Category: Afghanistan

The Durand Line, the de-facto border, has not been recognised by either the Taliban or the previous democratically-regimes in Afghanistan..writes Rahul Kumar

The Taliban administration’s Defence Minister Maulvi Muhammad Yaqub Mujahid has said that the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, called the Durand Line, is merely a ‘line’.

Mujahid, the son of Mullah Muhammad Umar Mujahid – the founder of the Taliban, told TOLO News in Kabul in a video interview that Afghanistan will raise the matter with Islamabad when the people want it. He said the Taliban is not raising the issue of the border with Pakistan as people of Afghanistan are facing other problems.

The Tolo broadcast was reported by The Independent Urdu newspaper.

Mujahid’s views assume significance in light of the discussions happening over the relocation of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) members by the Taliban administration from the Durand Line.

The Durand Line, the de-facto border, has not been recognised by either the Taliban or the previous democratically-regimes in Afghanistan, more so by the Pashtuns living on both sides of the border.

The Taliban leader defended the Pakistani Taliban, saying that if the TTP is based in Afghanistan then it would be attacking Pakistani security posts on the border. Instead, the TTP is attacking cities inside Pakistan, including Islamabad. Blaming Pakistan for poor security, Mujahid said that Pakistan is unable to defend itself against the TTP, therefore, it blames Afghanistan.

Regarding Afghanistan’s relations with Pakistan, Mujahid said that its eastern neighbour should think about a free and settled Afghanistan – “Abad Afghanistan”, as he described it, adding that it would be in the interests of Pakistan also.

In the interview to Tolo, Mujahid accused the US of violating its airspace through the use of drones. He blamed Pakistan for allowing the US to fly drones over the Afghan airspace. The Taliban Defence Minister was hinting at the killing of al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri, by a US drone – an act which violated the Doha Agreement signed by the Taliban with former US president Donald Trump that paved the way for the withdrawal of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan.

Several ministers in the Pakistan government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have blamed Afghanistan’s Taliban government and the TTP for the increasing violence in Pakistan. The TTP is believed to have been targeting Pakistani policemen and other security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well as Balochistan – both the provinces lie on the border with Afghanistan. However, the TTP has also carried out attacks in Punjab, including in Islamabad.

The issue of TTP, which wants an Islamic government in Pakistan, has riled relations between the two South Asian neighbours. Pakistani ministers have threatened to attack TTP hideouts across the border, which has been met with counter-threats by Kabul. Troops on both sides of the disputed border have fired at each other on numerous occasions leading to several casualties on both sides.

Earlier this year, Pakistan even sent a delegation consisting of Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum to Kabul to discuss the vexed issue of TTP attacks and make peace on the contentious border.

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Taliban official called on national and international entrepreneurs to consider Maidan Wardak a promising and potential destination…reports Asian Lite News

Several Chinese investors recently travelled to Afghanistan’s Maidan Wardak to assess potential business opportunities in the province, official sources said, Khaama Press reported.

The Khaama Press News Agency is an online news service for Afghanistan. Chinese investors during the visit met with the governor of Maidan Wardak province Qari Bakhtyar Mouaz and stated that they are interested to build production plants of kitchen utensils, wire nets, and diapers, according to reports.

The report added, these foreign investors would like to invest an estimated amount of USD 250,000 for a starter and will increase their investment in a gradual manner.

Afghanistan Governor Qari Bakhtyar Mouaz said that they are ready to provide all the necessary facilities for the construction of these factories in the industrial town of the province.

Mouaz stressed that security-wise, every corner of Afghanistan is ready for investment, and he called on national and international entrepreneurs to consider Maidan Wardak a promising and potential destination for small and medium-sized businesses, as per Khaama Press.

Since the return of the Taliban to power in August 2021, foreign investment has declined to almost zero according to economic experts, as the country is currently plagued with dire economic and humanitarian situations.

According to Khaama Press, hundreds of national investors and business people fled the country fearing death threats and persecution from the Taliban regime, and thousands of development projects throughout the country have been left incomplete following the late regime change.

Lack of market for women’s products

Women in Afghanistan expressed their concerns about the absence of a market for their products on the occasion of World Handicrafts Day, Afghanistan-based TOLO News reported.

Many Afghan women noted a decline in the market for their handicrafts over the past two years and emphasized the need for support from relevant institutions. Rokhsar, a female investor with four years of experience in the handicrafts business, called for assistance from the Taliban. She further said, “Women should be supported so they can stand on their own feet and make progress,” TOLO News reported. Benafsha, a businesswoman, said that their business has witnessed a decline ever since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021.

Benafsha further added, “The sales decreased due to the poor economic situation of the people. They cannot afford to buy our products. Also, our products are not sent abroad due to the closure of air corridors for women.”

Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, a spokesperson for the Taliban-led Ministry of Industry and Commerce, said that the Taliban has the commitment to assist businesswomen and added that they are working to address the issues of women, according to TOLO News.

Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad said, “We fully support women who are engaged in handicrafts business, and we create markets for their handicrafts both inside and outside the country so that they may make an important contribution as a powerful part of the country’s commerce sector.”

Meanwhile, the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that women’s chambers of commerce have been open in 16 provinces of Afghanistan, including Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar, Nuristan, Herat, and Kabul. (ANI)

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Equiza also pointed out that the condition of children in the country is disastrous, as some children are breadwinners for their families….reports Asian Lite News

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, on Thursday, said that nearly 16 million children in Afghanistan need urgent humanitarian aid, warning of a “children’s crisis,” Khaama Press reported.

“In a country with almost 16 million children in need of protection and humanitarian assistance, in a country in which way too many kids are burdened with responsibilities way beyond their age, in a country where the children’s rights are eroded every day, having a space like this offers the kids a respite, a safe and secure space where the kids can rest, can relax, can play and can make friends,” UNICEF representative in Afghanistan, Fran Equiza said. In a video message, he further stated that many children have become responsible way before their age of maturity. Children’s rights are constantly being degraded in Afghanistan.

He further stated that the children even don’t have clean water to quench their thirst or blankets to sleep, according to Khaama Press.

Equiza also pointed out that the condition of children in the country is disastrous, as some children are breadwinners for their families.

“Children as young as six are in dangerous conditions to help their parents put a little food on the table,” he said.

On the other hand, children are the most vulnerable section of society, including violence, early marriage and a huge responsibility.

“Too many live in fear of violence or early marriage. Too many are burdened by the weight of dual responsibility,” he said. “Too many people have forgotten that Afghanistan is a children’s crisis,” Equiza added.

The organization also reiterated that nearly 2.3 million children are expected to face acute malnutrition in 2023, according to Khaama Press.

Since the Taliban’s control of the country, following the sanction by the international community, the country has faced financial, acute humanitarian, and human rights crises.

Deportation from Pakistan

Recently Taliban-led Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation said that Pakistan has deported some 531 Afghan refugees, including women and children.

It said that Afghan refugees entered Afghanistan through the Spin Boldak crossing point in Southern Kandahar province on Sunday and Monday respectively, Khaama Press reported.

It further said that the refugees were introduced to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to receive necessary aid. After the Taliban assumed power in August 2021, thousands of Afghans fearing persecution and death threats fled Afghanistan and entered neighbouring nations like Pakistan and Iran in search of security and job opportunities, the report said. In the past months, Taliban officials have reported about thousands of Afghan refugees returning to the country either forcefully or willingly from Iran and Turkey. (ANI)

ALSO READ: ILO warns of increasing child labourers in Afghanistan

The high number of Afghan refugees, estimated to exceed five million individuals, has strained the local labor market, making it increasingly difficult for refugees to find suitable work…reports Asian Lite News

Afghan refugees residing in Iran have voiced concerns about the scarcity of job opportunities available to them in the country and also raised concern over the “mistreatment” by authorities, reported Tolo News.

“Even if an employment opportunity is provided, because of religious issues or for being a Sunni and Afghan, you cannot engage in work. If they are selected for a job, they are given heavy tasks,” said Mursal, an Afghan refugee in Iran. Many find it challenging to secure stable employment and provide for their families, exacerbating their already precarious situation.

The high number of Afghan refugees, estimated to exceed five million individuals according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran, has strained the local labor market, making it increasingly difficult for refugees to find suitable work.

Asifa Stanikzai, a human rights activist said, “The refugees have problems in working and residence issues and lack of identification and also the closure of identification and passport centres has created obstacles for the refugees.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation tweeted that more than 2,500 Afghan refugees returned to Afghanistan from Iran on Saturday.

According to the ministry, “2534 refugees arrived in Afghanistan from Iran on Jawza 20 (June 10, 2023).

“According to a border office in Islam Qala of Herat province, 228 of them were sent to IOM to receive assistance,” the ministry added.

Taliban’s spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid called on Iran to treat Afghan refugees properly. He also said that the Islamic Emirate is trying to provide the ground for the Afghan refugees to return from Iran, as per Tolo News.

“The situation of the refugees should be based on human beings in all neighbouring countries, especially Iran. Their rights should be ensured and they should not be deported. Migration is an issue which is difficult for Iran as well to cope with but it should consider it based on neighbourly and brotherly manners,” Mujahid said.

After Pakistan, Iran hosts the highest number of Afghan refugees. Tens of thousands of Afghans have left the country for Iran over the past two years. (ANI)

ALSO READ: ILO warns of increasing child labourers in Afghanistan

UNICEF Afghanistan said that one in five children in Afghanistan is engaged in child labour…reports Asian Lite News

The head of the International Labour Organization (ILO) has warned of an increase in the number of children who are engaged in work generally and mainly with hazardous jobs, Afghanistan-based TOLO News reported. The ILO’s head in Afghanistan Ramin Behzad issued the warning on World Day Against Child Labour.

Ramin Behzad said, “More than 1.06 million children were engaged in labour in Afghanistan in 2020 and 2021. We counted those between 5 to 17 years old.” The United Nations had organised a gathering in Kabul to mark World Day Against Child Labour under the title of “Social Justice.” Taliban-led Ministry of Public Work (MoPW) said that over one million children are engaged in hazardous work and nearly 2 million others are working on the street, as per the TOLO News report. Sharafuddin Sharaf, chief of the office of the Taliban-led Ministry of Public Work (MOPW) said that 19.5 million children exist in Afghanistan and 11.4 million of them have been enrolled in school.

Sharafuddin Sharaf said, “19.5 million children exist in Afghanistan. 11.4 million of them are enrolled in school, but because of imposed wars and poverty and economic problems, 7.8 million of children are not in school. 1.2 are engaged in hazardous work and 1.9 million of them are doing normal work on the streets,” TOLO News reported.

Meanwhile, Sharaf Hameedi, head of the national union of labour, said that children have been facing hardships in Afghanistan and added that some of them work for over 15 hours. He said that the children should not work for over 35 hours in a week, however, the truth is that the children in Afghanistan are working for over 15 hours in 24 hours.

In a tweet, UNICEF Afghanistan said that one in five children in Afghanistan is engaged in child labour. It further said, “No matter the cause, UNICEF aims to end child labour in all forms,” according to TOLO News report.

The international aid to Afghanistan has been reduced and the country’s USD 9.5 billion assets abroad have been frozen after the Taliban took control of the country in August 2021.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres tweeted, “Shamefully, 160 million children worldwide are victims of child labour today. That’s almost 1 in 10 children. On this #EndChildLabour Day we must commit to redouble efforts to stop this harmful practice & protect children from exploitation.” (ANI)

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