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Afghanistan has 2,000 female security officers in Interior Ministry

According to Qani, most female officers work in the ministry’s service and inspection departments…reports Asian Lite News

About 2,000 female security officers currently serve in Afghanistan’s Ministry of Interior, local media reported.

“No employee or member of the Ministry of Interior, especially female police officers, will face any personal or official threats due to their duties in the previous administration,” said Abdul Mateen Qani, spokesman for the ministry.

According to Qani, most female officers work in the ministry’s service and inspection departments, reports Xinhua, quoting the TOLO news agency.

A few months back, a Taliban-led Afghan government announced the ratification of ‘Law on the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice’, with 35 articles detailing significant restrictions on the Afghan population with arbitrary and potentially severe enforcement mechanisms.

The so-called law imposes dress codes, notably ordering women to cover their bodies and faces in public. The decree also imposes that the voices of women must not be heard in public, which effectively deprives Afghan women of their fundamental right to freedom of expression.

Humanitarian aid

The Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) distributed humanitarian aid to more than 1.4 million people across the war-torn Afghanistan during the past year, an official said on Saturday.

“Over 1,430,000 vulnerable and affected people received financial, food, and non-food aid during the past year,” Abdul Latif Sabit, deputy secretary general of ARCS, said at a government accountability programme to brief the nation on the administration’s achievements, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Afghan government stressed the need to provide work and employment opportunities for the vulnerable to help them become self-sufficient.

According to the annual report of the Afghan Red Crescent Society, about 2,212 children suffering from ventricular septal defects received treatment, and nearly 6 million other patients received health services during the past year.

The Afghan caretaker government has vowed to improve public services, including the health sector, throughout Afghanistan, as people lack adequate health access in most parts of the country.

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500 Afghan soldiers to become eligible to live in UK

Pollard said there had been 2,000 cases in which there had been “an inconsistent approach” to decision taking….reports Asian Lite News

An estimated 500 elite Afghan soldiers who fought alongside the British are expected to become eligible to come to the UK after a previous decision rejecting their applications was overturned.

Fresh information has been discovered in about a quarter of the 2,000 rejected cases proving that the at-risk veterans were paid and employed by the UK government in Afghanistan, despite previous claims that no such evidence existed. A review had been launched by the Conservatives in February.

Luke Pollard, the minister for the armed forces, told the Commons on Monday that the emergency reassessment reflected “the problems that have dogged the Afghan resettlement scheme under the previous government”.

Pollard said there had been 2,000 cases in which there had been “an inconsistent approach” to decision taking. Of the cases that had been reviewed under Labour, the minister said “we are expecting an overturn rate of approximately 25%”.

Some of the Afghans have been in hiding from the Taliban, who have been in charge of Afghanistan since the western withdrawal in summer 2021, while a couple of hundred fled to Pakistan where they are at risk of deportation. Six are said to have been murdered for having collaborated with the British.

They include members of the elite Afghan 333 and 444 units, known as the Triples, who fought alongside and worked closely with British forces, including the SAS, during more than a decade of UK military involvement in Afghanistan.

The SAS also had a veto on whether Afghan veterans could come to the UK, but defence sources indicated this was not the reason for the cases being overturned – rather, it was the belated discovery of fresh financial records.

Pollard said: “Officials have now confirmed that there is evidence of payments from the UK government to members of Afghan specialist units, including ‘CF triple three’ and ‘ATF triple four’, and that for some individuals this demonstrates a direct employment relationship.”

There had been concern over a conflict of interest, because a public inquiry is examining allegations that the SAS carried out 80 unlawful, summary killings in Helmand province between 2010 and 2013. Afghan veterans may in theory be able to give evidence that contradicts the SAS position.

In February the then minister for the armed forces, the Conservative James Heappey, said “we do not hold comprehensive employment or payment records” for members of the Afghan special forces. He said they had reported directly to the former government of Afghanistan.

Pollard, his Labour successor, said he had seen “no evidence” suggesting there was a deliberate effort to prevent eligible Afghans from coming to the UK. Conservative ministers had acted “in good faith”, Pollard said, and he placed the blame on problems with information flows between government departments. “I am clear that this sort of systems failure is not good enough,” he added.

The unexpectedly rapid takeover by the Taliban after the US-led withdrawal led to the UK announcing several schemes to allow Afghans who had helped the British to come to the UK. Since the withdrawal, 12,874 Afghans have been granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK – including about 400 members of the triples.

In opposition, Labour had campaigned for the Conservative government to reassess cases involving the Afghan veterans. Pollard told MPs that “it should not have taken this long” to start overruling decisions, and that the review announced in February should have been completed before the July general election.

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Afghan national arrested for election day terror plot

According to a criminal complaint filed today, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, conspired and attempted to provide material support to ISIS…reports Asian Lite News

The United States Justice Department on Tuesday (local time) announced charges against a citizen of Afghanistan residing in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for conspiring to conduct an Election Day terrorist attack in the United States on behalf of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization (FTO).

According to a criminal complaint filed today, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, conspired and attempted to provide material support to ISIS and obtained firearms and ammunition to conduct a violent attack on US soil in the name of ISIS, US Department of Justice said in a statment.

As part of the plot, the defendant allegedly took steps to liquidate his family’s assets, resettle members of his family overseas, acquire AK-47 assault rifles and ammunition, and commit a terrorist attack in the United States.

“As charged, the Justice Department foiled the defendant’s plot to acquire semi-automatic weapons and commit a violent attack in the name of ISIS on US soil on Election Day,” said Attorney General Merrick B Garland. “We will continue to combat the ongoing threat that ISIS and its supporters pose to America’s national security, and we will identify, investigate, and prosecute the individuals who seek to terrorize the American people. I am deeply grateful to the public servants of the FBI, National Security Division, and US Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Oklahoma for their work to disrupt this attack and for the work they do every day to protect our country,” the statement mentioned.

“This defendant, motivated by ISIS, allegedly conspired to commit a violent attack, on Election Day, here in our homeland,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “I am proud of the men and women of the FBI who uncovered and stopped the plot before anyone was harmed. Terrorism is still the FBI’s number one priority, and we will use every resource to protect the American people.”

“Thanks to the relentless efforts of the FBI, National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section, and federal prosecutors in my office, the alleged plan to commit an attack on Election Day was disrupted and Tawhedi was arrested,” said US Attorney Robert J Troester the Western District of Oklahoma. “Fighting terrorism remains the top priority of the Justice Department. We will continue to pursue, disrupt, and hold accountable those who plot to commit acts of terrorism against our country and our people.”

According to the criminal complaint, as part of the investigation into Tawhedi, the FBI searched Tawhedi’s phone and obtained communications between Tawhedi and a person who facilitated recruitment, training, and indoctrination of persons who expressed interest in terrorist activity and who Tawhedi understood to be affiliated with ISIS.

According to the official statment, Tawhedi was also seen in a video recorded on July 20 reading two children’s text that describes the rewards a martyr receives in the afterlife.

“Tawhedi also allegedly accessed, viewed, and saved ISIS propaganda on his iCloud and Google accounts, participated in pro-ISIS Telegram groups and contributed to a charity which fronts for and funnels money to ISIS,” the statment added.

The complaint alleges that while liquidating their family’s assets prior to the attack, Tawhedi and his co-conspirator, who is a juvenile, advertised the sale of the family’s personal property on Facebook.

At the FBI’s direction, a confidential human source responded to inquire if a computer was still for sale. The FBI source noted that he needed the computer for a new gun business he was starting, which ultimately led Tawhedi and the juvenile to meet with the source and other FBI assets at a rural location to test firearms. Tawhedi expressed interest in purchasing two AK-47 assault rifles, magazines, and ammunition from the source.

As per the statement, on October 7, Tawhedi and the juvenile met with the FBI assets at a rural location in the Western District of Oklahoma and purchased, received, and took possession of two AK-47 assault rifles, ten magazines, and 500 rounds of ammunition. Upon receipt of the rifles and ammunition, Tawhedi and the juvenile were arrested.

In his seized communications, Tawhedi allegedly indicated that his attack was planned for Election Day, and in a post-arrest interview, Tawhedi allegedly confirmed the attack was planned for Election Day targeting large gatherings of people, during which he and the juvenile were expected to die as martyrs.

Tawhedi was charged with conspiring and attempting to provide material support to ISIS, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, and receiving a firearm to be used to commit a felony or a federal crime of terrorism, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years if convicted, as per US stated department of Justice.

The case is being investigated by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office, with valuable assistance from the Oklahoma City Police Department and the Moore, Oklahoma Police Department.

Assistant US Attorneys Jessica L Perry, Matt Dillon, and Mark Stoneman for the Western District of Oklahoma and Trial Attorneys George C Kraehe and Everett McMillian of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. (ANI)

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Partners raise aid at UN donor’s conference for Afghanistan

Participants also expressed that Afghanistan remains at the centre of the strategies of donor organizations and countries….reports Asian Lite News

The United Nations hosted a donor’s conference for Afghanistan in Dubai.

According to Khaama news, both domestic and international organizations, along with political representatives from various countries participated in the conference held on October 3 and discussed aid to Afghanistan, which is currently under Taliban control and facing a severe humanitarian crisis.

They exchanged views on the best approaches towards the situation and reaffirmed their commitment towards continuing to offer humanitarian support to the people of Afghanistan.

Participants also expressed that Afghanistan remains at the centre of the strategies of donor organizations and countries.

However, they stressed that “it is the responsibility of all stakeholders to create conditions where Afghans can sustain themselves through employment, rather than relying continuously on international aid,” the news outlet said

The conference also addressed the challenges posed by the Taliban’s new restrictions under the “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice” law. This law has imposed severe limitations, particularly against women. Under this law, women cannot leave their homes without a male guardian, and their voices are considered indecent in public spaces.

According to UNHCR, after more than four decades of conflict and instability in Afghanistan, an estimated 23.7 million Afghans – over half of the population, including women and girls – are in immediate and dire need of humanitarian and protection assistance.

An estimated 28 per cent of the population – or about 12.4 million people – is expected to face acute food insecurity before October of this year. Of those, nearly 2.4 million are predicted to experience emergency levels of hunger, which is one level below famine, UNHCR noted.

Some countries and international organizations have also expressed concerns that the Taliban may misuse humanitarian aid for other purposes.

Karen Decker, the US Charge d’Affaires for Afghanistan, who attended the donors’ conference, told the media that since the fall of the Afghan Republic, the United States has provided $2.3 billion in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. Decker also mentioned that the results of the work conducted by two economic and narcotics groups from the “Doha 3” discussions would soon be reviewed by the United Nations, and the next major Doha meeting will also take place, as observed by Khaama.

India has been an active partner in supporting Afghanistan to become an empowered country on all fronts.

Earlier this year, EAM Jaishankar said in an interview that people-to-people connections lay the foundation of the relationship between the two nations. He highlighted that New Delhi is supporting Afghan people by providing humanitarian assistance, including food, essential medicines and pesticides.

India has routinely supported the call for Afghanistan’s development process to be “an inclusive, Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace process.”

The call for a long-term solution emphasizes that Afghanistan’s future should not rely solely on aid. Sustainable employment and self-sufficiency must be at the core of any strategy to help Afghanistan’s people build a better future, Khaama noted. (ANI)

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Russia hosts meeting of Moscow Format talks on Afghanistan

The statement added that participants reaffirmed their support for Afghanistan during Friday’s meeting….reports Asian Lite News

Moscow hosted the 6th meeting of the Moscow Format of Consultations on Afghanistan, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The statement added that participants reaffirmed their support for Afghanistan during Friday’s meeting.

“On October 4, Moscow hosted the 6th meeting of the Moscow Format of Consultations on Afghanistan. The sides unanimously reaffirmed their support for Afghanistan’s development as an independent, unified, and peaceful state.”

The meeting saw the participation of special representatives and senior officials from Russia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, attended as the main guest, the statement said.

During the meeting, participants reaffirmed their support for Afghanistan’s development as an independent, unified, and peaceful state and expressed their readiness to assist Kabul in counter-terrorism and anti-drug efforts.

The participants showed interest in developing regional infrastructure projects involving Afghanistan and noted the promising nature of economic, trade, and investment cooperation with Kabul.

The sides highlighted the importance of international humanitarian aid for Afghanistan, emphasising that such aid should not be politically motivated.

A joint statement was adopted by the participants of the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan.

The parties expressed deep concern over the security situation related to terrorism in Afghanistan, noting that terrorist and separatist groups based there continue to pose a serious threat to global and regional security.

They called for strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation at both bilateral and multilateral levels, emphasising that Afghanistan should be supported in taking comprehensive measures to address both the symptoms and root causes of terrorism and eradicate it swiftly.

The participants urged Afghanistan’s de facto authorities to take visible and verifiable actions to fulfil the international obligations and commitments made to combat terrorism, dismantle and eliminate all terrorist groups in a non-discriminatory manner, and prevent the use of Afghan territory against neighbouring countries, the region, and beyond.

The parties reaffirmed their unwavering support for Afghanistan as an independent, united, and peaceful state. They rejected attempts by third countries to deploy military infrastructure in Afghanistan or its neighbouring states, arguing that such actions do not serve regional peace and stability.

The participants also noted the promising development of economic and trade exchanges, along with investment cooperation between Afghanistan and regional countries. They expressed interest in developing regional economic projects with Afghan participation and in promoting progress in fields such as healthcare, poverty alleviation, agriculture, and disaster prevention, to help Afghanistan achieve independent and sustainable development at the earliest possible date. They supported the active integration of Afghanistan into regional connectivity efforts, the statement added.

The parties reiterated their commitment to continuing humanitarian support for the Afghan people and called on the international community to intensify the provision of emergency humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan while opposing any attempts to politicise such aid.

The participants also called for moderate, prudent, and inclusive governance by Afghanistan’s de facto authorities, urging them to protect the basic rights and interests of all Afghans, including women, girls, and all ethnic groups, and to continue efforts to meet the needs of the Afghan people.

The parties urged the Afghan authorities to create the necessary conditions to improve the welfare of the Afghan people, prevent further migration, and facilitate the return of refugees. They expressed appreciation for Iran, Pakistan, and other regional countries hosting millions of Afghan refugees and called on the international community and donors to provide assistance.

The parties emphasised the significant role of regional frameworks in Afghanistan’s recovery and urged the countries primarily responsible for the current situation in Afghanistan to fulfil their commitments to the country’s economic recovery and future development. (ANI)

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Tribal clashes: Pak-Afghan Kharlachi border reopens after 9 days

The closure of this key border crossing caused great trouble for the residents as essential items such as food commodities…reports Asian Lite News

The major Afghanistan- Pakistan border crossing at Kharlachi in the Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was opened on Tuesday after being closed for nine days following clashes between tribal communities near the border area, as reported by Geo News.

The closure of this key border crossing caused great trouble for the residents as essential items such as food commodities, medicines, fuel and other necessities had been exhausted thereby creating problems for the local population.

The clashes took place between the tribes in central Kurram and tribes in the Balishkhel areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which intensified as the violence spread to other areas like Pewar, Teri Mangal and Kanj Alizai which are close to major routes connecting Afghanistan to Pakistan.

Elders belonging to the Turi-Bangash tribes had called for immediate action from the authorities to resolve the issue amicably.

Geo News noted that the police authorities said the clashes between rival tribes had stopped and peace was restored in the area. To ensure protection, security forces and police personnel were deployed at key positions. It was observed that after days of deadly clashes, the warring tribes had agreed to a ceasefire earlier as well that lasted for about a month.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor, Faisal Karim Kundi said that at least 60 people had died in the locality of Parachinar and dozens of others were injured as a result of violence erupting again in the region. The governor’s remarks came about a week after the second round of clashes began over the construction of trenches and continued unabated for multiple days.

The tribes have been warring due to a land dispute between them which had witnessed armed clashes in August that resulted in 50 casualties and wounded 226 others. This was followed by a two-month ceasefire after intervention from authorities. Police had said that the recent clashes at various places resulted in the closure of the Peshawar-Parachinar road. Due to the closure of roads and markets, people were facing severe difficulties in accessing basic necessities and services, as noted by Geo News.

Kurram Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud had said measures were being taken to reopen routes and establish permanent peace by preventing the clashes with the help of the tribes’ elders and jirga (assembly of tribal leaders).

Meanwhile, separate jirgas of different tribes were convened that discussed ways and means to effect a ceasefire and restore lasting peace in the region.

According to Geo News, tribal leaders Jalal Bangash, Engr Hamid Hussain, Member of the National Assembly and parliamentary leader of the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM), Malik Zaman Hussain among others had said that no one would benefit from the ongoing conflict and that a trivial issue between two families escalated into violent clashes due to the negligence of the administration and other responsible authorities. (ANI)

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‘Academic freedom in Hong Kong nosedived after security law’

The HRW report also claimed that the leadership in these eight universities have enforced abusive policies and has repeatedly harassed the once-influential student unions….reports Asian Lite News

The educational freedom in Hong Kong continues to decline after the Chinese government imposed the National Security Law on the city on June 30, 2020.

Many important aspects of education, like civil liberties, including the rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association, are under attack due to the imposed law as students and teachers continue to be fearful of being targeted and harassed.

A recent report titled, “‘We can’t write the Truth anymore’: Academic Freedom in Hong Kong Under the National Security Law,” released by Human Rights Watch (HRW), an international human rights watchdog claimed freedom of expression, assembly, and association are under assault in eight of Hong Kong’s eight publicly funded universities.

According to the same report by HRW, “These universities have become increasingly repressive, students and faculty widely self-censor, fearful of being targeted for harassment, retribution, and even prosecution for what they say and do both in the classroom and on campus”.

Maya Wang, associate China director at Human Rights Watch “Hong Kong students and faculty, accustomed to academic freedom, now have to tread carefully to avoid retribution for what they teach, research, and publish, and even with whom they associate. The Chinese government considers gaining ideological control over Hong Kong’s universities a top priority, and many students and faculty now find themselves in the line of fire”.

The HRW report also claimed that the leadership in these eight universities have enforced abusive policies and has repeatedly harassed the once-influential student unions.

The report claimed that the members of these student unions can no longer effectively function as elected representatives of the student bodies. According to the report ” They have scrubbed clean notice boards known as “Democracy Walls,” and removed from campuses memorials that are reminders of the Chinese government’s 1989 Tiananmen Massacre of pro-democracy protesters”.

University administrations have also penalised students for holding peaceful protests and gatherings; censored student publications, communications, and events; and used university security guards to monitor students in public spaces. However, none of the universities gave a comment on the matter when asked by the HRW.

According to HRW, the report is based on interviews with faculty and students from all eight publicly funded Hong Kong universities, and a review of media reports in both Chinese and English.

The interviewed individuals claimed that they regularly self-censor in the classrooms, when they write and publish articles, apply for academic funding, and deliberate over which speakers to invite to conferences and events. Many others claimed that they have also faced. One such interviewed individual said that his university reported him to the Hong Kong police for an academic article he wrote that discussed the artwork made during the 2019 protests. (ANI)

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Afghan women endure historic oppression, says UN chief

Last month, the Taliban announced that a new law on the “Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice,” will be in force in the country….reports Asian Lite News

United Nations Chief Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over the situation in Afghanistan, likening it to some of the most egregious systems of oppression in recent history.

Sharing a post on X, Guterres said, “What is happening in Afghanistan can be compared with some of the most egregious systems of oppression in recent history.”

He added, “I join all countries and organisations demanding that the de facto authorities remove all discriminatory restrictions against women and girls immediately.”

Last month, the Taliban announced that a new law on the “Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice,” will be in force in the country.

Issued on August 21 by Afghanistan’s Ministry for Promoting Virtue and Preventing Vice, the new law orders women to cover their bodies and faces entirely and not speak or sing loud enough for non-family members to hear them.

The document of the law published in the official gazette imposes its interpretation of the Islamic Sharia law.

Women’s voices, it says, are now considered as ‘awrah’, or intimate parts, and may only be experienced in cases of necessity. The orders related to hijab are described, and it is said that it is essential to cover the whole body of the woman and it is necessary to cover the face due to the fear of temptation.

In addition, the law states that the ombudsmen are responsible to prevent the drivers from playing music, using drugs, transporting women without hijab, providing a place for women to sit and mingle with men who are not mahrams, and from being wise and mature.

“It is haram for unrelated men to look at the bodies or faces of unrelated women, and it is haram for unrelated women to look at unrelated men,” the law ratified by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada states.

Punishment for these “crimes” will be carried out by the Taliban’s Muhtaseebs or morality police who have the authority to detain individuals for up to three days.

Notably, the Taliban have attempted to partially defend their new laws by claiming they are intended to safeguard women. The regime has recently begun tightening down on men, with morality police visiting mosques and inspecting for those who haven’t grown beards.

Long before the Taliban came to power, Afghanistan granted women the right to vote in 1919, a year before the United States. It opened its first schools for girls in 1921, according to The Washington Post. (ANI)

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Amnesty condemns extrajudicial killings in Pakistan, slams blasphemy laws

Amnesty condemned the recent police killings of two individuals accused of blasphemy in separate incidents within a week…reports Asian Lite News

Amnesty International, an International human rights watchdog, has raised serious concerns about the ongoing extrajudicial killings of individuals accused of blasphemy in Pakistan, calling out the government for failing to protect basic human rights, including the right to life and freedom of religion.

In a statement on X, Amnesty condemned the recent police killings of two individuals accused of blasphemy in separate incidents within a week.

On September 19, a doctor accused of blasphemy was gunned down by police officers in what authorities termed a ‘police encounter’ in Umarkot, Sindh.

This incident followed the September 12 killing of a blasphemy suspect by a police officer while in custody in Quetta, Balochistan. Amnesty has criticized the Pakistani authorities for evading accountability in these cases, particularly pointing to how the family of the victim in Quetta was allegedly pressured to forgive the police officer under the country’s laws, which allow heirs to pardon murderers of the blasphemy victims.

This latest spate of violence underscores a troubling pattern of impunity for those involved in blasphemy-related killings.

Since May 2024, four individuals accused of blasphemy have been lynched by mobs in different parts of Pakistan, including Sargodha of Punjab province, Swat of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Quetta of Balochistan, and Mirpurkhas of Sindh province in Pakistan.

Amnesty International called for an impartial and independent investigation into these incidents, urging Pakistani authorities to prosecute those responsible through fair and transparent trials. The organization also reiterated its demand for the repeal of Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws, which it argues have long been used to justify violence and perpetuate discrimination against religious minorities in Pakistan.

Pakistan’s blasphemy laws have frequently been criticized by international human rights organizations for being overly broad and misused, often leading to mob violence and extrajudicial killings. Despite these growing concerns, the Pakistani government has yet to take meaningful steps toward reforming or repealing these laws, which many see as tools for oppression rather than justice.

As calls for justice grow louder, Amnesty’s statement shines a harsh light on Pakistan’s deteriorating human rights record and the government’s failure to protect vulnerable communities from violence. The international community continues to pressure the authorities to not only bring those responsible for these killings to justice but also to address the root cause by dismantling the blasphemy laws that have led to countless lives being lost. (ANI)

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Afghanistan reopens its embassy in Oman

This move highlights the Taliban’s ongoing efforts to establish a more formal diplomatic presence…reports Asian Lite News

Afghanistan’s Embassy in Oman has officially reopened, signaling the Taliban’s growing diplomatic presence in the Gulf region. Zia Ahmad Takal, the deputy spokesman for the Foreign Ministry in Kabul, confirmed that the embassy in Muscat resumed operations on Sunday. This comes after the United Arab Emirates accepted a Taliban ambassador last month, and follows the Taliban’s July declaration that they no longer recognize diplomatic missions set up by the previous, Western-backed government of Afghanistan.

While there has been no immediate confirmation from Omani authorities, Takal emphasized that the embassy is now staffed by diplomats from the Taliban-led government. He noted that the resumption of the embassy’s activities, facilitated through cooperation with Oman, is expected to enhance political, economic, social, and religious relations between Kabul and Muscat. Takal also confirmed that 39 diplomatic missions globally are now under Taliban control.

This move highlights the Taliban’s ongoing efforts to establish a more formal diplomatic presence, despite most countries still not recognizing them as Afghanistan’s legitimate government. The Taliban have been in power for three years and continue to face limited internal or external opposition. Nevertheless, they have pursued closer bilateral ties with key regional powers.

In line with this diplomatic push, Uzbekistan’s Prime Minister, Abdulla Aripov, visited Afghanistan last month, making it the highest-level visit by a foreign official since the Taliban took control in August 2021. Meanwhile, embassies in London and Oslo have closed, reflecting the international community’s divided stance on how to engage with the Taliban as they extend their control over Afghanistan’s overseas diplomatic missions.

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