The revelation came a week after the US and Taliban held talks in Doha for the first time since the fall of Kabul in August 2021…reports Asian Lite News
A number of foreign nationals, including Americans, have been held in Afghanistan’s prisons, a local media report said on Monday citing a Taliban official.
Without revealing the exact number of imprisoned foreigners in Afghanistan, the Taliban regime’s chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said: “They have been held in connection with security and other issues such as violation of our laws,” Xinhua news agency reported citing the TOLO News report.
If proven innocent the detained would be released and the solution would also be found for those not innocent, TOLO News quoted Mujahid as saying.
Neither Mujahid nor TOLO News provided more details.
The revelation came a week after the US and Taliban held talks in Doha for the first time since the fall of Kabul in August 2021.
During the talks held in the Qatari capital on July 30-31, Washington pressed the regime to “reverse policies responsible for the deteriorating human rights situation” in Afghanistan, as well as for the release of detained American citizens.
On their part, the Taliban said they wanted the unfreezing of Afghanistan’s assets, as well as lifting of sanctions and travel bans.
The Iranian official highlighted that the United States does not want stability in Afghanistan…reports Asian Lite News
A senior Iranian diplomat has accused the United States of deliberately perpetuating instability in Afghanistan, aiming to generate crises for neighboring countries after its unsuccessful two-decade occupation.
In an interview with Iran’s state news agency IRNA on Wednesday, Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Iran’s special representative for Afghanistan, alleged that the United States has been sponsoring “terrorist” groups in Afghanistan after it withdrew all its forces from the Central Asian country in 2021.
The United States is also taking steps to isolate Afghanistan from the global community by imposing sanctions on a number of Taliban officials and freezing the nation’s assets, Kazemi Qomi added.
The Iranian official highlighted that the United States does not want stability in Afghanistan, as it fears the potential for other countries to fill the void it left once the Central Asian country attains stability.
He also noted, unlike the United States, many of Afghanistan’s neighboring counties, such as Iran and Pakistan, hope to restore calm and stability to Afghanistan, which will be in the interest of the region.
This came after the residents of Kabul urged the interim government and aid organizations to distribute their assistance transparently to the people..reports Asian Lite News
Amid the dire need for humanitarian aid in Afghanistan, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) said that almost 30 million people are in serious need of assistance as funding shortfalls jeopardize the humanitarian response after the Taliban took over in Afghanistan, TOLO News reported.
The IRC moreover, warned that the shortfall in humanitarian aid for Afghanistan has contributed to a 60 percent increase in the number of people in need, along with economic collapse, climate change, and reduced access to basic services.
IRC Afghanistan Director Salma Ben Aissa said, “Since August 15, 2021, Afghanistan has continued to suffer from a rapid economic collapse. Ordinary Afghans have paid the price; people who previously had jobs and were self-sufficient are now reliant on humanitarian aid and many families can no longer afford to feed themselves.”
“Two years later the economy remains cut off from international systems and 28.8 million people require humanitarian assistance, while nearly the entire population lives in poverty. Almost 80% of those in need are women and girls,” she added, according to TOLO News.
However, Mir Shikib Mir, an Economist, said that the Taliban’s interference in assistance is one of the reasons behind the cut in humanitarian aid.
“The reason is the lack of recognition of the Taliban regime which has directly affected the aid process to Afghanistan. Another reason is the Taliban’s interference in assistance,” he said.
This came after the residents of Kabul urged the interim government and aid organizations to distribute their assistance transparently to the people, reported TOLO News.
One of the residents, Sayed Naim, said, “In the past, I was making even 500 Afs on a daily basis. I now cannot even earn 200 Afs.”
“The people are so worried. There is a spike in prices,” said Mohammad Ishhaq, another resident of Kabul.
This comes as the Ministry of Economy said that the continuation of assistance in the current situation is important for Afghanistan.
Abdul Latif Nazari, Deputy Minister of Economy said, “The international assistance should be continued to the people of Afghanistan and this assistance should be in the field of infrastructure and development.”
According to the IRC Afghanistan director, this year, “In the face of significant challenges, humanitarian actors have been able to maintain and expand their activities to deliver lifesaving assistance to over 17 million Afghans. Thanks to the tenacity and dedication of Afghan aid workers, whose commitment to the Afghan people has never wavered, organizations like the IRC have been able to deliver emergency support to families in remote communities who were unable to receive support before August 2021 when the conflict was ongoing.”
Furthermore, on Friday, the United Nations humanitarians warned of a severe aid funding gap for aid to more than 21 million people in Afghanistan even though some relief has already been reduced, Khaama Press reported.
Earlier, the UK Parliament had informed that the humanitarian aid given to Afghanistan by the Official Development Assistance (ODA) has been reduced by 59 per cent, as per Tolo News.
The issue of the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan was also raised in the United Nations Security Council High-level open debate where representatives from various countries urged for the providing aid in Afghanistan, reported Khaama Press.
Notably, Afghanistan, under the Taliban, is facing its worst humanitarian crisis and the women of the country are denied fundamental rights. According to a World Food Programme assessment, Afghanistan is one of the nations with extreme food insecurity, with nine million people affected by severe economic difficulties and hunger.
Since the Taliban seized power in August 2021, the law and order situation in the country has only deteriorated, with the rise in cases of terrorism and blasts.
The group banned women from going to schools. Later in December last year, they banned women from going to universities and working with aid agencies. Earlier this year, the Taliban also imposed a ban on salons, which were a major employment source for women. (ANI)
The Taliban fighters have been repeatedly warned by Iran to respect Iran’s water rights….reports Asian Lite News
An Iranian delegation is on a visit to Kabul to speak with Taliban representatives about a variety of topics, including water rights, reported Khaama Press on Tuesday citing an official.
The spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry, Naser Kenani, reportedly stated in a press conference on Monday that various topics, including water rights, were discussed.
Quoting an Iranian news agency report, Khaama Press stated that 11 member delegation from Tehran had visited Afghanistan to follow up on the matter.
“We have various issues with Afghanistan, and the issue of water is one of the issues that we pay serious attention to,” Kenani said, Khaama Press reported citing the Iranian news agency.
Tensions between Afghanistan and Iran over water rights from the Helmand River have increased as a result of Tehran accusing the Taliban of failing to preserve the nation’s water rights in accordance with the 1973 water deal between Kabul and Tehran.
The Taliban fighters have been repeatedly warned by Iran to respect Iran’s water rights. Due to the escalating hostilities between the two sides, the Taliban sent armed forces to the borders of the two nations, reported Khaama Press. (ANI)
Taliban wants to fully impose their interpretation of Sharia Law, including potential public executions…reports Asian Lite News
The Taliban is stressing the need for the implementation of Sharia in the nation, Tolo News reported.
Taliban-appointed Acting Interior Minister of Afghanistan Sirajuddin Haqqani while speaking to a gathering of religious clerics, tribal elders and local officials in Laghman, said that the current Jihad in the country is to implement Sharia law.
“We perform Jihad today by implementing Sharia and ensuring the government endures, and by reconstructing the country,” he said, as per Tolo News.
Meanwhile, Zalmai Afghanyar, a political analyst, said: “The ministers of the interior and defence are responsible for assuring the people about the security and borders of Afghanistan. They should motivate the Islamic Emirate’s forces on the borders. Also, the recent activities of Pakistan and Iran have caused security concerns. These are some of the purposes of this visit.”
Taliban wants to fully impose their interpretation of Sharia Law, including potential public executions, amputations and flogging, a move experts fear will lead to a further deterioration of human rights in the impoverished country.
Taliban’s hardline implementation of the doctrine when the group was last in power from 1996 to 2001 included violent punishments, such as public executions, stoning, floggings and amputations.
After seizing power last August, the Taliban attempted to project a more moderate image to gain international support, but in the months since, the group has clamped down on rights and freedoms.
Women in Afghanistan can no longer work in most sectors and require a male guardian for long-distance travel, while girls have been barred from returning to secondary school.
The security situation in the country has also deteriorated since the group’s takeover last year, with the nation growing increasingly isolated and impoverished. (ANI)
Amongst the poisoned victims, which include women and children are said to be in critical condition after consuming the meal….reports Asian Lite News
In the Khost area of eastern Afghanistan, nearly 200 people suffered from food poisoning and were hospitalised after consuming donated food, Khaama Press reported citing the officials on Monday.
The incident happened at Zazai Maidan, Ban Sabari, and Khost City following the donation of food.
According to provincial spokeswoman Mustaghfar Garbaz, the poisoned patients were immediately sent to a neighbouring hospital for medical attention, reported Khaama Press.
Amongst the poisoned victims, which include women and children are said to be in critical condition after consuming the meal.
An investigation, however, has been launched into the case that led to the food poisoning of over 200 people, the security officials said, according to Khaama Press.
In recent times, more citizens, notably schoolchildren in some rural areas, have been poisoned during ceremonies. After eating at a wedding reception in the Sang Atesh region of Badghis province, about 150 individuals were poisoned earlier.
Meanwhile, at least six people were killed, and two others injured in a traffic accident in Afghanistan’s Kabul on Sunday, officials said, Khaama Press reported.
The Khaama Press News Agency is an online news service for Afghanistan.
Kabul police spokesperson Khalid Zadran on Monday said that six people were killed as a car collided with a vehicle in Kabul.
Six people died, and two others were injured in the accident on Sunday evening in the Qara Bagh district of Kabul when a car collided with a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction, as per Khaama Press.
In a similar incident on Sunday, a passenger bus from Kabul turned turtle in the Shar-e-Safa district of the southern province of Zabul, killing the driver and injuring 19 other people.
Recently, a traffic accident in Afghanistan’s western province of Badghis, killed three people, including a truck driver, according to a provincial official, Khaama Press reported.
According to the provincial official’s statement, the accident occurred at 8:00 am local time when a fast-driven truck was in the Band-e-Sabzak area outside of the provincial capital Qala-e-Naw.
A similar incident occurred in the eastern province of Nangarhar, killing two people on the spot. The incident occurred when a freight truck and motorcycle collided.
Reports say that the increase in traffic incidents in Afghanistan is directly linked to several factors, including reckless driving, dilapidated roads, poorly maintained vehicles, and lack of attention to traffic rules.
Over the past three months, traffic accidents have reportedly claimed the lives of more than 400 people in the country, as per Khaama Press. (ANI)
The revelation came a week after the US and Taliban held talks in Doha for the first time since the fall of Kabul in August 2021…reports Asian Lite News
A number of foreign nationals, including Americans, have been held in Afghanistan’s prisons, a local media report said on Monday citing a Taliban official.
Without revealing the exact number of imprisoned foreigners in Afghanistan, the Taliban regime’s chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said: “They have been held in connection with security and other issues such as violation of our laws,” Xinhua news agency reported citing the TOLO News report.
If proven innocent the detained would be released and the solution would also be found for those not innocent, TOLO News quoted Mujahid as saying.
Neither Mujahid nor TOLO News provided more details.
The revelation came a week after the US and Taliban held talks in Doha for the first time since the fall of Kabul in August 2021.
During the talks held in the Qatari capital on July 30-31, Washington pressed the regime to “reverse policies responsible for the deteriorating human rights situation” in Afghanistan, as well as for the release of detained American citizens.
On their part, the Taliban said they wanted the unfreezing of Afghanistan’s assets, as well as lifting of sanctions and travel bans.
In July, the US expressed “deep concern” over the deteriorating human rights situation in Afghanistan, particularly for women and girls and expressed support for the people’s demands for their rights to be respected.
US Special representative for Afghanistan Thomas West along with Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls, and Human Rights Rina Amiri, and Chief of the America’s Mission to Afghanistan, based in Doha, Karen Decker interacted with the Taliban representatives on July 30 and 31. “The American delegation expressed deep concern regarding the humanitarian crisis and the need to continue to support aid organizations and UN bodies delivering assistance consistent with humanitarian principles,” the US State Department said.
“US officials urged the Taliban to reverse policies responsible for the deteriorating human rights situation in Afghanistan, particularly for women, girls, and vulnerable communities. US officials expressed grave concern regarding detentions, media crackdowns, and limits on religious practice. The United States expressed support for the Afghan people’s demands for their rights to be respected and for their voices to shape the future of the country,” the statement added.
The American delegation also met the representatives of Afghan Central Bank and Taliban-appointed Finance department discussed the state of economy of the country and also took the note of the declining inflation, growth of merchandise exports and imports in Afghanistan in 2023, and voiced openness to a technical dialogue regarding economic stabilization issues soon.
US officials noted that Taliban’s commitment to not allow the territory of Afghanistan to threaten the Washington DC and its allies, and the two sides discussed Taliban efforts to fulfill security commitments. (with inputs from agencies)
According to some analysts, as humanitarian aid declines, the economic situation of the country’s citizens would get worse….reports Asian Lite News
As humanitarian needs remain substantial in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, the United Nations has said that aid operations in Afghanistan face a critical funding gap, according to TOLOnews.
According to data from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Aid (OCHA), less than 25 per cent of the USD 3.2 billion appeal to aid more than 21 million people nationwide has been financed, according to Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
“On Afghanistan, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warns that aid operations in the country face a critical funding gap as humanitarian needs remain severe. More than halfway through the year, the USD 3.2 billion appeals to help more than 21 million people across the country is less than 25 per cent funded. There are critical funding gaps amounting to USD 1.3 billion, with many programmes already ended or considerably scaled back due to insufficient resources and aid pipelines at risk of imminent rupture, including for food assistance. Our humanitarian colleagues warn that we only have a short window of opportunity to procure and position vital assistance and supplies before the lean season and winter begin,” Farhan Haq told a briefing, according to TOLOnews.
According to some analysts, as humanitarian aid declines, the economic situation of the country’s citizens would get worse.
“Cutting off aid will be disastrous in a situation where Afghanistan does not have a conventional economy and is in need of international aid, and the poor people who depend on this aid would lose their bread,” said economist Azerakhsh Hafezi, according to TOLOnews.
Twenty million Afghans, or 44 per cent of the country’s population, lack access to enough food, according to a previous assessment by the International Committee of the Red Cross, TOLOnews reported.
Notably, Afghanistan, under the Taliban, is facing its worst humanitarian crisis and the women of the country are denied fundamental rights. According to a World Food Programme assessment, Afghanistan is one of the nations with extreme food insecurity, with nine million people affected by severe economic difficulties and hunger.
Since the Taliban seized power in August 2021, the law and order situation in the country has only deteriorated, with the rise in cases of terrorism and blasts.
The group banned women from going to schools. Later in December last year, they banned women from going to universities and working with aid agencies. Earlier this year, the Taliban also imposed a ban on salons, which were a major employment source for women. (ANI)
According to officail statements, the emergence of ISKP in Afghanistan is impacting regional geopolitics, with global implications…writes Anant Mishra
The recent statement issued by the Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian expressed deep concerns regarding the activities of the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISKP) in the region, further stating that the group had attracted recruitment from senior leadership and battle-hardened fighters from the erstwhile Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) to Afghanistan recently.
The Iranian FMs statement reinforces the UN Security Council report which highlighted ISKP’s escalated activities in the region, but also spotlighted Tehran’s interest in countering the ISIL, as conveyed to this author.
Taking note of Iranian FMs recent statement in conjunction with the Russian foreign minister’s previous remarks, the emergence of ISKP in Afghanistan is impacting regional geopolitics, with global implications.
As expected in the game of intelligence, some of the agencies are apparently involved in covertly supporting ISKP to achieve their political objectives , while some others are strengthening regional ties to counter them collectively. External intervention in turn has opened up Afghan soil for a round of proxy wars.
As the regional security scenario seems to deteriorate and Taliban appears to face a tough challenge against a formidable Islamist group, the timing of Amir-Abdollahian’s remarks needs further comprehension especially in the context of ISKP targeting religious minorities. The Iranian FMs remark not only reflects concerns over violence against Shia minorities in Afghanistan, but also the spillover impact on along the Afghan-Iranian borders, including the flow of refugees in case of a civil war.
Conflicting ideologues: Iran & Al-Qaeda
Not long ago, the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, called out Iran as the new operating hub of Al Qaeda.
Iran, as expected, denied this accusation. But Pompeo’s assessment also did not receive support from the intelligence community over his statement. It is not possible for this author to holistically analyse or comment on Tehran’s relationship with al-Qaeda, but to this author, it is conceivable that Iran has been collaborating with Al Qaeda to spread terrorism.
To begin with, groups such Al Qaeda (Sunni militants) are ideologically at war with Shi’a Islam. This further means an implicit disagreement over the way of life of practitioner of Shi’a Islam and Sunni Wahhabi/Salafi organizations. This was evident from a remark made by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, during an address in 2013, where he blamed Western nations and Sunni Gulf states for supporting such Islamists factions against Iran and Shi’ism.
That said, experts argue that Tehran despite being ideologically at war with such groups, follows a realist foreign policy based on regional influence. To support its regional ambitions, experts argue, Tehran continues to host some al-Qaeda affiliate members and their families since the fall of Kabul in 2001.
Countering ISIL
From the Iranian FM’s statements, it appears that one of the key factors in Tehran’s engagement with the Taliban is the growing threat of ISKP. Largely due to the Shia population, followed by shared border of 921-kms, for Tehran, the presence of ISKP on its eastern borders is a grave concern. It appears that Iranian MFA under the direction of the political class and key members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have analysed the prospects of working with the Taliban to counter the security threats posed by the ISKP to the Islamic Republic.
ISKP has been a threat since its existence in 2015, when the group first emerged in Afghanistan. Concerned on the possibility of being flanked by the ISKP, at a time when Tehran was actively engaging ISIL elements in Iraq & Syria, Tehran held two consecutive talks with the then Taliban leader Mullah Mansour in 2016. At the outset, Tehran wanted to enquire on the possibility of an ISKP-Taliban alliance. According to an expert, during the meeting, members of the IRGC categorically mentioned ISKP as a U.S. sponsored proxy working to achieve Washington’s objectives in Afghanistan.
To prove Tehran’s commitment with Taliban, religious leaders and state-run conservative media outlets continue to gather local support based on two key principles: Continue to build new narratives that distinguishes Taliban from the ISKP; Re-interpret some of the actions undertaken by Taliban against the Shia minorities when it first captured power in 1996.
To understand Tehran’s perspectives and commitment based on the principles, the author interacted with two experts from the University of Tehran and Isfahan, to gauge their assessment. During the discussions, experts argued on the adaptability of Taliban to engage in multiple dialogues with the West highlighting their commitment to control Afghanistan’s territories unlike Islamic State which wishes to control Islamic world.
On the issue of Taliban persecuting Shia minorities, both the scholars argued and reinterpreted Taliban actions dating back to 1990s: the Taliban attacks on Shia communities, the assassination of Abdul-Ali Mazari. On the attacks in Bamiyan, they argued, were aimed to capture lost territories and any military operation against the Shia Afghans were largely due to their limited understanding of Taliban’s true objectives, resulting in violence only when they resisted, not because Taliban considered Shias as Kafirs.
To fully comprehend the nature of Tehran’s commitment to Taliban, the author interacted with a conservative religious scholar, who referred Taliban as a local political movement with limited yet positive regional outcomes — making a stark distinction with the ISKP. This justified Tehran’s efforts to work with them in eliminating regional turmoil and reinstating stability within the Afghan society.
The scholar argued that, during the Taliban’s run for Kabul, there were no atrocities committed like those by ISKP or ISIL in Iraq and Syria. The Taliban further announced not to harm the Shia community, showcasing pious Islamic behaviour. According to him, Tehran’s strategic engagement with the Taliban reflects realist polity, with an intent to securitise the eastern border. On seeking IRGC’s position on Taliban, he mentioned his conversation with a senior commander who said Tehran would support the people of Afghanistan if Taliban engages in a confrontation with the ISKP.
It is important to understand that, when Tehran made a remark questioning the ability of the Ashraf Ghani’s government to counter the ISKP militants, it steadily expanded its engagement with the Taliban. Taking note of security concerns rising in its eastern border, Tehran may put more weight behind Taliban to strengthen the latter’s fight against the group. It is too soon to predict the effectiveness of this decision, but for Tehran, securing eastern borders by supporting the new rulers in Kabul may prove more valuable than countering ISIL, winning the hearts and minds of Iran’s Sunni population.
Taliban fighters are seen on a military vehicle in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Aug. 17, 2021. (Str/Xinhua/IANS)
Catering regional ambitions
It is without a doubt, for Tehran, securing eastern borders is the priority, especially after the Taliban takeover of Kabul in 2021.
One may argue, Tehran has been eyeing for Taliban to return. This is evident from countless interactions since the early 2015, when it consciously made efforts to strengthen its relationship with the group, convinced the erstwhile republic government was no longer a match against the ISKP. Cloaking their engagement in the pretext to facilitate an intra-Afghan dialogue — a platform to host negotiations between Taliban leadership and erstwhile republic government — Tehran employed any means necessary to exercise influence within the group. Although it failed to exercise enough influence against competing powers, Tehran had some success, but its influence remains to be tested against traditional Taliban supporters such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, or even UAE.
Nevertheless, Tehran has credible friends in Taliban, though it is still unclear about Taliban’s internal cohesion, organizational architecture, the shura distribution, provincial responsibilities, and Rahbari Shura’s inner workings. For Tehran, the takeover of Kabul, perhaps, stands as one of the most recent challenges to its national security and religious identity. For Tehran, the regime it expected to return has refused to consider inclusivity within its organizational structure or governance. Some in Tehran have expressed concerns against Taliban’s treatment of ethnic and religious minorities, their constant subjugation and disregard to regional neighbours’ religious sensitivity. This has created vacuum for ISKP which according to one report, have carried out more than dozen attacks targeting the Hazaras, since the Taliban came to power in August 2021. Moreover the targeted attack against the Seh Dokan Mosque in Mazar-e Sharif, one of the most prominent Shi’a mosques, left more than 30 dead and over hundred injured, is another such example.
The case of refugees
In the context of refugees, Iran’s position towards the new rulers in Kabul stands conflicted, taking decisions without enraging the new rulers, and at the same time, preventing Afghans from entering their territories. That said, Tehran deported thousands of Afghan soldiers who rushed to the borders after the fall. However, the flood of refugees was beyond the control of heightened border security, with different identities historically tied/linked, with Iran, arriving on the borders from all over Afghanistan. This forced Tehran to hire Pashtun interpreters for official records of intake.
Still, Tehran continues to face serious challenges from unregistered Afghans living in the country. The flow of unregistered migrants’ concerns Tehran to the extent that it fears movement of Takfiri and Salafi sympathisers in its territories, cloaked under the identify of migrant Afghans, with an intent to target Shia clerics.
The border clashes
Iran’s concern during its engagement with the new rulers in Kabul lies primarily in the context of border security. The clashes between Iranian border guards along the Afghanistan–Iran border (between Nimroz and the Iranian Sistan and Baluchestan), adds to the recent list of skirmishes on the border.
Some experts argue, that Tehran’s patience may be interpreted as weakness in Kabul. It is yet to see whether regional forces influencing Taliban may use this opportunity to settle scores against Tehran or at best instil anti-Shia sentiments, long enough for Tehran to retaliate.
A joint initiative against ISKP?
Putting Iranian FM’s remarks aside, for contextual reference, Taliban approaches to tackle the threat of ISKP resonates some sense of commitment, at least in remarks. The Taliban’s call for intelligence cooperation with Tehran reflects some sense of a bilateral engagement Kabul intends to propose, in the interest of national and regional security.
In the on-going battle between the Taliban and the ISKP, we may witness involvement of a key regional player which will convert Afghanistan into a geopolitical playground for proxies. This will prolong until the ISKP continues to effectively challenge and subsequently undermine the Taliban rule. To this end, Kabul could seek some strategic support from Tehran in the context of intelligence collection, stepping beyond traditional diplomatic relations, further complicating regional stability and security.
For Tehran, securing borders with Afghanistan is the greatest challenge. The rise of ISKP has provided limited options/no choice but to strengthen its relationship with Taliban and stabilise in any way possible, even if it means reinterpreting few pages of history. That said, Tehran will not shy away from seeking new alliances. This would mean, strategically using Hezbollah to break away alliances made by the ISKP, a tactic that has never produced positive outcomes. This tactical decision using Hezbollah against the al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) strengthened foundations for the Islamic State, which dangerously evolved with time.
Tehran has a history of defeating Islamist Sunni groups through military action, without considering the notion to win hearts and minds of its Sunni population. But if Tehran emboldens the relationship with Taliban, it must do away with discriminatory practices and harsh treatment against religious minorities. These practices have hurt its relationship with the new leaders before and bolstered Sunni factions such as ISKP in their recruitment propagandas. Will this entail fundamental religious freedom to marginalised Sunni population in Iran? This largely rests on how Tehran reacts to Sunni extremism and extends support to Taliban in their fight against ISKP.
(Anant Mishra specialises on Afghanistan, where he has served three combat deployments. He was adviser to key military and civilian leaders of the Ashraf Ghani government. Views expressed are personal and exclusive to India Narrative)
People continue to face food shortages, and the basic amenities and the situation of women in the country have only got worse….reports Asian Lite News
The humanitarian aid given to Afghanistan by the Official Development Assistance (ODA) has been reduced by 59 per cent, informed the UK Parliament on Saturday, reported the Tolo News.
The statement reported by the Tolo News states that “The Equality Impact Assessment sets out what this means in reality for some of the poorest countries in the world, experiencing the worst humanitarian crises: Yemen saw its UK ODA allocation cut by 45 per cent; Afghanistan by an incredible 76 per cent.”
The FCDO sought to mitigate these cuts but was only able to offer limited additional support. For Afghanistan, this still resulted in a 59 per cent cut, quoted the Tolo News.
The assessment was published by the International Development Committee, citing the report by Tolo News.
The reports claimed that the percentage of reduction changed from 76 to 59 per cent after female doctors in Afghanistan voiced concerns that a cut in aid will cause a surge in the maternal death rate.
“In this regard, the WHO should not be negligent. Also, other organizations which are active with help for women and children should not be negligent about it and there is a need for international aid to be attracted,” said Najmul Sama Shafajo, a doctor, reported the Tolo News.
Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the situation of people, especially women in Afghanistan has only deteriorated as the country is under a massive humanitarian crisis.
People continue to face food shortages, and the basic amenities and the situation of women in the country have only got worse. (ANI)
