

Despite the Taliban’s initial promise to take a moderate approach towards women’s rights after it seized power in August 2021, the ban on higher education is just one of many steps that the group has taken to limit women’s role in society. (ANI)

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Afghanistan has witnessed a significant decrease in headline inflation, with a negative 9.7 per cent year-on-year rate in December 2023…reports Asian Lite News

Afghanistan’s struggling economy has led to deflation and poverty, Khaama Press reported citing a World Bank report. This deflationary trend persisted from April 2023 to December 2023.

According to the report, Afghanistan has been facing economic challenges due to reduced aggregate demand, including factors like the stronger local currency, dwindling household savings, reduced public spending, and the ban on opium cultivation causing farmers to lose income.

Afghanistan has witnessed a significant decrease in headline inflation, with a negative 9.7 per cent year-on-year rate in December 2023. Food inflation reduced to negative 14.5 per cent and non-food inflation dropped to negative 4.2 per cent, reflecting weak demand.

Core inflation, excluding food and energy prices, also reduced to negative 6.0 per cent year-on-year. These economic struggles have increased unemployment and pushed half of the population into poverty, with 15 million people facing food insecurity.

Coal exports dropped by 46 per cent in 2023 to USD 257 million. Furthermore, food exports witnessed a rise by 13 per cent, reaching USD 1.3 billion.

Textile exports increased by 46 per cent in 2023 and reached USD 281 million, with Pakistan and India remaining primary export destinations.

Imports in Afghanistan increased by 23 per cent in 2023 and reached USD 7.8 billion, with food, minerals, and textiles making up a major portion.

Chemicals, machinery, and transportation products faced notable growth, contributing to a merchandise trade deficit of USD 5.9 billion in 2023.

The Afghani currency appreciated against major currencies in 2023. However, the trend reversed in January 2024 as the Afghani currency depreciated against all major currencies., Khaama Press reported.

The report stressed that the difficulty in assessing the monetary policy of the Afghanistan Central Bank is due to a lack of monetary statistics. However, it recommends that the central bank supports the local currency through forex auctions.

Revenue collection in Afghanistan for the first ten months of the fiscal year 2023-24 reached AFN 171 billion which reflects a 5.7 per cent increase in comparison to previous year. However, the revenue collection fell short of achieving targets, according to Khaama Press report.

According to the report, rigorous tax collection measures in a depressed economy could hamper growth, worsen poverty, and result in business closures, impacting future revenue collection prospects.

Earlier in January, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in its latest report, indicated a worsening economic insecurity under the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan, Afghanistan-based Khaama Press reported.

The UNDP report, released on January 18, revealed that 69 per cent of Afghanistan’s population faces a shortage of necessities, including suitable living conditions, healthcare, essential goods, and vital job opportunities.

According to this report, the social and economic situation in Afghanistan has darkened since the Taliban seized power, resulting in severe economic insecurity for the people of the country.

According to the UNDP report, currently, seven out of 10 people in Afghanistan are not able to meet their basic life requirements and face economic insecurity, according to Khaama Press report. The findings of the report continue to highlight the restrictions on women’s rights and its impact along with the collapse of the banking system in Afghanistan. (ANI)

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