Tag: kabul

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Kabul blast survivors take to street, raise security concerns

An ambulance arrives at the scene of a blast in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Sept. 17, 2019. An explosion rocked Police District 9 in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Tuesday as the country is to hold a presidential election next week, police spokesman Ferdaus Faramarz said. (Xinhua/Rahmatullah Alizadah/IANS)

The protests went on from the Pol-e-Sokhta area of Kabul to the Mohammad Ali Jinnah hospital…reports Asian Lite News

Following a deadly explosion at an education centre in Kabul, a large number of students took to the streets of the city on Saturday. Some of them were said to be the survivors of the deadly blast.

Condemning the ghastly attack at the Kaaj Educational Center that resulted in 60 deaths and injuries to several others, some of the explosion attack survivors reportedly took part in the protests, Khaama Press reported.

As per local media, the student protestors were also repressed by the Taliban and the terror outfit reportedly used shafts as well as electric duty gears to disperse the students and beat the protestors.

The protests went on from the Pol-e-Sokhta area of Kabul to the Mohammad Ali Jinnah hospital, according to Khaama Press.

Meanwhile, numerous Kabul women from Afghanistan’s minority Hazara community on Saturday protested in the country’s capital against the terror attack at the Kaaj Educational Center. The women protestors dressed in black chanted slogans against the genocide of minorities and demanded their rights.

Friday’s blast follows many recent attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure across Afghanistan, including in religious minority communities.

Families of victims and local residents raised security concerns and called on the Taliban to ensure the safety of the public and punish those responsible after the ghastly attack at an education centre in Kabul left 60 persons dead.

UNICEF said this “heinous act” claimed the lives of dozens of adolescent girls and boys and severely injured many more.

India condemned the terror attack on Saturday. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “We are saddened by yesterday’s terror attack at the Kaaj Educational Center in Dasht-e-Barchi, Kabul and extend our condolences to the families of the victims. Indian strongly condemns the continued targeting of innocent students at educational places.

“UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres deplored the heinous attack on the Kabul educational centre – a predominately Hazara Shia area – which caused scores of casualties.

He expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured.

“Education is a fundamental right and an essential driver for sustainable peace and development,” he said.

The UN Security Council (UNSC), while condemning the terrorist attack, reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Afghanistan remains springboard of terror: Putin

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Huge explosion rocks Kabul mosque

20 feared dead including top Islamic cleric named Amir Mohammad Kabuli, reports Asian Lite News

An explosion at a mosque in the north of the Afghan capital of Kabul killed 20 people and injured 40 more, media reports said.

The blast reportedly took place in a mosque in the Khair Khana area during evening prayers.

“As a result of an explosion in a mosque north of Kabul, 20 people were killed and another 40 were injured,” an Afghan security source told Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera on Wednesday.

The Taliban claim they have full control of Afghanistan but the Islamic State continues carrying out attacks on civilians and police across the country.

The Taliban has not issued any statement on casualties, according to the Afghan news agency. No terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the blast so far.

Among the dead is a top Islamic cleric named Amir Mohammad Kabuli.

Two weeks ago, two deadly blasts in Kabul took the lives of 10 people, injuring 40 others. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for both attacks.

This blast comes on the heels of one year of Taliban rule in Afghanistan. Rights groups said the Taliban have broken multiple pledges to respect human rights and women’s rights.

After capturing Kabul in August last year, the Islamic authorities have imposed severe restrictions on women’s and girls’ rights, suppressed the media, and arbitrarily detained, tortured, and summarily executed critics and perceived opponents, among other abuses.

The New York-based rights group in its report said Taliban human rights abuses have brought widespread condemnation and imperilled international efforts to address the country’s dire humanitarian situation.

Meanwhile, the Taliban on Wednesday condemned the explosion. The spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, Zabihullah Mujahid, said in a tweet that the perpetrators of “crimes” will soon be arrested and punished, Tolo News reported.

‘Situation tragedy for alliance’

The situation in Afghanistan a year after the Taliban came to power became a tragedy not only for the Afghan people but also for all NATO countries which tried to create a stable and democratic country, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday.

“What we have seen in the last year is actually a huge setback and the tragedy for Afghanistan, but also for all those Allies and partners who worked so hard to create a more peaceful and democratic Afghanistan,” Stoltenberg said during a press conference.

The Western countries managed to cope with terrorism in Afghanistan, but did not fulfill the much more ambitious task of building a free and democratic state, Stoltenberg added.

An interim Afghan government led by the Taliban came to power last fall after the withdrawal of US troops from the country and the collapse of the US-backed government.

The Taliban takeover triggered economic disarray and food shortages that have pushed the country to the brink of a humanitarian crisis. Thousands of Afghans have fled the country fearful of the Taliban, widespread violation of human rights, and the deprivation of women and girls of their freedoms. (ANI/Sputnik)

ALSO READ-Casualties feared in Kabul mosque blast

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Cash taken by Ghani while fleeing Kabul did not exceed $1 mn

SIGAR further added that former president Ashraf Ghani refused to be interviewed, and his attorney answered only six questions out of 56…reports Asian Lite News

The final report on the transfer of funds by former Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani while he was fleeing the country has been made public by the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), media reports said.

As per the report, this number did not exceed $1 million and may have been closer in value to $500,000, Tolo News reported.

“Although SIGAR found that some cash was taken from the grounds of the palace and loaded onto President Ghani’s evacuation helicopters, evidence indicates that this number did not exceed $1 million and may have been closer in value to $500,000. Most of this money was believed to have come from several Afghan government operating budgets normally managed at the palace,” the report read, Tolo News reported.

SIGAR’s report said that a lot of money was left in government buildings, including those of the president and national security, and has disappeared.

“SIGAR also identified suspicious circumstances in which approximately $5 million in cash was accidentally left behind at the presidential palace. Some or all of this money likely belonged to President Ghani or the government of the United Arab Emirates. Some or all of it was also supposedly divided by members of the Presidential Protective Service after the helicopters departed but before the Taliban captured the palace,” the report read, Tolo News reported.

SIGAR further added that former president Ashraf Ghani refused to be interviewed, and his attorney answered only six questions out of 56.

“On March 14, 2022, SIGAR sent 56 written questions to President Ghani through his attorney concerning these theft allegations and other matters related to SIGAR’s congressionally mandated examination of the Afghan government’s collapse. On July 28, 2022, through his attorney, President Ghani provided answers to only six of those 56 questions,” according to the report.

SIGAR began its investigations after Ashraf Ghani was accused by the Russian Embassy of transferring millions of dollars as he fled Afghanistan.

ALSO READ-Top TTP commander killed in Afghanistan

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India reopens its embassy in Kabul

Pic credits Twitter @MEAIndia

As another consignment follows, India highlighted its historical relationship with the Afghan society, affirming that New Delhi’s development partnership with Kabul will continue…reports Asian Lite News

India on Thursday deployed a technical team at its embassy in Kabul to coordinate effective delivery of its humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan who are yet to recover from a devastating earthquake which struck the eastern region of the country on Wednesday. 

The team arrived in the Afghan capital on Thursday along with the first consignment of India’s earthquake relief assistance for the locals.

As another consignment follows, India highlighted its historical and civilizational relationship with the Afghan society, affirming that New Delhi’s development partnership with Kabul will continue to guide its approach going forward.

Pic credits Twitter @MEAIndia

“India, a true first responder,” tweeted External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar who is currently in Rwanda for the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Recently, another Indian team had visited Kabul to oversee the delivery operations of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and met with senior members of the Taliban. During the visit, an assessment of the security situation was also carried out.

India had shut down its embassy in Kabul on August 17, just two days after the Taliban took over the Afghanistan capital.

Quoting the country’s Ministry of State for Disaster Management, Afghanistan’s Tolo News said today that the death toll from the powerful earthquake in Paktika and Khost provinces has risen to about 1,100 and the number of injured persons reached beyond 1,600.

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Two dead as blasts hit Kabul gurdwara

An Afghan Taliban member stands guard at the site of a blast in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Oct. 3, 2021. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua/IANS)

The Ministry of Interior have confirmed the blasts and said a group of armed insurgents entered the gurdwara in Kart-e-Parwan area, reports Asian Lite News

At least two civilians were killed and three security personnel injured after three explosions ripped through a gurdwara in Kabul on Saturday, according to multiple sources.

The Ministry of Interior have confirmed the blasts and said a group of armed insurgents entered the gurdwara in Kart-e-Parwan area.

“Before entering, the enemy attacked the guards with a grenade, which caused a fire, and two of our Hindu compatriots, who were injured in the attack, were evacuated and taken to hospital for treatment,” the Ministry said in a statement.

According to the statement, a car bomb was also detonated by the insurgents before it reached its target.

“Fortunately, they did not reach their target and detonated a car bomb before reaching the target.”

Meanwhile, a witness told Xinhua news agency: “We heard a huge blast which struck the gate of the temple at around 6 a.m. The blast was followed by two more explosions inside the temple.”

The security forces have cordoned off the area for precautionary measures, and several warning shots were also fired, he said.

A security source told Xinhua that the two people were killed during the first blast.

Videos on social media showed smoke billowing from the two-storey gurdwara which is surrounded by blast walls.

Mediapersons and the general public were not allowed to enter the site and no one knows what exactly is ongoing inside the compound.

Meanwhile, India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar has condemned the attack in Kabul.

“The cowardly attack on Gurudwara Karte Parwan should be condemned in the strongest terms by all,” Jaishankar tweeted.

“We have been closely monitoring developments since the news of the attack was received. Our first and foremost concern is for the welfare of the community,” he added.

Earlier in the day, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said that it was closely monitoring the situation.

We are deeply concerned at the reports emanating from Kabul about an attack on a sacred gurdwara in that city,” a statement citing Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and waiting for further details on the unfolding developments.”

In March 2020, two dozen worshippers were killed when a gurdwara was attacked in downtown Kabul.

In recent months, the war-torn country has been hit by a series of terror attacks reportedly staged by the Islamic State (IS) terror group opposing the Taliban-led government.

On Friday, one person was killed and seven others were wounded after a blast hit a mosque in the northern province of Kunduz.

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Indian delegation meets Taliban officials in Kabul

J P Singh, who is the Joint Secretary in-charge of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran, is the official leading the team. He has met Taliban officials in Doha in the past as well…reports Asian Lite News

In the first official Indian visit to Kabul since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, a team led by a senior official from the Ministry of External Affairs met Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mottaqi on Thursday.

J P Singh, Joint Secretary in charge of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran (PAI) in the MEA, led the Indian team. In the past, he has met Taliban officials in Doha, Qatar.

India closed its mission in Kabul soon after the Taliban entered the city last August.

The Indian delegation led by Singh visited a hospital, a school, and a power plant in Kabul during the day.

Taliban Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi, who tweeted a photograph of the meeting, said diplomatic relations between Afghanistan and India, bilateral trade, and humanitarian assistance were discussed.

Mottaqi, Balkhi said, welcomed the first delegation from the MEA and the Indian government, and called it a “good start” between the two countries. He thanked India for its recent humanitarian and health assistance to Afghanistan.

According to the spokesperson, Mottaqi stressed that India should resume its stalled projects, activate its diplomatic presence, and provide consular services to Afghans, especially Afghan students and patients.

He said the Indian delegation too said it wanted good relations with Afghanistan as earlier, and would continue providing assistance.

Balkhi said India would consider “assisting and working with Afghanistan” in various fields as it had recently opened its borders and ports to Afghan exports, and exports were higher than in previous years. This, he said, is expected to facilitate further growth of Afghanistan’s exports and support its economy.

Earlier in the day, the MEA said the Indian team would meet “senior members of the Taliban”, and hold discussions on India’s humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.

The purpose of the visit, the MEA said, was to oversee “delivery operations of our humanitarian assistance” to Afghanistan.

It said the team would also meet representatives of international organisations involved in distribution of humanitarian assistance. In addition, the team was expected to visit places where Indian programmes and projects were being implemented.

“In response to the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people, India decided to extend humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people. In this endeavour, we have already dispatched several shipments of humanitarian assistance consisting of 20,000 MTs of wheat, 13 tons of medicines, 500,000 doses of Covid vaccine and winter clothing. These consignments were handed over to the India Gandhi Children Hospital, Kabul and UN specialised agencies including WHO and WFP. Furthermore, India is in the process of shipping more medical assistance and food grains to Afghanistan,” the MEA said.

“In continuation with our developmental partnership with Afghan brethren, we have gifted one million doses of India-made Covaxin to Iran to administer to Afghan refugees in Iran. We have also assisted UNICEF by supplying almost 60 million doses of polio vaccine and two tons of essential medicines,” it said.

“India’s development and humanitarian assistance has received widespread appreciation across the entire spectrum of Afghan society,” the MEA said.

It underlined that India has “historical and civilisational ties with the Afghan people” and “these longstanding linkages will continue to guide our approach”.

The visit to Kabul points to a wider acceptance of the view in the Indian establishment that Delhi needs to engage with the Taliban. It may also be a precursor to India returning to Kabul, with liaison or consular services to begin with.

Significantly, despite there being no diplomatic contact all this while, Afghan-India trade has continued with only a short interruption during the Taliban takeover last August

ALSO READ-Moody’s downgrades Pakistan’s outlook from stable to negative 

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Kabul warns of dire consequences


Further, Mujahid added that Waziristan’s refugees were targeted in Khost province wherein women and children were killed…reports Asian Lite News

Deputy Minister of Information and Culture and Chief Spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Zabiullah Mujahid condemned Pakistan’s recent airstrikes on Khost and Kunar provinces in the strongest terms adding that repetition of such moves will have dire implications, Khaama Press reported.

Zabiullah Mujahid added that Afghans by defeating the US have proven that they can defend their country hence, Pakistan should not examine the patience of the people of Afghanistan.

“We are trying our best to resolve the issue through diplomatic channels and negotiations. Such acts will create tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan which will lead to conflicts that are in favour of no one,” Said Mujahid.

Further, Mujahid added that Waziristan’s refugees were targeted in Khost province wherein women and children were killed.

Pakistan’s aircrafts bombed civilians’ homes in the Spera district of the southeastern Khost province killing at least 60 civilians.

The Foreign Ministry of the IEA also summoned Pakistan’s ambassador to Kabul Mansoor Ahmad Khan to the ministry and asked for the prevention of such attacks in the future.

Afghan officials condemned the bombing and asked for the prevention of such strikes in the future.

“All military encroachments including those in Kunar and Khost provinces must be prevented as acts as such will deteriorate bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Deterioration of relations will have dire consequences,” Afghan Foreign Ministry said.

ALSO READ-Blast at Kabul mosque injures 6

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OIC opens office in Kabul

Tariq Ali Bakhit meets Amir Khan Motaqi

The Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) opened its office in Kabul, tasked to coordinate OIC’s humanitarian efforts with Afghanistan and other international partners…reports Asian Lite News

Muhammad Saeed Al-Ayash has been appointed as Director of OIC’s Afghanistan office, OIC said today on Twitter. The office was opened Friday, reported Tolo News.

According to OIC, the office will follow up the implementation of the outcome of the organization’s extraordinary ministerial meeting held in Pakistan last December.

“The OIC office in Kabul will coordinate the OIC’s humanitarian efforts with Afghanistan and international partners. It will be strengthened with human and material resources in conformity with the resolution adopted by the extraordinary ministerial conference on the situation in Afghanistan. This is to enable it fulfill its obligations to support the Afghan people in various fields,” it said.

Meanwhile, OIC envoy to Afghanistan Ambassador Tariq Ali Bakhit arrived in Kabul and held meeting meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the authority in Afghanistan Mawlawi Amir Khan Mottaki, in the presence of the Director of the Organization’s office in Kabul Dr. Mohammad Al-Ayyash.

The meeting discussed the efforts made by the OIC to follow up the implementation of the decision of the Council of Foreign Ministers at its emergency meeting in Islamabad in December 2021.

During his visit to Kabul, Ambassador Tariq will hold a number of meetings with the Afghan authorities, and ambassadors of member states accredited to Afghanistan and international organizations.

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At the OIC meeting on Afghanistan in Pakistan, a draft resolution was passed to establish a humanitarian trust fund to channel humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.

The member states agreed to “establish a Humanitarian Trust Fund, under the aegis of the Islamic Development Bank, to serve as a vehicle to channel humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan including in partnership with other international actors.”

At the meeting, OIC urged the Islamic Development Bank to operationalize the trust fund by the first quarter of 2022 to accelerate the provision of humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.

The Taliban seized control over Afghanistan in last August and since then Afghanistan is facing a looming economic meltdown and humanitarian catastrophe. (with inputs from ANI)

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EU opens Embassy in Kabul

European Union opens embassy in Kabul.(photo:twitter.com/QaharBalkhi )

Afghanistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi said the decision to open the Embassy came after “consecutive meetings and reaching an understanding with EU representatives”, reports Asian Lite News

The Taliban-led government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has announced that the European UNion (EU) has opened an Embassy for a “permanent presence” in Kabul and has “practically commenced operations”.

In a tweet on Friday, Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi said the decision to open the Embassy came after “consecutive meetings and reaching an understanding with EU representatives”.

“Apart from 220 million euros humanitarian aid, the EU announced 268 million euros additional assistance and set aside a portion for teachers’ salaries, which we welcome,” he added.

The EU also confirmed that it has re-established a “minimal presence” in Kabul.

Andreas von Brandt – EU Ambassador to Afghanistan

“The EU has started to re-establish a minimal presence of international EU Delegation staff to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and monitor the humanitarian situation,” TOLO News quoted the European Commission’s foreign affairs spokesman Peter Stano as saying to the media.

“Our minimal presence in Kabul must not in any way be seen as recognition. This has also been clearly communicated to the de facto authorities,” he added.

This development comes as the EU announced earlier this week that it has launched multiple projects in Afghanistan, amid the dire economic situation in the country, to prevent a further deterioration of the situation and also to help the Afghan people cope with current problems.

The EU has said that the funds are set to support projects for education, health, and the livelihoods of Afghan people.

ALSO READ: ‘Taliban root cause of Afghanistan crisis’

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SPECIAL: What’s Wrong With Imran’s Afghan Policy?

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan and Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa

Taliban are firm on their decision to keep the neighbors away from Durand Line. Imran Khan’s Afghan policy is making Pakistan vulnerable to terror attacks and an invasion … writes Dr Sakariya Kareem

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s doomed Islamic and foreign policies have dragged Pakistan into a vicious web of terrorism which has endangered the lives of millions of citizens in the last year.  According to a study reported by a well-known Pakistan think-tank, Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), the country witnessed a56 per cent increase in the number of terror attacks during 2021 after a gap of six years of declining terrorism.

Imran in a fix as Pak Taliban to Resume Attacks

Last year, 294 terrorist attacks were carried out by different groups of terrorists, killing 388 people and wounding over 600 people. This is a phenomenal rise in the number of terrorist attacks, signaling a clear return of militancy in Pakistan.

Despite putting citizens at a higher risk of terrorist attacks, neither Prime Minister Khan nor his allies in Kabul have chosen to make a comment on such a critical issue leave alone any plan to deal with terrorist groups who are known allies of either Pak-based groups or Afghan groups.

Take for example, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a virulently anti-Pak terrorist group which once was a protégé of Pakistan Army. Since they parted ways, the group, living under the patronage of Afghan Taliban, has been targeting Pak security personnel and assets, besides civilians, in the last several years. Going against public will and outcry, Imran Khan chose to strike a deal with TTP after the Taliban took over Kabul.

The Taliban, once in Kabul, chose to turn back on their promise to ensure that TTP does not attack Pakistan. They compelled Imran Khan to sign a secret deal which, however, fell even before the ink dried up on the paper. The same Taliban, whom Khan has been supporting for years, refused to help Pakistan to deal with Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) and now has asked him to stop building the fence along the Pak-Afghan border.

With friend in Kabul turning the other way, Khan is faced with an increased threat from terrorist groups enjoying the patronage of the Taliban. There is now a greater danger of attacks from TTP and IS-K in the near future, leaving his country most vulnerable to terrorism.

Although the Prime Minister refuses to acknowledge, the PICSS report has pointed out that the rising militant offensive in Pakistan has coincided with the rising Afghan Taliban military offensive between May and August 2021. In August, for instance, Pakistan experienced 45 terrorist attacks, the highest number of attacks in the year. It is a clear lesson that militancy has no boundaries.

Provincial data showed that Balochistan experienced the maximum number of deaths—170—in 103 attacks.  In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ‘s tribal areas, 117 persons were killed in 103 attacks. About 59 militant attacks took place in the rest of the province, taking a toll of 63 persons.  In Sindh, 23 people were killed and 29 injured in 15 attacks.

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