Tag: Afghanistan

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Infiltrate Pakistan, Afghan Taliban tell TTP

Yahya asserts that “all Mujahideen are prepared to follow the orders of Amir al-Mu’minin” and are committed to combating Pakistan….reports Asian Lite News

 An Afghan Taliban commander, Yahya, has delivered an inciteful speech against Pakistan’s security forces in which he calls on Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) cadre to “infiltrate Pakistan and take revenge”, media reports said.

In a leaked video, Yahya is seen addressing a gathering full of terrorists of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur militant group — a faction of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Geo News reported.

Yahya asserts that “all Mujahideen are prepared to follow the orders of Amir al-Mu’minin” and are committed to combating Pakistan.

He provides instructions on how the militants “should infiltrate Pakistan and emphasises not leaving any wounded individuals behind,” Express Tribune reported.

In the leaked video, which is said to have emerged from the Dangar Algad area in Afghanistan, the terrorists are seen gathered around the commander who talks about planning an attack directed towards the security forces of Pakistan at the Pak-Afghan border, Geo News reported.

Yayha is seen giving instructions to the militants, emphasising being ready to take revenge on Pakistan.

In the video, the terrorists were also seen agreeing to fight against Pakistan, the report said.

In the video, Yahya can be heard addressing the armed men, including a suicide bomber, in Pashto. Discussing the details of an impending attack, he informs the militants that “there will be six rocket launchers and six assistants, along with two laser operators and their assistants, as well as a sniper,” Express Tribune reported.

ALSO READ: Pakistan Gears Up to Repatriate One Million Afghans

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80% of Afghans Grapple with Water Scarcity

The landlocked Afghanistan is grappling with an exacerbated drought…reports Asian Lite News

Nearly 80 per cent of Afghanistan’s population lacks access to potable water, according to a report from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Afghanistan.

The report pointed out that the severe drought conditions, economic instability, and the devastating effects of prolonged conflicts have significantly reduced Afghanistan’s water infrastructure, Xinhua news agency reported.

The crisis disproportionately affects female-headed households, which face additional barriers in accessing public water facilities, exacerbating their vulnerability, it added.

The landlocked Afghanistan is grappling with an exacerbated drought.

The Afghan caretaker government has been building small dams, water supply networks, and water canals across the country to improve and store groundwater.

ALSO READ: Pakistan Confirms Airstrikes Inside Afghanistan

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PRC-GHQ Role in US Defeat in Afghanistan

The manner in which the PLA-GHQ Rawalpindi alliance sabotaged the US-led war against terror in Afghanistan has never been documented, at least in public, writes Prof. Madhav Das Nalapat

On 12 December 2000, the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) handed the Presidency to George W. Bush, ignoring the numerous flaws in the vote counting process in Florida, a state where the Republican nominee’s brother Jeb was the Governor.

The 43rd President of the United States (POTUS) created history by emerging as the only US President elected not by the people but selected by the Supreme Court of the United States. Vice-President Dick Cheney by his side, George W. Bush initiated a necessary war against the Taliban in Afghanistan, winning it together with the Northern Alliance.

After that triumph, error after error was made by US policymakers in that unfortunate country, which culminated in the US surrender to the Taliban in 2021. This was through President Biden operationalizing the surrender document approved by President Trump in 2020. What has thus far gone unmentioned by multiple accounts of the 2001-21 Afghanistan war is the role played by elements who were citizens of the PRC, as well aspects of the role played by GHQ Rawalpindi.

It is a matter of worry for countries that have de facto or de jure security alliances with the US that its numerous intelligence agencies seem to have several blind spots about the CCP. In Afghanistan, among the “active methods” used against US forces in particular was for nationals of the PRC, to not just infiltrate women and young men into brothels and bars, but also to financially control several such establishments.

Many of the ladies and youths who gave Coalition troops hours of happy escape from the war reported their interactions with such soldiers to conveyors of intelligence to agencies in the PRC. As a consequence of drunken stupors and drug-induced loquacity, several bits of actionable intelligence were gleaned by the faraway controllers of the bars, brothels and bedrooms frequented even by senior officers and officials from the US and from other coalition partners.

Useful intel was transmitted to the Taliban, usually through contacts linked to the Pakistan military, to ensure that the extremist militia kept a step ahead of the Coalition. A consequence of such actions was that by 2006, drug addiction had become ubiquitous among US servicemen in particular, leading several to mow down innocent civilians in the belief that they were “hostiles”.

More generally, elements who in actuality opposed the Taliban were labelled as Taliban sympathisers by GHQ Rawalpindi with the consequence that the Taliban secured the advantage of having their most capable Afghan opponents in the field of battle eliminated by Coalition forces acting on the basis of tainted intel supplied to them. An army that had sworn to support the war against the Taliban in actuality went about doing the opposite.

As for the PRC nationals who were in the “Happy Hours” trade in Afghanistan, information about combat operations and deployments gleaned by sex workers in such establishments was passed on via Pakistan army contacts to Taliban elements, so much so that by 2009, the tide of battle had changed in favour of the Taliban in more than two-thirds of Afghanistan. This was despite the fact that the majority of the Afghan population, not just Tajiks and Hazara but many Pashtuns as well, were opposed to a return of the Taliban.

The manner in which the PLA-GHQ Rawalpindi alliance sabotaged the US-led war against terror in Afghanistan has never been documented, at least in public. Such a conclusion would have gone against the triumphalist narrative that characterised the George W. Bush years. Routing the Taliban during 2001-3 was laudable, but what happened afterwards was criminal.

Such a folly was capped by the manner and scope of President Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, an act that is certain to make the country once again a breeding ground for extremism and terror. Few countries would now trust the US as a security partner after such a withdrawal, at least as long as Joe Biden is President.

Despite some erroneous past decisions, the US Supreme Court redeemed itself on March 4 by unanimously striking down efforts by the Department of Justice to influence the forthcoming Presidential poll. This is being sought to be accomplished by ensnaring Donald Trump in a medley of cases, and seeking to send him to prison well before November 5, the date of the election.

Were the Department of Justice to succeed in sending Trump to prison months or even weeks before the US Presidential polls, the 46th POTUS would be elected the 47th POTUS in a landslide. US voters respect fair play, and the present administration’s Operation Imprison Trump resembles events that have just played out in Pakistan, where Imran Khan, the actual winner of the popular vote, is in jail and an individual known for his deference to GHQ Rawalpindi has been anointed as the Prime Minister.

These columns have more than once pointed to Biden’s feverish prosecution of the Ukraine war as the single biggest factor behind his unpopularity, given the worldwide economic hardship the US-UK-EU war effort against Russia and its sanctions have had.

The Ukraine war that intensified in 2022 may mark the end of the Atlantic Alliance as the primary force in global geopolitics, and the emergence of India, Brazil and Indonesia as the troika to watch. Those Democratic Party functionaries in charge of some states in the US such as Colorado sought to block Trump from the Presidential ballot on the fictitious charge of having led an insurrection on January 6, 2021.

The US Supreme Court has ruled that it ought to be the US Congress rather than individual states that ought to have the final say on eligibility, and given that the Presidency is a national and not a state position, such a ruling makes complete sense. In these columns, almost at the start of his term in the White House, it had been suggested that Joe Biden declare that he would only serve a single term. Had he done so, the historical record for the Biden years would be very different from what it is shaping up to be.

ALSO READ: Hate preachers from Pak, Afghanistan can’t enter UK

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Karzai calls for reopening schools, universities for girls  

The former President emphasized that women’s education and experience are now widely recognized as essential to the public good…reports Asian Lite News

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has called upon the Taliban regime to allow girls back into schools and universities, and stressed that the active involvement of both men and women is essential to Afghanistan’s future, reported Khaama Press.

“Once again… on the eve of the new academic year, I urge the interim Islamic government to open the doors of schools and universities to girls across the country to pave the way for the advancement and prosperity of the nation,” the former president of Afghanistan said in a message.

Additionally, he said that women’s employment and education must receive significant attention in order to achieve progress, development, and freedom from dependence, as well as to provide the foundation for the development of the nation, reported Khaama Press.

The former President emphasized that women’s education and experience are now widely recognized as essential to the public good due to their positive contributions to society’s development and the raising of the next generation.

The Human Rights Watch recently highlighted in a report that since the Taliban took control in August 2021, it has imposed a brutal crackdown on women and girls, violating rights in every aspect of their lives, including their ability to study, work, live free from violence, access health care, participate in public life, move freely, or even just walk in the park.

“These abuses continue to escalate and are blatant violations of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), which Afghanistan ratified in 2003,” it said.

Notably, many governments across the world have denounced the Taliban’s full-scale attack on the rights of Afghan women and girls.”While the International Criminal Court is investigating Taliban atrocity crimes, the ICJ offers governments that have expressed their solidarity with Afghan women another practical way to put Taliban abuses under judicial scrutiny – one which, as illustrated in other recent cases, can produce measures that could have a positive impact,” the report stated.

In the immediate aftermath of August 2021, the Taliban banned girls from going to school beyond the sixth grade and imposed strict rules requiring women to wear hijabs and to travel only with a male chaperone.

They closed down beauty salons and blocked women from working with domestic and international non-governmental aid groups, sparking international outrage on the matter. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Blast Kills Two in Pakistan

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UNAMA chief urges Taliban to end constraints on women

The head of the UN Deputy Mission in Afghanistan urged the Taliban to abolish the restrictions placed on women…reports Asian Lite News

he Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and Head of the UN Deputy Mission in Afghanistan, Roza Otenbayeva, has once again drawn attention to the growing risk that prohibitions on women would drive Afghanistan even deeper into poverty and isolation, according to Khaama Press.

The head of the UN Deputy Mission in Afghanistan urged the Taliban to abolish the restrictions placed on women and girls as the world observes International Women’s Solidarity Day on March 8.

Otenbayeva regrets seeing in Afghanistan a “disastrous negative investment” rather than investing in women, which causes serious harm to women and girls and impedes peace and prosperity, according to a statement released by UNAMA.

In its statement, UNAMA also highlighted Afghan women’s appeal for international solidarity in their advocacy, guarantees women’s active involvement and representation in all talks about Afghanistan’s future, and uphold foreign aid that specifically benefits women, reported Khaama Press.

In addition to these pressing appeals, Afghanistan is experiencing severe humanitarian problems that are made worse by political unrest and violence, which increases the vulnerability of women and girls.

The dire need for swift action to alleviate the situation of women and girls–who are disproportionately impacted by the conflict and socioeconomic limitations–is highlighted by the global leaders.

In order to ensure that women actively participate in defining the future of their country and contribute to peace and prosperity for all, it is crucial that coordinated efforts be made to remove obstacles, promote inclusivity, and support women’s rights in Afghanistan as the international world rallies support for their rights.

Notably, many governments across the world have denounced the Taliban’s full-scale attack on the rights of Afghan women and girls.

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 armed group has taken to further segregate the country and limit women’s role in society.

In the immediate aftermath of August 2021, the Taliban banned girls from going to school beyond the sixth grade and imposed strict rules requiring women to wear hijabs and to travel only with a male chaperone. (ANI)

ALSO READ: EXODUS: Pakistanis Fleeing Amid Economic Turmoil and Political Uncertainty

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Kabul Bets Big on Iran’s Chabahar Port, Eyes Bolstering Ties

This followed an Afghan delegation’s visit to Iran, highlighting the growing economic cooperation between the two countries….reports Asian Lite News

The Taliban administration in Afghanistan has pledged a $35 million investment in Iran’s Chabahar port, signalling a strategic shift towards diversifying trade partnerships.

Iranian Special Envoy to Kabul, Hassan Kazemi Qomi, revealed this commitment, emphasising Afghanistan’s intention to broaden economic ties, the Khaama Press reported.

This announcement followed a visit by an Afghan delegation to Iran, underlining the strengthening economic collaboration between the two nations.

Notably, the investment focuses on the Fakher construction project within the Chabahar Special Economic Zone, envisioning a 25-story residential complex. This initiative aims to bolster Afghanistan’s access to global waters and enhance its trading capabilities.

According to the Khaama Press reports, the interaction between Afghanistan and Iran occurs amidst tense relations between the two nations, stemming not only from border disputes and water rights issues but also from strained ties with neighbouring Pakistan.

The port of Chabahar is located outside the Persian Gulf and therefore, is relatively free from the turbulent geopolitics of the Gulf. However, the presence at Chabahar will be useful to monitor the strategic developments in the Persian Gulf as well as in the Gulf of Oman.

Chabahar’s location along the Makran coast, near the port of Gwadar developed by China in Pakistan, is significant. Gwadar is long seen as the likely site of the second Chinese military base in the Indian Ocean. Therefore, India’s presence at Chabahar matters from the point of view of maritime as well as continental strategy. With the intensifying turbulence in Pakistan and the instability in Balochistan, the importance of Chabahar has gone up significantly.

ALSO READ: Hate preachers from Pak, Afghanistan can’t enter UK

ALSO READ: Qatar Reaffirms Commitment to Host Meetings on Afghanistan

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Hate preachers from Pak, Afghanistan can’t enter UK

Walney’s report is with the UK Home Office and is due to be published later this month…reports Asian Lite News

Hate preachers with extremist Islamist views from countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan and Indonesia will be blocked from entering Britain under new plans being drafted by the government, according to a UK media report on Sunday.

‘The Daily Telegraph’ reports that the British government is concerned about a “shocking increase” in extremist activity and officials are being deputed to identify the most dangerous extremists from overseas so they can be added to visa warning lists. Under the new plans, those on the list will be automatically refused entry to the UK.

The revelation comes days after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak delivered an impassioned speech from the podium at 10 Downing Street in London, warning that the country’s democratic and multi-faith values were under threat by extremists.

“We will also act to prevent people entering this country whose aim is to undermine its values,” Mr Sunak said in his speech on Friday.

“The Home Secretary has instructed that if those here on visas choose to spew hate on protests or seek to intimidate people we will remove their right to be here,” he said.

The British Indian leader had also appealed to demonstrators taking to the streets of the country to protest against the Israel-Hamas conflict to ensure their actions are not hijacked by extremists.

“The time has now come for us all to stand together to combat the forces of division and beat this poison. We must face down the extremists who would tear us apart,” he said, warning that “Islamist extremists and the far right feed off and embolden each other”.

Thousands took to the streets for another wave of pro-Palestine protests on Saturday, with the Metropolitan Police making 12 arrests for activities in breach of peace in London.

According to ‘The Daily Telegraph’ report, an official review by Lord Walney, the government’s independent adviser on political violence and disruption, calls on ministers to tackle the growing threat posed by fringe, Left-wing groups that have allied with Islamist extremists at such pro-Palestine marches across the UK.

“One of the conclusions of my review is to look at and understand the threat from anti-democratic far-Left groups, alongside that posed by Islamists and the far right… You are seeing an unholy alliance between far-Left groups and some of the Islamist extremism that has been seen on the marches,” he told the newspaper.

Walney’s report is with the UK Home Office and is due to be published later this month.

“Extremism has no place in our society and we will not tolerate tactics that set out to intimidate, threaten or cause disruption to the law-abiding majority,” a Home Office spokesperson said.

“In recent months, we have also witnessed a small number of protestors display violent and hateful behaviour, and the police have our full support in tackling extremism and hate crime. We are considering the report’s recommendations extremely carefully and will respond in due course,” the spokesperson said.

ALSO READ-Qatar Reaffirms Commitment to Host Meetings on Afghanistan

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Qatar Reaffirms Commitment to Host Meetings on Afghanistan

Will Norway host Taliban for talks as West looks to re-engage with Afghanistan?.(photo:IN)

Qatar stands among the few countries that have been key hosts of the most significant international meetings on Afghanistan since 2020…reports Asian Lite News

Qatar reaffirmed its commitment to host international meetings on Afghanistan issues, further affirming its support for the Afghan people, according to Khaama Press.

In its recent statement, Juhara Abdulaziz Al-Suwaidi, Deputy Permanent Representative of Qatar to Geneva, underscored the importance of continuing to host meetings on Afghanistan at the fifty-fifth session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Notably, Qatar stands among the few countries that have been key hosts of the most significant international meetings on Afghanistan since 2020, contributing to notable developments in the country.

The recent Doha meeting and the signing of the Doha Agreement were pivotal events, with 18 months of negotiations hosted by Qatar in its capital city, as reported by Khaama Press, reported Khaama Press.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, in its statement, highlighted issues of communication, increased coordination within the framework of human rights promotion, and ensuring a decent life for the Afghan people as part of its policy to support Afghanistan.

The statement by Qatar’s Foreign Ministry also emphasised the continued humanitarian aid committed to supporting the Afghan people and hosting meetings on the country’s issues.

Qatar has played a crucial role in facilitating dialogues and negotiations aimed at resolving the Afghan conflict, fostering a platform for discussions and agreements critical for Afghanistan’s stability, Khaama Press reported.

Amidst dire humanitarian crises and ongoing violations of human rights and women’s rights in Afghanistan, Qatar’s sustained efforts to convene international gatherings highlight a commitment to address the country’s challenges and support people.

EU provides 21 million euro aid

The World Food Programme announced that the European Union has provided a 21 million euro contribution to the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund, according to Khaama Press.

The office declared on Friday that around 300,000 people in Afghanistan are expected to benefit from the fund.

The primary aim of this assistance is to improve food security and nutrition in Afghanistan, as the European Union stated.

Rafaela Iodice, the EU official in Afghanistan, said that the European Union will continue its assistance to the people of Afghanistan, as reported by Khaama Press.

This comes at a time when the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, stated that the organisation has only been able to secure three per cent of the required budget to address the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

The recent earthquakes in the country and the expulsion of migrants from neighbouring countries are raising the need for aid in Afghanistan.

The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan remains dire, with millions of people facing extreme poverty, displacement, and food insecurity, Khaama Press reported.

Moreover, years of conflict, political instability, and the Taliban’s return to power have exacerbated these challenges.

Reportedly, many families in the country lack access to necessities such as clean water, sanitation facilities and healthcare.

The ongoing violence and insecurity have also hindered humanitarian aid delivery, which has further worsened the condition of vulnerable people in Afghanistan.

Additionally, there is a severe shortage of shelters for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees returning to Afghanistan, according to Khaama Press.

Furthermore, the Taliban’s imposition of strict restrictions on women’s rights has had a devastating impact on their access to education and employment opportunities.

Afghan women and girls have been facing significant barriers to attending school or pursuing careers, denying them essential pathways to empowerment and economic independence.

Moreover, the international community should prioritize the protection and support of Afghan women’s rights as part of broader humanitarian efforts in the country, Khama Press reported. (ANI)

ALSO READ: 700 ‘Ghost Schools’ Annulled in Afghanistan

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Visually Impaired Afghan Woman Recipient of US Women Award

The statement recognised Yaqoobi for her unwavering commitment to supporting visually impaired individuals in Afghanistan….reports Asian Lite News

In a recent announcement, the US Department of State revealed that Benafsha Yaqoobi from Afghanistan is among the distinguished recipients of the 2024 Women of Courage Award, Khaama Press reported.

The statement recognised Yaqoobi for her unwavering commitment to supporting visually impaired individuals in Afghanistan.

The commendation extended to Yaqoobi highlighted her extensive work as a defence lawyer, specifically advocating for women survivors of violence. Together with her husband, she co-founded the “Rahyab Organisation” in 2008, focusing on the education and empowerment of visually impaired individuals in the region, according to Khaama Press.

Notably, Yaqoobi herself is visually impaired, and the US State Department acknowledged her tireless efforts in advocating for the rights of disabled citizens in Afghanistan. The Women of Courage Award, an annual honour, is bestowed upon women who have demonstrated exceptional contributions in peace, justice, courage, leadership, human rights, and gender equality.

While currently residing outside of Afghanistan, Yaqoobi is set to receive the prestigious award on March 4th. Afghanistan, having acceded to the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2012, is committed to providing essential support, including healthcare and education, for visually impaired individuals.

Amidst these commendations, Yazdani Parast, a blind journalist, conveyed concerns to Khaama Press about diminishing attention from supporting organisations for visually impaired individuals in Afghanistan. Parast emphasised the urgent need for assistance, especially during the cold winter season and the upcoming month of Ramadan.

Though precise data on the current number of visually impaired individuals in Afghanistan is unavailable, UN estimates from 2016 indicated that their numbers exceeded 400,000, with 1.5 million individuals experiencing visual impairments, Khaama Press reported. (ANI)

ALSO READ: 700 ‘Ghost Schools’ Annulled in Afghanistan

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700 ‘Ghost Schools’ Annulled in Afghanistan

The ministry of education has culled up to 700 ‘ghost schools’ from official lists since the government took power more than two years ago…reports Asian Lite News

The Afghan caretaker government’s ministry of education has identified and annulled 700 “ghost schools” across the country, the spokesman for the ministry Mansour Ahmad Hamza said.

“The ministry of education has culled up to 700 ‘ghost schools’ from official lists since the government took power more than two years ago,” the local Television channel Tolonews quoted the official on Monday as saying

Xinhua news agency reported that during the previous U.S.-backed regime in Afghanistan, “ghost” schools, teachers, students, soldiers and police personnel existed as a pretext to enable those at the helm to earn money illegally from the foreign donors.

Based on the information of the ministry of education, over 18,000 primary, secondary and high schools are operating in Afghanistan where 260,000 teachers are currently working, the report added.

Recently, the Taliban had allowed girls graduating from 12th grade to get admission to state-owned medical institutes, the media reported.

“The enrolment of girls who graduated from 12th grade has started in state-run medical institutes in Kapisa, Parwan, Panjshir, Wardak, Ghazni, Paktika, Logar, Khost, Badakhshan, Paktia and Bamyan provinces,” the state-run Bakhtar news agency reported on Tuesday without giving further details.

Since the Afghan caretaker government took over power following the withdrawal of US-led forces in August 2021, girls from 7th grade and above cannot attend classes until further notice, Xinhua news agency reported.

Consensus over key issues

 UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that international representatives have reached consensus on some key issues concerning Afghanistan after a two-day meeting in Doha, but obstacles remain.

“We want an Afghanistan in peace, peace with itself and peace with its neighbours and able to assume the commitments and the international obligations of a sovereign state,” Guterres said on Monday at a press conference after the meeting.

However, Guterres pointed out that overcoming some obstacles is still necessary to break the deadlock on the Afghanistan issue, Xinhua nedws agency reported.

On the one hand, “Afghanistan remains with a government that is not recognised internationally and in many aspects not integrated into the global institutions and global economy,” he added.

On the other hand, there is a common international perception of deteriorating human rights, particularly for women and girls in the country, Guterres said.

The UN Chief added that a common roadmap must be developed to address the concerns of the international community and the Afghan authorities.

The meeting, chaired by Guterres, was attended by representatives from more than 20 countries and international organisations, including China, Russia, and the US. Taliban, the de-facto authorities in Afghanistan, did not attend.

According to the UN Chief, the conditions set by Taliban authorities to attend the meeting were “not acceptable”.

“These conditions first of all denied us the right to talk to other representatives of the Afghan society and demanded a treatment that would, to a large extent, be similar to recognition,” Guterres said.

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