DailyWorld News - The First International Newspaper From India https://dailyworld.in/ Mon, 07 Sep 2026 15:03:38 +0530 en https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/2-killed-3-injured-in-kabul-blast-357003.html Kabul Sep 1 Two persons were killed and three others injured in a blast that rocked Police District 17 of Afghan capital Kabul Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Nafi Takor said A Toyota Corolla car carrying explosive device exploded in Police District 17 in todays afternoon killing two countrymen and injuring three others Nafi added on his Twitter account on Wednesday Without providing more details the official said that security personnel had reached the area and initiated an investigation Xinhua news agency reported The blast coincided with the first anniversary of the withdrawal of the USled forces from Afghanistan The Talibanrun administration celebrated the first anniversary of the US forces defeat and their pullout of Afghanistan on Wednesday in the former US main military base Bagram where the administration displayed its military might by arranging a military parade IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/2-killed-3-injured-in-kabul-blast-357003.html Thu, 01 Sep 2022 23:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/blast-wounds-1-civilian-in-kabul-328376.html Kabul April 20 One civilian sustained injury as a blast struck a vehicle in Police District 2 of Afghanistans Kabul on Wednesday police spokesman Khalid Zadran said A sticky bomb targetted a civilian vehicle in Qwai Markaz area injuring a civilian on Wednesday Zadran said without providing more details Xinhua news agency reported In the meantime an eyewitness on condition of anonymity claimed that two security personnel of the administration were injured in the blast This is the second security incident in the shape of blast in Kabul over the past two days Over two dozen civilians mostly school children were also killed and injured in three blasts that rocked the DashteBarchi area on the western edge of Kabul city on Tuesday IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/blast-wounds-1-civilian-in-kabul-328376.html Thu, 21 Apr 2022 14:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/security-personnel-discover-weapons-cache-in-afghanistan-328249.html Shiberghan April 20 Security forces in Afghanistan have discovered a weapons cache in Khaniqa district of Jawzjan province senior police officer Mullah Mohammad Dindost said on Wednesday The weapons cache containing a variety of arms and ammunition including 44 pieces of mortar mines was found in Agam Turkmania village of Khaniqa district a couple of days ago Dindost said adding that locals support is important to collect weapons as part of efforts to stabilize security Xinhua news agency reported By launching cleanup operations in parts of the country the Talibanrun administration has been trying to collect arms and ammunition from irresponsible armed groups and individuals and thousands of pieces of arms including assault rifles have been seized over the past couple of months officials said IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/security-personnel-discover-weapons-cache-in-afghanistan-328249.html Wed, 20 Apr 2022 23:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/measles-claims-lives-of-17-afghan-children-239191.html Kunduz April 7 As many as 17 children have lost their lives due to measles in the northern Kunduz province over the past month the provincial head of the health department Najibullah Sahel said on Thursday According to the official 915 children who come from different parts of Kunduz Badakhshan Takhar and Baghlan provinces after contracting measles had to be taken to the civil hospital in Kunduz city over the past month Seventeen of them succumbed to the disease Xinhua news agency reported To cope with the disease the humanitarian organisation Medicines Sans Frontiers recently opened an 80bed clinic within the Kunduz hospital to provide medical treatment to children affected with measles the official said IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/measles-claims-lives-of-17-afghan-children-239191.html Fri, 08 Apr 2022 03:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/kabul-minister-turkmen-officials-to-visit-kabul-discuss-tapi-200384.html Kabul March 9 The Acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum of Afghanistan has said the delegates of Turkmenistan expect to visit Kabul on March 10 to discuss the TurkmenistanAfghanistanPakistan and India TAPI project which has reportedly been put on hold Shahabuddin Delawar Acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum added that Afghanistan is fully prepared to implement the TAPI project TOLOnews reported There are no problems on the Afghanistan side we will do our best to resume soon Previously there was a security problem but security is completely provided in Afghanistan now and TAPI partners know this he said A Pakistan news agency quoted a top Pakistani official of the Energy Ministry saying that the Asian Development Bank ADB has paused all due diligence and processing activities of TAPI until the official recognition of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan by the UN and major global economies At a meeting between a Turkmenistan delegation and Pakistani officials on January 31 2022 the Turkmen side disclosed that ADB had reduced its interest in the project due to the global lack of recognition of the Taliban regime However Afghan economists believe the project is facing delays due to regional rivalry between India and Pakistan Rivalry between India and Pakistan and rivalry between Turkmenistan Iran and Qatar as well as the internal political problems in Afghanistan all caused the TAPI to be paused said Sayed Massoud a university professor The TAPI gas pipeline is planned to span 1680 km and connect Herat and Kandahar in Afghanistan with Pakistan and India IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/kabul-minister-turkmen-officials-to-visit-kabul-discuss-tapi-200384.html Thu, 10 Mar 2022 09:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/after-afghanistan-is-k-sets-foot-in-pakistan-199759.html By Hamza Ameer Peshawar March 7 The recent devastating suicide bombing targeted at a Shia Muslim mosque in Peshawar has marked the reemergence of the dreaded Islamic StateKhorasan ISK terror group in Pakistan The ISK claimed responsibility for the attack in which a suicide bomber blew himself up after entering into the mosque during Friday prayers claiming lives of at least 63 and injuring over 200 It also claimed the terror attack just outside Kabul airport during the evacuation process of foreign forces was underway after the Taliban takeover as well as many others on mosques and other places in Afghanistan becoming the biggest opposition to the incumbent regime Pakistan had been on consultation with the Afghan Taliban and working towards a joint strategy to counter terror threats from organisations operating along the two countries border The attack in Peshawar comes at a time when the countrys CounterTerrorism Department CTD killed an ISK commander named Bilal Khan during a police encounter on January 19 this year It is believed that the commanders killing activated many sleeper cells associated with the terror group who planned to respond with a major suicide attacks It is believed that Bilal Khan who was a member of the TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTP joined the IS in 2015 pledging allegiance to Abu Bakar AlBaghdadi the groups slain leader Experts believe that intelligencebased operations by Pakistani security agencies against terror elements including the ISK have not only increased targeted attacks but supporters of the Afghan Taliban have also come under deadly attacks in Peshawar The emergence of the ISK in the heart of Peshawar raises major concerns and a new set of challenges for the Pakistani authorities as neighbouring Afghanistan conducts search operations in various parts looking to neutralise the militants Some reports also indicate that many ISK militants have already fled Afghanistan and entered Pakistan while sleeper cells of the group have also been activated It is because of this reason that a major surge of terror attacks is being witnessed in Pakistan According to data from Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies PIPS there were at least 207 incidents of terrorism in Pakistan in 2021 a 45 per cent increase over 2020 The TTP has also been carrying out targeted attacks in various parts of the country adding on to the challenges Pakistani security forces are confronted with Pakistans Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed said that a fresh wave of terrorism has hit the country where the TTP is targeting policemen in major cities with an aim to breach and break the first line of defense While the threat of terrorism looms many believe that the ISK can be a much bigger problem than the TTP While negotiations with the TTP remains on the agenda of the Pakistani government it is feared that disagreements among the TTP militants as well as a deal with Islamabad may push them towards joining the ISK IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/after-afghanistan-is-k-sets-foot-in-pakistan-199759.html Tue, 08 Mar 2022 05:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/imran-hits-out-at-the-west-for-treating-pakistanis-like-slaves-199685.html New Delhi March 7 Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan lashed out at foreign diplomats who pressured his country to join a UN resolution condemning Russia over its military attack on Ukraine accusing the envoys of treating Pakistanis like slaves At a rally on Sunday Khan shot back at a March 1 letter from diplomats representing 22 missions including countries in the European Union along with Japan Switzerland Canada the UK and Australia which called on Pakistan to drop its neutrality and join them in condemning Moscow RT News reported What do you think of us Are we your slaves that whatever you say we will do questioned Khan before asking EU ambassadors whether they wrote such a letter to India which also remains neutral RT reported Khan claimed that Pakistan had suffered for previously supporting NATOs military action in Afghanistan and declared We are friends with Russia and we are also friends with America we are friends with China and with Europe we are not in any camp On march 2 Pakistan along with 34 other countries abstained from voting on the UNs resolution condemning Russian aggression against Ukraine India Bangladesh China Iran Sri Lanka Tajikistan Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan also abstained RT reported Khan met Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on February 24 the day Moscow launched its military operation in Ukraine to discuss bilateral ties and regional issues IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/imran-hits-out-at-the-west-for-treating-pakistanis-like-slaves-199685.html Mon, 07 Mar 2022 20:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/oic-opens-office-in-kabul-199595.html Kabul March 7 The Organization for Islamic Cooperation OIC has opened an office in Kabul which will coordinate with international agencies over humanitarian activities in Afghanistan Muhammad Saeed AlAyash has been appointed as director of OICs Afghanistan office the Organisation said in a tweet on Sunday The office was opened on March 4 it added According to the OIC the office will follow up the implementation of the outcome of the organizations extraordinary ministerial meeting held in Pakistan last December The OIC office in Kabul will coordinate the OICs 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 fulfil its obligations to support the Afghan people in various fields it said 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 During the meeting the OIC urged the Islamic Development Bank to operationalise the trust fund by the first quarter of 2022 to accelerate the provision of humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/oic-opens-office-in-kabul-199595.html Mon, 07 Mar 2022 14:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/3-000-afghans-enter-poland-since-start-of-ukraine-war-199597.html Kabul March 7 Some 3000 Afghans have entered Poland from Ukraine since the beginning of Russias war on Kiev started on February 24 Kabuls Embassy in Warsaw said Embassy officials have said that in cooperation with the Polish border police they will issue travel documents for other Afghans remaining in Ukraine after they have been identified reports TOLO News According to statistics provided by the Polish Foreign Ministry two days ago more than 3000 of our compatriots were able to enter Poland and these numbers are changing because a large number of people still cross the border and return to Poland every day said Sayed Ismail Yousefi an Afghan envoy in Warsaw According to statistics more than 5000 Afghan refugees were living in Ukraine most of them young people who had gone to study in the country But as the conflict intensified the families of these students in Afghanistan urged the Taliban regime to try to move them to a safe place IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/3-000-afghans-enter-poland-since-start-of-ukraine-war-199597.html Mon, 07 Mar 2022 14:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/female-comedian-missing-for-nearly-a-month-in-kabul-199631.html Kabul March 7 Nadima an Afghan female comedian have been reportedly missing from Kabul since 25 days ago a relative said Nadima also known as known as Patingara Kakai is a famous comedian who is wellknown by Afghans She makes funny videos and posts them on TikTok Facebook and Instagram The relative told TOLO News on Sunday that she went missing from her office and there has been no information about her since then The Taliban regime is yet to comment on the disappearance Meanwhile a family member of Sayed Baqir Mohsini an Afghan professor who went missing on Friday told TOLO News that the latter was released on Sunday The disappearance of these two highprofile figures faced a widespread reaction by international organisations as well as Afghans on social media The disappearances and detentions of Taliban critics journalists activists continue Sayed Baqir Mohsini and Nadima are taken by the Taliban and there is no information about their whereabouts This a group of dictators repressors who must never be recognized and supported Samira Hamidi a member of Amnesty International said in a tweet on Sunday The detention of political civil and media activists is against the law and a violation of basic rights Any detention should take place based on the legal system said Sayed Javad Sijadi a political analyst IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/female-comedian-missing-for-nearly-a-month-in-kabul-199631.html Mon, 07 Mar 2022 16:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/unicef-raises-15-of-2bn-goal-for-afghan-kids-199123.html Kabul March 5 Unicef said that it has raised 15 per cent of its 2 billion goal aimed at countering the challenges faced by children Afghanistan amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis The Unicef Afghanistan Humanitarian Action for Children HAC appeal is the largest in the history of the organisation valued at 2 billion for 2022 Thanks to partners generous contributions the appeal is currently 15 per cent funded TOLO News quoted the UN agency as saying in a report The devastated economy of Afghanistan has affected the children from various sides with many suffering from severe malnutrition and other diseases and many others engaged in child labour to provide food for their families the report said According to the Unicef report 2475535 people were reached with basic primary healthcare services provided by 10200 health workers in 1031 facilities across 17 provinces Some 86 million children under five years were reached through a fourday nationwide national polio immunization campaign launched midJanuary 2022 A total of 281302 children were reached with education services through 8982 communitybased education classes Around 3240 children on the move 897 girls received protective services through Unicefsupported programs Winterization and hygiene kits were provided to 30355 households with vulnerable children This comes as the UN and other humanitarian organizations have repeatedly voiced concerns over the humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/unicef-raises-15-of-2bn-goal-for-afghan-kids-199123.html Sat, 05 Mar 2022 15:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-urges-people-to-handover-weapons-as-house-to-house-searches-continue-199131.html Kabul March 5 The Taliban government in Afghanistan have urged civilians to handover government property including weapons as housetohouse searches continued in Kabul and neighbouring provinces the media reported In a statement Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said to prevent further continuation of the ongoing searches termed by the regime as cleanup operations it would be better if people voluntarily handed over all government property reports Khaama Press The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan IEA asks all Afghans to hand over weapons government property and illegal items and share information about kidnappers and thieves before the searching teams reach out to their houses We ask people to cooperate with the IEA and voluntarily hand over weapons he was quoted as saying The searches were launched by the IEA last week Friday was the eighth day of the raids TOLO News reported A spokesman for the Kabul security department Khalid Zadran said that the Taliban forces had seized military equipment from houses in Kabul Hundreds light and heavy weapons were seized in these clearing operations In PD2 of Kabul city we detected six Humvees he said Earlier the IEA in a statement said that seven Humvees were seized from a residence in PD2 According to some reports the housetohouse raids began in the northern provinces of Balkh and Faryab IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-urges-people-to-handover-weapons-as-house-to-house-searches-continue-199131.html Sat, 05 Mar 2022 16:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/5-dead-in-blast-near-peshawar-mosque-198943.html Peshawar Volunteers examine the site of explosion inside a Shiite mosque in Peshawar Pakistan Friday March 4 2022 A powerful bomb exploded inside a Shiite Muslim mosque in Pakistans northwestern city of Peshawar on Friday killing more than 30 worshippers and wounding dozens more many of them critically police said PTI Peshawar March 4 At least five people were killed and over 30 others injured when a bomb went off near a mosque in Pakistans Peshawar city on Friday police said Police sources told Xinhua news agency that the blast occurred during the Friday prayers in the citys Kocha Risaldar area adding that the death toll might rise as several injured were in critical condition Rescue teams police and security forces have reached the site and shifted the injured to a nearby hospital No group or individual has claimed the attack so far IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/5-dead-in-blast-near-peshawar-mosque-198943.html Fri, 04 Mar 2022 16:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/cycling-competition-in-kabul-aimed-at-forging-unity-198880.html Kabul March 4 A cycling competition with the participation of more than 100 students took place in Kabul to forge unity and togetherness among Afghans Aimed at forging unity and togetherness among Afghans we contribute to the development of our society by organising sport scientific and cultural programs public relations officer of the private Rana University Milad Bawar told Xinhua news agency on Thursday The university organised the fourkm biking competition which started from the historic Darul Aman Palace at 7 am and ended at Baraki area in Kabul city Bawar also said that the university would provide scholarship to those securing the first the second and the third positions in the competition and they would get education free of charge in the educational centre A cyclist Mustafa who secured the first position in the race told Xinhua I feel very happy today and believe that by promoting sport we can also build our country The competition is the first of its kind to take place in Kabul since the Taliban took control of the country in August last year Sarwar a 75yearold participant said I attended the race to boost the morale of youngsters and show them that an aged man can challenge and the youngsters should stay away of illicit drugs to have a healthy life IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/cycling-competition-in-kabul-aimed-at-forging-unity-198880.html Fri, 04 Mar 2022 11:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghanistan-to-vote-against-russia-in-un-report-198694.html New Delhi March 2 Diplomats have said that Afghanistans permanent representative to the United Nations Naseer Ahmad Faiq will vote to support the resolution that denounces the Russian invasion of Ukraine a news agency reported Myanmar will also vote against Russia to support the resolution Afghanistan based Khama news agency reported Both Afghanistan and Myanmars de facto authorities do not have their own representatives in the 193member world body of the UN The current representatives are those appointed by former governments in the countries that collapsed last year The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has introduced their envoySuhail Shaheen to the UN but has not been approved yet A preliminary list of speakers reportedly shows that Afghanistan and Myanmar are the cosponsors of the resolution that will be supported by the two rather than abstention of their votes The resolution that is led by European countries will also ask Russia to retreat troops from Ukraine the news agency reported Almost 100 countries out of 193 members of the General Assembly have cosponsored the resolution but twothirds is needed to pass IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghanistan-to-vote-against-russia-in-un-report-198694.html Thu, 03 Mar 2022 17:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/us-yet-to-take-decision-on-recognising-afghan-govt-198755.html New Delhi March 2 US special representative for Afghanistan Thomas West has said that the Biden Administration has not made any decision to recognise the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan IEA West has said that the US wanted to see a representative government established in Afghanistan Khaama news agency reported citing an interview by TOLO news The pledges that Afghanistan made to the international community must be held West asserted during the interview The US envoy expressed concern about Afghan women in particular the women activists being detained and called for an immediate end of the detention the Afghanistan based news agency reported The US is worried about a possible increase in Daesh and AlQaida activities in Afghanistan ISIS is a common enemy of Kabul and Washington West was quoted as saying West was concerned about the nature of the Talibans campaign against the ISIS It comes as the IEA has repeatedly acknowledged that it has intensified operations against the ISIS in Afghanistan and that the terror group is not a threat in Afghanistan The IEA has not been recognised by any country however the Talibans interim governments acting FM Amir Khan Motaqi has said that they are closer ever to legitimisation as counties are busy interacting with them the news agency reported IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/us-yet-to-take-decision-on-recognising-afghan-govt-198755.html Thu, 03 Mar 2022 21:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/kidnapper-killed-hostage-rescued-in-kabul-198075.html Kabul Feb 28 At least one kidnapper was killed and four arrested after intelligence personnel of the Afghan caretaker government busted a group of criminals on the western outskirts of Kabul the government confirmed on Monday The Kabul department of General Directorate of Intelligence GDI rescued Abdul Ghafar from the kidnappers in Qargha area of Paghman district in a special operation on Monday the government said in a statement Xinhua news agency reported The statement came as security forces arrested nine kidnappers six Islamic State IS militants and 35 robbers and seized a huge amount of weapons and ammunition in clearance operations in Kabul and surrounding provinces since Friday according to government sources The Talibanrun administration has vowed to crack down on criminals to ensure law and order in wartorn Afghanistan IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/kidnapper-killed-hostage-rescued-in-kabul-198075.html Tue, 01 Mar 2022 14:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/islamic-emirate-of-afghanistan-spokesman-comments-on-house-to-house-searches-197710.html Kabul Feb 28 The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan called the recent housetohouse searches constructive saying that many weapons and ammunition were captured Also several Daesh fighters robbers and kidnappers were captured in the socalled clearing operation Talking at a press conference in Kabul on Sunday Islamic Emirate Spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said recent house clearings were intended to catch criminals some of whom were released from prison during the change of government According to Mujahid women were among the Islamic Emirate forces searching homes and only suspected areas were searched TOLOnews reported Nine kidnappers six affiliated with Daesh and 53 robbers were detained he added Some residents of Kabul said their houses were raided by Islamic Emirate forces They said that the family should remain inside the house they looked everywhere except one room where women were said Ali Yasar a resident of Kabul On Sunday around 1030 am they Islamic Emirate Forces came There was a woman among them they entered the houses and conducted the searches in a good way said Mohammad Rafi a resident of Kabul Residents of the capital earlier complained about the housetohouse searching by the Islamic Emirate Mujahid said two girls who were chained up at a residence in Kabul were found during the operation He said that an investigation is underway to find information about the situation At the press conference the Islamic Emirate Spokesman also welcomed the new US license allowing financial activity and called for more restrictions to be lifted and for the expansion of diplomatic efforts The Islamic Emirate is against those who are leaving the country with their families without any excuse because Afghans living in camps abroad face severe problems Mujahid said Based on Islamic values women are not allowed to travel without an accompanying male he said adding that the fate of female students who are studying abroad is being considered in light of this requirement When asked about women protestors who are detained Mujahid said there is no fresh information regarding that and the Attorney Generals Office is investigating the case Mujahid who is also Deputy Minister of Information and Culture downplayed the recent clashes at Spin Boldak crossing along the Durand Line calling them a local dispute saying that the Islamic Emirate is not willing to engage in disputes with the neighbours IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/islamic-emirate-of-afghanistan-spokesman-comments-on-house-to-house-searches-197710.html Mon, 28 Feb 2022 07:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/white-house-recent-license-intended-to-improve-afghan-economy-197711.html Washington Feb 28 The US is seeking to help the Afghan economy to function through the resumption of regular commercial activities inside Afghanistan and with the injection of liquidity into the Afghan economy senior US officials said A transcript of a teleconference with US senior administrative officials released by the White House on Saturday indicated that the Biden administration is focused on making sure the Afghan economy is functioning Xinhua news agency reported Over the course of the last several months one area of focus for the Biden administration has been ensuring that the Afghan people have access not only to humanitarian assistance but also to the ability to conduct regular commercial activity one of the officials said According to the officials the new general license was issued to avoid the deepening of the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and also to expand authorisation for commercial and financial transactions in Afghanistan including Afghanistans governing institutions On Friday the US Treasury Department announced a general license aimed to facilitate commercial activities in Afghanistan Todays action facilitates private companies and aid organisations working with Afghan governing institutions and paying customs duties fees and taxes including institutions that are headed by sanctioned individuals the Treasury Department said in a statement The officials said the new license shows the US commitment to the people of Afghanistan stressing it will ensure US sanctions do not stand in the way of transactions and activities needed to provide aid and support the basic human needs of the people of Afghanistan This is the seventh general license the US has announced so far The officials added that the license was announced in full recognition of the challenging economic reality on the ground Our goal here is to make sure that we do everything we can to make sure that money is flowing to the Afghan people to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis that they face but also to allow the commercial activity in Afghanistan to happen in order to build a inaudible cycle that will reinforce the livelihoods of the Afghan people one of the officials said According to the officials the US Treasury Department and other US interagency partners are working with multilateral development banks including the World Bank and Asian Development Bank to provide substantial economic assistance to the people of Afghanistan IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/white-house-recent-license-intended-to-improve-afghan-economy-197711.html Mon, 28 Feb 2022 07:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/former-mayor-zarifa-ghafari-returns-to-afghanistan-197712.html Kabul Feb 28 Zarifa Ghafari the former Mayor of Maidan Shahr in Maidan Wardak province of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has returned to the country Ghafari told TOLOnews on Sunday that considering the deteriorating humanitarian situation of Afghanistan she could not stop herself from coming back She said she would attempt to help the people and would do so without political interests The former Mayor who won the International Women of Courage IWOC award announced her return to the country on Twitter TOLOnews reported Ghafari was appointed Mayor of Maidan Wardak by former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in 2018 She has worked in many government positions I came here to help and if I am able to build trust between the people of Afghanistan and the international community she said She added that she is not expecting any government position I have no expectation of someone giving me position relevant to the government or politics she said The former Mayor urged the Afghan leaders to sit for talks and solve their differences through negotiations They should sit together All of them Right left good and bad members of the republic communists and Islamic Emirate talk and use your logic and dont widow the Afghan women anymore she added Ghafari has returned to Afghanistan while dozens of female activists have recently been arrested IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/former-mayor-zarifa-ghafari-returns-to-afghanistan-197712.html Mon, 28 Feb 2022 07:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pakistan-pursuing-case-of-pakistani-woman-in-an-indian-prison-for-five-years-197432.html New Delhi Feb 25 Pakistan is actively pursuing the case of Sumaira a Pakistani woman languishing in an Indian prison for nearly five years with India the Pak Foreign Office said Dawn reported The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Pakistans High Commission in New Delhi were taking all possible steps to secure early release and repatriation of Sumaira and her fouryearold daughter Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesman Asim Iftikhar told Dawn He said the Foreign Office received the confirmation of her nationality from the Interior Ministry on Feb 17 and it was conveyed in writing to Indias Ministry of External Affairs MEA the same day through Pakistans High Commission in New Delhi According to Pakistans High Commission spokesman in New Delhi Jamil Baitu the Pakistani mission followed up with the Indian side on the morning of February 18 Later in the afternoon Charge dAffaires Aftab Hasan Khan along with the Counsellor concerned visited MEA authorities in person and asked them to deal with the matter not as a normal case but as an urgent matter of humanitarian concern According to reports Sumaira who used to live with her parents in Qatar married Indian Muslim Muhammad Shahab who managed to take her to India without a visa In 2017 she was arrested by the Indian police on the charges of entering the country illegally Dawn reported IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pakistan-pursuing-case-of-pakistani-woman-in-an-indian-prison-for-five-years-197432.html Sun, 27 Feb 2022 04:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/8-afghan-polio-vaccination-health-workers-shot-dead-197134.html New Dellhi Feb 25 At least eight health workers including four women have been shot and killed in separate attacks by unidentified gunmen in Afghanistans northern provinces of Kunduz and Takhar The workers were providing polio vaccinations and the campaign has been stopped in these two provinces The United Nations has condemned the killing of eight polio vaccination workers in four locations in northern Afghanistan on Thursday This is the first such attack since the nationwide immunization campaign was resumed last November In the wake of the carnage the UN immediately suspended the national polio vaccination campaign in Kunduz and Takhar provinces Meanwhile the local officials in Kunduz confirmed that at least seven workers providing polio vaccinations were killed in three separate attacks by the unidentified gunmen in PD 1 and 2 of Kunduzs capital city as well as in Imam Sahib district reported TOLO News Today at 1200 noon in several parts of Kunduz seven health workers in the polio campaign were killed said Qari Obaidullah Abidi a spokesman for the Kunduz security department According to Kunduzs department of security two attackers have been detained The United Nations has condemned the killing of the eight polio vaccination workers in four locations in northern Afghanistan on Thursday the first such attacks since nationwide immunization campaigns resumed last November IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/8-afghan-polio-vaccination-health-workers-shot-dead-197134.html Sat, 26 Feb 2022 05:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pakistan-to-plant-over-540mn-trees-from-feb-to-april-196616.html Islamabad Feb 21 Pakistans Minister for Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam said that the country has set a target of planting over 540 million trees during the current spring season of the year for dealing with environmental problems Nationwide spring tree plantation campaign from February to April will be launched on Tuesday under the countrys landmark Ten Billion Tree Tsunami program Xinhua news agency quoted Aslam as saying in a statement Threemonth FebruaryApril season provides an unprecedented opportunity to plant as many trees as possible all over the country for dealing with various environmental problems he said The Minister said that an overarching strategy for actions has been formulated adding that people from all walks of life in the Asian country are expected to participate in the drive Noting Pakistan is a highly climatevulnerable country Aslam stressed the importance of the forest in its efforts to cope with climate risks particularly floods torrential rains desertification sea level rise and heat waves which have become increasingly frequent due to global warming IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pakistan-to-plant-over-540mn-trees-from-feb-to-april-196616.html Tue, 22 Feb 2022 13:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/foreign-terrorists-in-afghanistan-pose-threat-to-pak-envoy-196521.html Kabul Feb 21 Mansoor Ahmad Khan Pakistans Ambassador to Afghanistan has said that the presence of foreign terror groups like the Islamic State IS and Al Qaeda in the wartorn country poses a threat to Islamabad as well as to the entire region the media reported Speaking to TOLO News Khan said Terrorist organisations present in Afghanistan have been posing threats to the security of Afghanistan as well as to other countries including Pakistan IS is there remnants of Al Qaeda are maybe there There are other elements like TTP Baluch insurgents and many other groups Regarding terror threats along the disputed Durand Line the defacto border between Pakistan and Afghanistan the envoy told TOLO News that the fence was erected or installed in the previous years when the crossborder terrorism was at its highest He added that one of the ways the Pakistani state Pakistani government thought of dealing with this issue was to erect a fence The Ambassador also said that Pakistan has been trying to improve trade social economic and political ties with Kabul The envoys remarks come as tensions were simmering between the two nations over the Durand Line TOLO News reported While Pakistan has emphasised the need to complete the fencing along the Durand Line the Taliban regime in Afghanistan said that it will not allow any more fencing on the line Although the Taliban have not commented on Khans remarks the regime has repeatedly denied the presence of foreign terror groups in Afghanistan and pledged that the Afghan soil will not be used against anyone IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/foreign-terrorists-in-afghanistan-pose-threat-to-pak-envoy-196521.html Tue, 22 Feb 2022 01:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/unicef-mulls-payment-for-nearly-200k-afghan-teachers-taliban-196530.html Kabul Feb 21 The Talibanled government in Afghanistan has announced that the Unicef is considering paying an amount of 100 per month for nearly 200000 public school teachers In a statement on Sunday the Ministry of Education MoE said that more than 40000 public school teachers have received two months worth of salaries provided by the UN and the remaining will be paid within the next two weeks reports TOLO News The Unicefs plan is for a period of two months but it is expected to expand according to Ministry spokesman Aziz Ahmad Riyan Indeed the salary of the teachers is 100 which is being paid by Unicef Those teachers whose salary is more than 100 the Ministry will pay the rest of the money Riyan added When the Taliban took over Afghanistan last August many workers including teachers remained unpaid for a long time as the country faced a sudden economic meltdown following the freezing of nearly 9 billion of the central banks assets To avert a humanitarian disaster the UN agencies sought to pay the salaries of the employees without putting funds through government departments Meanwhile teachers who were receiving a low salary even during the time of former Afghan governments said that they were suffering from a deteriorated economic condition Hamira 48 who has been working as a teacher for 28 years said that she is ill but unable to make appointments with the doctors due to economic challenges I have a lot of problems I had only my income from teaching to pay the rent and the familys expenses This is a residence of one of my relatives I live in their kitchen she told TOLO News Another teacher said I borrowed about 150000 Afs for family expenses My child was injured in an accident I didnt have money to treat him IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/unicef-mulls-payment-for-nearly-200k-afghan-teachers-taliban-196530.html Tue, 22 Feb 2022 02:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghans-annual-per-capita-income-could-fall-to-350-196533.html Kabul Feb 21 The US governments Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction SIGAR said that the per capita income of the people in the wartorn nation is expected to fall to 350 due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis In a report SIGAR said that the per capita income is estimated to have fallen from 650 in 2012 to 500 in 2020 In the worstcase scenario modelled by the Asian Development Bank unemployment could increase by more than 40 per cent in the short run and household consumption could contract by 44 per cent TOLO News quoted the report as saying The report quoting UN Development Programme UNDP and IMF estimates said Afghanistans economy suffered a severe contraction in 2021 up to a 20 to 30 per cent drop in GDP UNDP modelling has estimated that Afghanistans nominal GDP could fall from 20 billion in 2020 to 16 billion in the months after the political changes in August 2021 The UNDP has warned of further contractions of between 3 per cent and 5 per cent if urgent corrective action was not taken especially with respect to the employment of women the SIGAR report said When Kabul fell to the Taliban in August 2021 Afghanistan had over 9 billion in reserves held in the name of the countrys central bank the Da Afghanistan Bank DAB outside of the country This included 7 billion in reserves held in the US with the rest of the reserves largely being in Germany the UAE Switzerland and a couple of other states All these assets are now frozen in response to the Taliban coming to power Currently all development assistance has stopped and only humanitarian aid is coming to the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghans-annual-per-capita-income-could-fall-to-350-196533.html Tue, 22 Feb 2022 02:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghanistans-state-owned-bread-factory-resumes-production-after-decades-196549.html Kabul Feb 21 Afghanistans stateowned bread factory SiloeMarkazi or central silo located in Kabul has resumed production decades after it stopped functioning an official said here After hectic efforts we have reactivated the SiloeMarkazi to resume production and for the first time over the past 30 years it begun baking breads and cakes Xinhua news agency quoted chief of the bread producing body Khayal Mohammad Maher as saying to reporters on Sunday The factory which has been badly damaged since the 1990s and stopped functioning since 1992 would be fully reconstructed to increase its products Two more branches of the silo are situated in the southern Kandahar and western Herat cities and authorities would soon buy necessary equipment to fully reactivate the said factories Maher said According to the official the silo begun its production with baking 200 kg of flour to make bread and cake daily and in the future the capacity would increase to five tonnes per day This is the firstever staterun production entity that has been reactivated since Talibans takeover of Afghanistan in August last year Presently a total of 130 persons including 12 women are working in the bakery section of the silo to produce bread and cake and the products are sold in 36 stalls across the capital city IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghanistans-state-owned-bread-factory-resumes-production-after-decades-196549.html Tue, 22 Feb 2022 04:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/over-100-people-looted-in-karachis-biggest-crime-incident-196432.html New Delhi Feb 20 In what can be termed as the biggest street crime incident of the year so far a group of robbers looted over 100 people on Saturday on the Korangi Causeway in Karachi Express Tribune reported Ten to 12 robbers reportedly set up roadblocks to trap vehicles and proceeded to rob the people with relative ease and appeared to not be afraid of police and rangers According to the citizens caught in the roadblock they had phoned the police helpline but it could not reach the location in time the report said Moreover the police not only denied the incident but also failed to register an FIR Talking to the Express Tribune a citizen said that the city has been handed over to robbers and that the performance of police rangers and other law enforcement agencies responsible for the protection of life and property has been reduced to zero Earlier this week a senior producer working for a private TV channel was shot dead during a botched robbery in Karachis North Nazimabad area Athar Mateen was gunned down after he rammed his vehicle into the bike of alleged robbers who were looting a citizen said the police As the alleged robbers fell down they fired shots at the vehicle killing the media worker said SSP Central Rana Maroof The suspects managed to flee after the incident on a bike snatched from a citizen while leaving their bike behind the SSP added IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/over-100-people-looted-in-karachis-biggest-crime-incident-196432.html Mon, 21 Feb 2022 16:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/act-of-intimidation-australian-pm-condemns-chinese-navy-196233.html New Delhi Feb 20 Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has declared a laser incident involving a Royal Australian Air Force aircraft last week is an act of intimidation by China the Guardian reported Australias defence department reported a laser emanating from a Peoples Liberation Army Navy vessel illuminated a P8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft last Thursday when the Chinese ship was sailing east through the Arafura sea the report said On Sunday Morrison characterised the episode as a reckless and irresponsible act that should not have occurred The February 17 incident in waters to the north of Australia followed days of domestic political contention about national security Morrison said Australia would be making our views very clear to the Chinese government through defence and diplomatic channels Morrison said China needed to provide an explanation as to why a military vessel in Australias exclusive economic zone would undertake such an act  such a dangerous act the report added I can see it no other way than an act of intimidation one that was unprovoked unwarranted Morrison told reporters on Sunday Australia will never accept such acts of intimidation With a federal election looming Morrison is attempting to paint his political opponents as being weak on national security and has declared the authoritarian regime in Beijing wants opposition Labor to replace the Coalition in the coming contest IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/act-of-intimidation-australian-pm-condemns-chinese-navy-196233.html Sun, 20 Feb 2022 23:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/intl-aid-alone-will-not-stop-afghan-crisis-196065.html Kabul Feb 20 Geneva Call an independent humanitarian organisation has said that the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is dire and warned that if cash does not reach soon poverty and misery will increase in this country In an exclusive interview with TOLO News head of the organisation Alain Deletroz said that humanitarian aid alone will not prevent the crisis in Afghanistan and that the countrys economy needed to become healthier as more money was provided As a humanitarian organization we avoid commenting on political issues but what we keep saying and telling our donors if there is no money coming to Afghanistan at all the humanitarian situation will be increasing he said Concerns over the deterioration of the economic situation in Afghanistan have been heightened by the recent decision of US President Joe Biden to split the frozen Afghan assets currently in American banks Meanwhile the Wall Street Journal said in a report that Bidens executive order to distribute 7 billion of Afghan assets to the families of 911 victims is another blow to the countrys declining economy The Biden administrations decision to effectively seize the Afghan central banks foreign reserves is likely to deepen Afghanistans already devastating economic crisis according to Afghan bankers and economists and international aid workers the report reads After the collapse of the previous government world aid to Afghanistan halted and the imposition of sanctions on the Islamic Emirate has put the country on the brink of a complete economic collapse IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/intl-aid-alone-will-not-stop-afghan-crisis-196065.html Sun, 20 Feb 2022 09:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/beijing-olympics-official-claims-stories-of-uyghur-human-rights-abuses-are-lies-195740.html New Delhi Feb 17 The Winter Olympics is facing renewed political controversy after a Games official dismissed claims of human rights violations against the Uyghur Muslim population as lies BBC reported Beijing Games spokesperson Yan Jiarong also said that Taiwan is part of China the report said While Taiwan is a selfgoverned democratic state Beijing sees it as part of its territory The International Olympic Committee has said repeatedly that the Games should be free from politics Yan made her comments at a daily media briefing on Thursday She spoke after IOC spokesman Mark Adams was asked at a news conference about Taiwans presence at Sundays closing ceremony on Sunday Following his comments Yan said There is only one China Her statement reiterates Chinas stance towards Taiwan which it claims as its own sacred territory In the past year China has stepped up pressure to isolate the island from its international allies the report said Later she intervened when a reporter directed a question to the IOC about material from Chinas Xinjiang region being used in clothing The socalled forced labour in Xinjiang is lies made up by deliberate groups Yan said IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/beijing-olympics-official-claims-stories-of-uyghur-human-rights-abuses-are-lies-195740.html Sat, 19 Feb 2022 02:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-ambassador-to-us-steps-down-195803.html Kabul Feb 19 Adela Raz the Afghan Ambassador to the US has stepped down from her post a senior official at the mission said calling the new restrictions imposed by the US Department of State on the Embassy as the reason for her resignation Afghan Deputy Ambassador Abdul Hadi Nijrabi told TOLO News on Friday that the US State Department had decided to stop political and diplomatic activities of Afghanistan in the US He said the State Department in a letter to the Afghanistan embassy in Washington demanded the diplomatic activities be halted The letter sent by the US State Department to the embassy said only the ambassador is allowed to continue work from home but not on political and diplomatic activities The rest of the diplomats cannot work anymore he said Raz is the third senior Afghan diplomat who stepped down from her position within the past six months TOLO News reported Previously the Afghan Ambassadors in China and Turkmenistan resigned from their positions With the Taliban taking over the country last August the Afghanistan diplomatic missions have been facing economic problems Officials at the Afghanistan embassy in Washington said that the financial system of the mission has been suspended by a bank for over four months It has been over four months that the salaries of the Afghanistan embassys staffs have been suspended All diplomats are facing problems TOLO News quoted Safi Delawar who worked as an adviser for the Afghanistan embassy in Washington as saying The Afghanistan embassies in Tajikistan Turkmenistan Italy Poland and Iran are said to be facing similar economic challenges The Talibanled governments Ministry of Foreign Affairs MoFA however has welcomed the closure of those embassies which are not in contact with the incumbent regime The Afghanistan diplomatic missions being closed in many countries is a good act because they dont cooperate with the current government and are trying to misuse their authority said an official from the Ministry IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-ambassador-to-us-steps-down-195803.html Sat, 19 Feb 2022 08:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-girls-must-definitely-return-to-school-karzai-195335.html Kabul Feb 17 Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said that every girl in the country must definitely return to schools as it is absolutely necessary for the wellbeing of wartorn nation In his remarks to France 24 the former leader said that the return of girls to school and women to their workplaces is the demand of Afghanistan itself TOLO News reported Girls and women have been out of educational institutions and offices since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021 Regarding the recognition of the incumbent Taliban government Karzai said some initial steps were needed to be taken at the national level to pave the way On the issue of recognition by the international community my proposal has been from the very beginning thisthat we the Afghan people need to put our own house in order first The first responsibility comes to the current government to the Taliban government to make sure that all Afghans from all walks of life from all the Afghan people are addressed brought together and the future of the country is discussed The decision is made through the will of the Afghan people The expression of that will is necessary then definitely recognition will follow he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-girls-must-definitely-return-to-school-karzai-195335.html Fri, 18 Feb 2022 01:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-embassy-in-us-facing-financial-problems-says-diplomat-195337.html Kabul Feb 17 The Afghan Embassy in Washington is struggling with financial issues a top diplomat said adding that if the financial problems were not resolved then the functioning of the mission will be impossible Abdul Hadi Najrabi the deputy Afghan Ambassador to the US said the Department of State has demanded the Embassy to hand over all of its property reports TOLO News The letter we received on February 1 by the US Department of State we were asked to accept a date to transfer the property of the embassy to the State Department said Najrabi According to the diplomat the Embassy in Washington received several letters from the incumbent Taliban government in Afghanistan over establishing ties with it However the Kabul side made demands of us but we gave a negative response because we are still representing the former government he said With the fall of the former government the Afghan diplomatic missions across the world have faced an uncertain fate The Afghan diplomats have not received salaries for the past six months They are not in contact with the capital and are living in uncertainty This issue will also have a negative influence on Afghanistan said Sayed Norullah Raghi a former diplomat This development comes after THe New York Times had recently reported that Afghan diplomats in the US were seeking permission to remain in America after they lost their pay and faced the possibility of being deported IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-embassy-in-us-facing-financial-problems-says-diplomat-195337.html Fri, 18 Feb 2022 01:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/guterres-calls-for-more-cooperation-with-csto-on-afghanistan-195347.html United Nations Feb 17 UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres has called for more cooperation between the world body and the Collective Security Treaty Organization CSTO on Afghanistan The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is worsening by the day while terrorism remains a constant threat not only to the security of Afghanistan and the region but to the entire world he told a Security Council meeting on UNCSTO cooperation on Wednesday Without determined action the severe economic contraction rising unemployment and escalating humanitarian crisis will fuel despair and breed extremism and the threat from illicit drugs and arms flows as well as criminal and terrorist networks is increasing Xinhua news agency quoted the UN chief as saying Regional and interregional cooperation are an essential element in our response So too are strengthened regional dialogue as well as crossborder law enforcement and judicial coordination Close cooperation between the United Nations and regional organisations including the CSTO will be critical in helping defuse these evolving threats preventing spillover promoting stability and ultimately saving lives he said Guterres also stressed the need for UNCSTO cooperation on conflict prevention counterterrorism and counternarcotics The UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia has been working in close partnership with the CSTO to address the root causes of potential conflict and develop shared solutions to shared problems he said Today good working relations between the CSTO and the Regional Center enable constructive earlywarning exchanges and regular contacts during securityrelated events in the region Guterres added The Regional Center is also promoting measures against crossborder crime terrorism and drug trafficking to ensure conditions for peaceful sustainable development all areas where the United Nations looks forward to building partnership with the CSTO he said Cooperation with regional organisations is at the core of UN activities and enshrined in the UN Charter and now more than ever a more effective UN depends on stronger and deeper cooperation with regional organisations said Guterres IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/guterres-calls-for-more-cooperation-with-csto-on-afghanistan-195347.html Fri, 18 Feb 2022 03:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/us-has-no-choice-but-to-work-with-pakistan-195428.html New Delhi Feb 17 The US has no choice but to work with Pakistan on the way ahead in Afghanistan says a senior US official while elucidating President Joe Bidens administrations new policy for the region At a discussion at the US Institute of Peace in Washington US Special RepreÂsentative for AfghaÂnistan Tom West acknowledged Pakistans role in arranging a peace deal with the Taliban but also complained that Islamabad often ignored Washingtons suggestions Dawn reported I have productive good and honest relationships with Pakistani leaders and they have huge amounts of expertise in their system on these Afghan matters he said And I think we dont have a choice but to work with Pakistan on the way ahead The moderator former US National Security Adviser Stephen J Hadley however also asked a set of questions about USPakistan relations differences between IslamÂabad and Kabuls new rulers and the Talibans position on TTP and the Durand Line During the life of the negotiations from January to August and in the years before we were in very close touch with the leadership of Pakistan regarding steps that we urged Pakistan to take to enhance the prospects of a negotiated settlement to this conflict West said Had Pakistan taken some of those steps in a more meaningful and consistent way I think we would be in a different place today I genuinely do The response made it clear that while Pakistan supported the peace process it did not always accept US proposals Mr West also made it clear that Islamabads reluctance often irked Washington although the two allies continued to support the Doha talks that led to an agreement in 2020 the report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/us-has-no-choice-but-to-work-with-pakistan-195428.html Fri, 18 Feb 2022 12:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/china-has-sought-to-frustrate-wto-oversight-mechanisms-195439.html such as through its poor record of adhering to its WTO transparency obligations as per 2021 USTR Report to Congress on Chinas WTO Compliance After 20 years of WTO membership China still embraces a stateled nonmarket approach to the economy and trade despite other WTO members expectations  and Chinas own representations  that China would transform its economy and pursue the open marketoriented policies endorsed by the WTO In fact Chinas embrace of a stateled nonmarket approach to the economy and trade has increased rather than decreased over time and the mercantilism that it generates has harmed and disadvantaged US companies and workers often severely as per 2021 USTR Report to Congress on Chinas WTO Compliance When China acceded to the WTO it voluntarily agreed to embrace the WTOs open marketoriented approach and to embed it in Chinas trading system and institutions China also agreed to take on the obligations set forth in existing WTO rules while also making numerous China specific commitments As we previously documented and as remains true today Chinas record of compliance with these terms has been poor the report said For nearly two decades following Chinas accession to the WTO a variety of bilateral and multilateral efforts were pursued by the US and other WTO members to address the unique challenges presented by Chinas WTO membership However even though these efforts were persistent they did not result in meaningful changes in Chinas stateled nonmarket approach to the economy and trade At times the US did secure broad commitments from China for fundamental shifts in the direction of Chinese policies and practices but these commitments were unenforceable and China repeatedly failed to follow through on them Over time moreover commitments from China became more difficult to secure the USTR said At the WTO the US brought 27 cases against China often in collaboration with likeminded WTO members We secured victories in every case that was decided Still even when China changed the specific practices that we had challenged it did not typically change the underlying policies and meaningful reforms by China remained elusive China has not yet implemented some of the more significant commitments that it made in the Phase One Agreement such as commitments in the area of agricultural biotechnology and the required risk assessment that China is to conduct relating to the use of ractopamine in cattle and swine China has also fallen far short of implementing its commitments to purchase US goods and services in 2020 and 2021 Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at Sanjeevsiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/china-has-sought-to-frustrate-wto-oversight-mechanisms-195439.html Fri, 18 Feb 2022 13:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghans-lose-hope-under-6-months-of-taliban-rule-195545.html New Delhi Feb 17 The Taliban promised a new era of peace and prosperity but six months later few in the country are content with their new rulers RFERL reported More than a million Afghans have fled reprisals persecution and a worsening humanitarian and economic crisis Some 23 million people the majority of the countrys population of 39 million face starvation More than 1 million children are in danger of dying from malnutrition And despite an end to the fighting 35 million Afghans remain internally displaced the report said The situation has cast a pall on the idea that the freedoms and rights enshrined in Afghanistans partially defunct constitution will ever be honoured under the Taliban whose government remains unrecognised worldwide And with international aid and trade dwindling to a trickle the aspirations of many Afghans have turned from hope of a better life to mere survival the report said Before the Taliban takeover Afghanistan was already one of the worlds most impoverished and aiddependent countries Ahead of the withdrawal of foreign forces many foreign companies and aid agencies also pulled out and foreign funding to the government ceased entirely after the Taliban restored its hardline Islamic emirate RFERL reported International donors have since pledged billions in humanitarian aid designated to restore health care education and to provide food aid but there are significant hurdles when it comes to delivering on those promises The United Nations warns that more than 97 per cent of Afghans will fall into poverty before summer and the Afghan economy appears to be in free fall The countrys trade has dramatically shrunk as international markets for Afghan produce have dried up This week hope for an injection of cash to keep the Afghan economy afloat suffered a major blow after US President Joe Biden issued an executive order to split 7 billion of frozen Afghan national bank reserves into humanitarian aid and payments for the victims of the September 11 2001 terrorist attacks in the US A halfyear later the United Nations and human rights watchdogs continue to report grave abuses The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan continued to receive credible allegations of killings enforced disappearances and other violations UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres said in a report to the Security Council late last month Afghan women have endured the brunt of Taliban restrictions and discrimination Most teenage Afghan girls are still waiting to return to school while women have lost jobs businesses and the expanded societal roles they had gained over the past two decades RFERL reported IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghans-lose-hope-under-6-months-of-taliban-rule-195545.html Fri, 18 Feb 2022 16:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/bill-gates-conferred-hilal-e-pakistan-honour-for-efforts-to-eradicate-polio-195313.html Islamabad In this photo released by Pakistans Press Information Department Pakistans President Arif Alvi right awards the countrys second highest civilian award HilalePakistan to the Microsoft cofounder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates at a ceremony in Islamabad Pakistan Thursday Feb 17 2022 Pakistan awarded Gates in recognition of his work to alleviate poverty and diseases like polio and tuberculosis PTI New Delhi Feb 17 Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates has been conferred with HilalePakistan the second highest civilian honour in the country for his efforts to help eradicate polio in Pakistan Samaa TV reported Gates is on a daylong visit to Pakistan and has met with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan He also visited the National Command and Control Centre NCOC that oversees efforts to curb Covid19 A statement from the Pakistan Prime Ministers Office said on Thursday that this is Gates firstever visit to Pakistan The Pak premiers house hosted a luncheon in honour of the tech billionaire who was briefed on Pakistans efforts about polio eradication and Covid response Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has been a major contributor in worldwide polio eradication through Gavi the vaccine alliance the report said Gates also met Planning and Development Minister and NCOC head Asad Umar and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister SAPM on Health Dr Faisal Sultan In a statement the NCOC said the philanthropist and his delegation attended the forums morning session He was informed about the NCOCs role and methodology its achievements since the start of the Covid19 pandemic the coronavirus situation in Pakistan as well as the nonpharmaceutical interventions by the forum to control the spread of the disease it added The delegation was briefed about genome sequencing being carried out in Pakistan and coronavirus variants detected so far According to the statement Gates appreciated Pakistans success against Covid19 despite resource constraints and the initiatives and measures for public health safety IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/bill-gates-conferred-hilal-e-pakistan-honour-for-efforts-to-eradicate-polio-195313.html Thu, 17 Feb 2022 22:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghans-stage-protest-against-bidens-decision-on-frozen-assets-195075.html Kabul Feb 16 A number of Afghans including businessmen and money exchangers held protests in Kabul and other parts of the country against the Biden administrations decision to divert a part of the frozen assets from the Afghan central bank to the families of 911 victims Terming the decision as illegal and unfair the protesters urged the US to release all of Afghanistans frozen assets They also called on the World Bank and the UN to reconsider the US decision on the assets of the Afghan people No one has the right to use this money or give it to anyone else Mohammad Younes Momand head of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment ACCI was quoted as saying by Afghanistan based Tolo news Its a completely unfair act to take the compensation from the Afghan money and give it to the victims of 911 said Hajj Mir Afghan Safi head of the Sarai Shahzada money changers union The protesters have threatened that if the US does not change its decision they will escalate the protest This is the money of the Afghan people which includes a lot of capital of Afghan traders Our protest is over Bidens decision said Abdul Rahman Zirak a spokesman of the Sarai Shahzada money changers union Similarly Abdul Rahman Hudawal head of the Nangarhar Money Exchangers Union said Bidens decision is unfair this is the money of the Afghan people and the United States cannot give it to others IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghans-stage-protest-against-bidens-decision-on-frozen-assets-195075.html Wed, 16 Feb 2022 11:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-delegates-neet-eu-envoys-in-doha-195125.html New Delhi Feb 16 A Taliban delegation has held talks with European Unions representatives in Doha and discussed Afghanistans requirements as well as the humanitarian health and education situation According to the statement released late Tuesday by the Taliban government the delegates reassured the EU envoys that the new ruling government of Afghanistan is committed to upholding the legitimate rights of the society and described the situation as satisfactory TOLO News reported The EU representatives showed readiness to increase humanitarian aid as well as health and education assistance to Afghanistan The statement further said the participants emphasised the importance of continuing such meetings Tomas Niklasson special envoy of the EU for Afghanistan said he expressed the EUs grave concerns about enforced disappearances and unlawful arrests and about women being mistreated by police during peaceful demonstrations We also pointed to the lack of political representation and the systematic denial of the rights of women and minorities he tweeted Niklasson added that access to education in Afghanistan was discussed at the meeting and the Afghan delegation referred to the opening of universities for men and women and its commitment to open primary and secondary schools for boys and girls throughout the country in March The EU remains committed to the Afghan people and is delivering 500 million euros in assistance through UN and NGOs focusing on food health WASH and protection education and livelihoodNiklasson wrote on Twitter IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-delegates-neet-eu-envoys-in-doha-195125.html Wed, 16 Feb 2022 14:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/imran-khan-launches-2nd-phase-of-paks-first-instant-payment-system-195149.html Islamabad Feb 16 Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has launched the second phase of the countrys first instant payment system called Raast to enable persontoperson payments Addressing a ceremony on Tuesday Khan said that the newly launched initiative will not only enable common people to execute digital payments instantly securely and conveniently for free but also help the government maintain a record of the largely undocumented economy of the country Xinhua news agency reported Through the digitisation of the economy over 220 million people can be converted into an asset by ensuring their financial inclusion in the system he said The Prime Minister said the initiative will open doors of further innovation for the economy and particularly the financial sector Khan said the outbreak of Covid19 has had a negative impact on the whole world and increased the global poverty level Citing a World Bank report he said that despite the pandemic poverty level was slightly reduced in Pakistan which is a positive indicator hoping that the countrys economic condition will further improve through Raast and other initiatives As a flagship initiative of the State Bank of Pakistan Raast is an instant payment system that enables various types of transactions among different stakeholders such as organisations businesses and persons a statement by the central bank said In the first phase of Raast launched in January 2021 transactions from organisations to persons generally referred to as Bulk Payments was enabled the statement said adding that the second phase is designed to facilitate persontoperson transactions under the initiative IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/imran-khan-launches-2nd-phase-of-paks-first-instant-payment-system-195149.html Wed, 16 Feb 2022 16:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pak-journalist-arrested-for-making-obscene-remarks-about-imran-khan-minister-murad-saeed-195186.html Islamabad Pakistani journalist Mohsin Baig flashes a victory sign as he leaves after his court appearance in Islamabad Pakistan Wednesday Feb 16 2022 Police arrested Baig a prominent journalist and government critic at his home on unspecified charges on Wednesday his colleagues and local media said PTI New Delhi Feb 16 Pakistan Federal Investigation Agency FIA has arrested journalist Mohsin Baig on the complaint of the government against a discussion during a television channels show involving Pak Prime Minister Imran Khan Ary News reported Mohsin Baig is blamed for initiating a debate on a television show with obscene references towards Prime Minister Imran Khan and a federal minister the report said The government after the programme launched a complaint with the FIA that acted promptly and arrested Baig for his primary role in the entire debate According to details a policeman has also been injured during the FIA raid to arrest Baig after the latter resisted the bid and hit one of the cops with his gun The raid continued for an hour owing to resistance and the accused could be seen carrying the arm at the time of his arrest He has been shifted to a police station while the police have also sent a team to arrest his son On February 16 the PTI minister Murad Saeed filed a complaint against Baig It stated that on February 10 Mohsin Baig assassinated his character by using abusive and immoral language in a talk show namely G for Gharida Samaa TV reported The alleged in presence of other participants relate a baseless story with derogatory remarks and the same was thereafter shared through social media including YouTube Twitter and Facebook it read The FIR added that the accused tried to distort Saeeds image for ulterior motives and it also led to cultivate and induce a natural person to engage in a sexually explicit act IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pak-journalist-arrested-for-making-obscene-remarks-about-imran-khan-minister-murad-saeed-195186.html Wed, 16 Feb 2022 19:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/muslims-christians-clash-over-construction-of-wall-in-lahore-194985.html New Delhi Feb 14 Multiple people were injured some seriously after a fight broke out between Muslim and Christian community members in Lahore on Monday over an argument regarding the construction of a wall in the neighbourhood Express Tribune reported The incident happened in the Factory Area of the provincial capital Soon after the clash was reported a contingent of law enforcers including SP Cantonment Essa Sukhera reached the spot The situation was brought under control and one individual was arrested The CCPO in Lahore also took notice of the incident Police sources said the cause of the incident was a local dispute and did not have any religious connection the report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/muslims-christians-clash-over-construction-of-wall-in-lahore-194985.html Wed, 16 Feb 2022 00:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pak-refutes-news-of-isi-chief-meeting-with-afghan-jihadi-leaders-in-turkey-195071.html Kabul Feb 16 Pakistan has refuted the reports about its spying agencys chief meeting with Afghan Jihadi leaders in Turkey According to a media report the Pakistani embassy based in Kabul has denied the reports about meeting of the ISI chief with Afghan Jihadi leaders Atta Muhammad Noor Abdul Rashid Dustom and Muhammad Muhaqiq in Turkey Dubbing the news as fake the embassy has said that no Pakistani official has met with Afghan Jihadi leaders in Turkey Earlier it was claimed that LieutenantGeneral Nadeem Anjum chief of ISI has met with a number of Afghan Jihadi leaders and has discussed the establishment of an inclusive government in Afghanistan This comes as officials of the Talibanled government in Afghanistan have urged Afghan politicians in exile to return to the country and live peacefully IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pak-refutes-news-of-isi-chief-meeting-with-afghan-jihadi-leaders-in-turkey-195071.html Wed, 16 Feb 2022 11:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/iranian-interior-minister-arrives-in-islamabad-194830.html By Hamza Ameer Islamabad Feb 14 Iranian Interior Minister Ahmed Vahidi arrived in Islamabad on Monday on a daylong visit to meet senior members in the Pakistan government and discuss important issues related to PakistanIran relations Pakistans Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has received Vahidi As per details Vahidi along with his ninemember delegation will be meeting Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and will be holding important meeting with other government representatives During the daylong visit the Iranian minister will hold meetings with Prime Minister Imran Khan and other government functionaries read a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Interior Vahidi and Pakistani officials will discuss issues related to PakistanIran border management and the exchange of prisoners the statement added Both Pakistan and Iran had agreed to form a special committee for effective implementation on an agreement for the exchange of prisoners in October last year The border management especially in relation to cross border movement of banned outfits and human trafficking for which PakistanIran border is majorly used by the traffickers to bring people from Pakistan into Iran and move them towards Turkey and Europe through a managed and active network of agents The visit of Iranian Interior Minister holds great importance as it comes a week after the visit of Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef who came to Pakistan last week Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed his desire to play a role of a mediator between Saudi Arabia and Iran and facilitates ways to ease tensions between the two countries Pakistan has also been focused on the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan a point that will also be part of the discussion with the Iranian Interior Minister The recent tensions in Balochistan province which saw a serious upsurge in targeted terror attacks on security personal and their installations showed some signs of facilitation and harbouring by terror banned outfits on the Iranian side also Terror groups such as Zainabiyoun have been operating on the PakistanIran border Pakistani authorities have in the past launched Intelligence Based Operations and have neutralised dozens of members of the groups IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/iranian-interior-minister-arrives-in-islamabad-194830.html Tue, 15 Feb 2022 15:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghanistan-receives-64mn-in-recent-humanitarian-cash-aid-194902.html Kabul A torn banner lies on the ground after a protest condemning President Joe Bidens decision on frozen Afghan assets in Kabul Afghanistan Tuesday Feb 15 2022 Biden signed an executive order Friday Feb 11 2022 to create a pathway to split 7 billion dollars of Afghan assets frozen in the US to fund humanitarian relief in Afghanistan and to create a trust fund to compensate Sept 11 victims PTI Kabul Feb 15 Afghanistan has received 64 million recently in humanitarian cash assistance the countrys central bank has said Following a series of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan today Feb 14 the 14th shipment of humanitarian aid of 32 million reached Afghanistan and delivered to the Afghanistan International Bank AIB Da Afghanistan Bank DAB wrote on Twitter On Sunday the DAB also received 32 million in assistance and delivered the cash to AIB Xinhua news agency quoted the the bank as saying The DAB while appreciating the humanitarian assistance of the international community calls for more cooperation in this field it said The wartorn Asian country had received more than 345 million in cash assistance since the Talibans takeover of Afghanistan in midAugust last year according to figures issued by the bank Following the Talibans takeover Afghanistan the US froze more than 9 billion of assets of the Afghan central bank IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghanistan-receives-64mn-in-recent-humanitarian-cash-aid-194902.html Tue, 15 Feb 2022 19:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/christian-man-killed-in-lahore-brawl-194910.html Schaeftlarn The two damaged SBahn trains are seen at the scene of the accident a day after a collision in Schaeftlarn Germany Tuesday Feb 15 2022 German police say several people have been injured and at least one person has died in a collision on Monday Feb 14 2022 between two commuter trains near Munich PTI New Delhi Feb 15 A 25yearold Christian man was killed and several others sustained injuries following a brawl between Muslim and Christian community members over the construction of a wall in a neighbourhood of Lahores Factory Area Friday Times reported Pervaiz Maseech died on Monday from trauma he sustained after being hit on the head with an iron rod during the fight Several of the injured remain in critical condition Police told Dawn that the clash was not related to religious tensions but pertained to a local dispute It was not the first time the community had erupted in violence On Sunday the same fight had taken place but Lahore police busy with the HBL Pakistan Super League PSL were unable to respond On Monday nearly 200 people gathered on the street and began chanting slogans and hurling abuses towards one another Pervaiz who lived on the same street went outside to confront the group It was then that several in the group carrying guns began aerial firing Pervaiz was surrounded by the mob and beaten on the back of his head with an iron rod Friday Times reported News of the young mans death spread quickly among the Christian community and police remained on the scene to quash the simmering unrest Police have arrested a suspect and have registered a murder FIR against others involved IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/christian-man-killed-in-lahore-brawl-194910.html Tue, 15 Feb 2022 19:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/imran-khans-visit-to-moscow-will-be-a-blow-to-paks-reputation-194726.html By Sanjeev Sharma New Delhi Feb 14 The most prominent aspect of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khans visit to Moscow is that it was not an invitation from Russia rather an invite sought by Islamabad according to an article Jan Achakzai a geopolitical analyst wrote in an article for The News that Khan is going to visit Russia at a time which is probably not a suitable moment Here is another paradox Pakistan is facing today Led by Pakistan TehreekeInsaf PTI a minority party government sitting at the helm with the support of allies gathered by powerful quarters took this decision for the nation the article said The most prominent aspect of this visit is that Russia did not invite rather an invitation was sought And more so in an environment where Putin has already called Prime Minister Modi to express gratitude for Indias support to Russia in the UN Security Council the analyst says in his article Interestingly Russia didnt seek our support nor did the US stop us from going to Moscow Is it Pakistans irrelevance or a clear reading of the US that we will come back from Russia emptyhanded and will beg for financial concessions from Washington in forums like IMF FATF etc from a position of further weakness And Russia losing India for the sake of Pakistans support is not an option Pakistans support comes at the cost of frequent requests for aid and loans Additionally Moscow will not appease Pakistan at this juncture as doing so will offend India Russia needs Delhis support more than anything else since the Biden Administration has boxed President Putin in a difficult situation in the Ukraine crisis Mr PM pls follow your NSP and avoid another Liaquat Ali Khan moment in Pakistans foreign policy While the cost will be heavier for the countrys interest it will be crushing for your image The bottom line of this visit will be a blow to Pakistans reputation We have fewer options and we will look optionless after this visit the author added Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at Sanjeevsiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/imran-khans-visit-to-moscow-will-be-a-blow-to-paks-reputation-194726.html Tue, 15 Feb 2022 05:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/enforced-disappearances-spike-in-balochistan-as-pak-forces-retaliate-194728.html By Sanjeev Sharma New Delhi Feb 14 Since the twin attacks on the Frontier Corps FC headquarters in Panjgur and Noshki by the proscribed Baloch Liberation Army enforced disappearances in Balochistan have seen a sudden alarming uptick The Pakistani forces have reportedly abducted 48 individuals from different areas of Balochistan in the past 10 days and the trend is on the rise the Balochistan Post reported According to reports the Pakistani forces detained four members of a single family in the past week The forces reportedly raided a house in the Faizabad area of Quetta and abducted Saud Sarparra and Sudes The forces had raided this house previously on February 7 when they detained Farhad and Saqib Saqibs brother Haroon was also abducted on February 6 from Quetta The forces have so far detained 12 members of Sarparra family from different areas of Balochistan the report said The Pakistani forces also reportedly detained five individuals during a raid in the Manguchar area of Kalat The forces reportedly raided several houses during a military operation and detained five individuals One of the victims was identified as Kifayatullah Langove a teacher The remaining four detainees are yet to be identified In Lahore the Pakistani forces reportedly detained three Baloch labourers They were identified as Farooq Khan Jamal Khan Balkhani and Muhammad Nawaz Balkhani The victims were detained on February 7 and remain missing to this day In Dera Murad Jamali the Pakistani forces have detained three individuals and two of them were identified as Bakhtiyar and Sahib The third victim is yet to be identified It is pertinent to mention that since BLAs attacks in Panjgur and Noshki the Pakistani forces have forcibly disappeared dozens of individuals from different areas of Balochistan as many as 48 individuals were detained in only ten days It should be noted that the real number of disappearances over last 10 days is much higher these are only the cases that have been reported and verified by TBP the report said Baloch activists and the general public are concerned that this trend will likely continue and become intense as time goes on The Pakistani authorities have not yet commented on these events Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at Sanjeevsiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/enforced-disappearances-spike-in-balochistan-as-pak-forces-retaliate-194728.html Tue, 15 Feb 2022 05:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/baloch-pashtun-students-being-harassed-racially-profiled-in-pak-universities-194729.html By Sanjeev Sharma New Delhi Feb 14 The Baloch and Pashtun students at the University of Gujrat in Pakistans Punjab province say that they are being harassed and racially profiled inside the varsity premises the Balochistan Post reported They say that unknown men dressed in civilian clothes frequent the university and summon the students to check their mobile phones social media accounts and ask questions about their family members The Pashtun students are forced to answer queries regarding the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement the report said The students say that they informed the university vicechancellor about the issue but then he rebuffed them and said that he was helpless as there are orders from the above The students said that the university possesses all the relevant data of the students in its records but the students are being harassed for information that is not related to their academics in any way The students say that this practice is common in other universities of Punjab province where Baloch and Pashtun students are harassed on daily basis both by the university administration and other students They said that students are summoned to these universities for interviews but then they are asked personal questions about their friends and families A few days ago the hostels of the Baloch students in Punjab University Lahore were raided and two students were detained They were moved to an unknown location and their condition and whereabouts remain unknown the report said Baloch Students at the University of Gujrat said that they were recently summoned for questioning but they refused to go When they once again visited the vicechancellor in this regard he assured them that nothing will happen to them inside the university premises but he cannot guarantee their safety and wellbeing outside the campus gates The students say that they are concerned for their safety after the ViceChancellors dubious and lukewarm response Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at Sanjeevsiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/baloch-pashtun-students-being-harassed-racially-profiled-in-pak-universities-194729.html Tue, 15 Feb 2022 05:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/bidens-decision-to-compensate-911-victims-with-afghan-assets-unfair-taliban-official-194455.html Kabul Feb 14 Deputy spokesperson for the Taliban government Inamullah Samangani on Sunday criticized Washingtons unfair decision to compensate the victims of 911 terrorist attacks with Afghanistans assets The recent decision of US President Joe Biden on the handling of the foreign exchange reserve of Afghanistan is a hasty unfair revenge which demonstrates the US extreme darkened morality Samangani was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency Following the pullout of its troops from Afghanistan in August 2021 the US has frozen nearly 10 billion US dollars worth of assets of Afghanistans central bank which worsened the economic crisis and poverty in the wartorn Asian country In a decree issued on Friday Biden reportedly ordered the allocation of 35 billion dollars from the assets as damage to the victims of the 911 terrorist attacks and diverted 35 billion more dollars to the Afghans as humanitarian aid without the consent of the Talibanrun administration The Americans after suffering a military defeat now are stamping their moral defeat by taking such an unfair decision The Afghan assets cannot be paid as compensation or humanitarian assistance by the Americans to Afghans as they are Afghanistans assets Samangani said With regard to September 11 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington Samangani said everyone knows that no Afghan was involved no attacker was Afghan the planes used in the attacks didnt belong to Afghanistan and the territory from where the attacks were launched didnt belong to Afghanistan Taking compensation from Afghanistan assets is utterly unjust and unfair the official said Samangani accused the US of committing crimes against Afghans during its 20year military presence in Afghanistan saying the US troops have killed more than 100000 Afghans Millions of Afghans have been arrested injured and displaced and who should pay compensation to them Samangani said The richest country in the world is stealing from the pocket of the worlds poorest country he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/bidens-decision-to-compensate-911-victims-with-afghan-assets-unfair-taliban-official-194455.html Mon, 14 Feb 2022 07:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/no-high-school-graduates-in-afghan-province-since-20-yrs-194494.html Kabul Feb 14 Due to the lack of a proper education system in place there have been no high school graduates across five districts in Afghanistans Paktika province since the last 20 years according to residents The districts are Worombai Tarwi Dila Khoshamand Naka and Barmal TOLO News said in a report on Sunday Paktika is located along the Durand Line the defacto border between Pakistan and Afghnaistan Since the past 20 years the education and health sectors of Paktika were yet to be properly despite billions of dollars being provided by the international community as part of the humanitarian support to Afghanistan Meanwhile the residents said that families whose economic conditions are good send their children to educational institutions in the provincial capital Sharana but those who struggle with severe economic conditions cannot No school has been constructed in our district Our youth migrated to other countries Tolo News quoted Zahid a resident of Barmal district as saying There was no school in Khoshamand district during the former governments time The Islamic Emirate Taliban should construct us a school said another resident Mohammad Daud The tribal elders called on the Islamic Emirate to construct schools and provide educational opportunities for the residents of these districts We dont have any high school graduates in far areas and some districts of Paktika We call on the Islamic Emirate officials to construct schools for us said Abdul Rahim a tribal elder in Khoshamand The provincial education department confirmed the issue saying that there were no high school graduations in the past 20 years in these districts Our focus is currently on the areas that lack absolute access to this right education we try to provide them their rights in a proper way said the head of the Paktika education department IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/no-high-school-graduates-in-afghan-province-since-20-yrs-194494.html Mon, 14 Feb 2022 11:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-central-bank-calls-for-reversal-of-us-move-to-split-assets-194320.html Kabul Afghanistans former President Hamid Karzai speaks during a press conference in Kabul Afghanistan Sunday Feb 13 2022 Former President Karzai on Sunday called a White House order freeing 35 billion in Afghan assets for Americas 911 families an atrocity against the Afghan people PTI Kabul Feb 13 The Afghan central bank on Sunday called for the reversal of the US governments decision to split the frozen assets of the wartorn nation On Friday US President Joe Biden signed an Executive Order allowing some of the frozen assets from the wartorn nations central bank to be distributed as assistance and to victims of the September 11 2001 terror attacks according to a White House statement According to the White House while the administration will seek to facilitate access to 35 billion of those assets for the benefit of the Afghan people more than 35 billion in DAB assets would remain in the US and are subject to ongoing litigation by American victims of terrorism In its statement on Sunday the Da Afghanistan Bank DAB said that it considers the US move on blocking Foreign Exchange FX Reserves and allocating them to irrelevant purposes injustice to the people of Afghanistan and will never accept if the FX reserves of Afghanistan is paid under the name of compensation or humanitarian assistance to others and wants the reversal of the decision and release of all FX reserves of Afghanistan reports Xinhua news agency As per the law and relevant regulations FX reserves of Afghanistan are used to implement monetary policy facilitate international trade and stabilize financial sector The real owners of these reserves are people of Afghanistan These reserves were not the property of governments parties and groups and is never used as per their demand and decisions the banks statement added When Kabul fell to the Taliban in August 2021 Afghanistan had over 9 billion in reserves held in the name of DAB outside of the country This included 7 billion in reserves held in the US with the rest of the reserves largely being in Germany the UAE Switzerland and a couple of other states IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-central-bank-calls-for-reversal-of-us-move-to-split-assets-194320.html Sun, 13 Feb 2022 17:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-fm-pledged-to-resolve-female-activists-issues-un-193856.html Kabul Feb 11 During a meeting with Deborah Lyons the UN SecretaryGenerals special envoy to Afghanistan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi assured to resolve the issue of the missing female activists it was announced According to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan UNAMA Lyons and Muttaqi held the meeting on Wednesday during which the Taliban Minister assured of efforts to resolve issue His constructive approach welcomed UN continues to engage Taliban to support welfare and rights of all Afghans While Tamana Paryani and Parwana Ibrahimkhil went missing in January Zahra Mohammadi and Mursal Ayar disappeared last week On Thursday UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres also expressed concerns over the wellbeing of the activists I am increasingly concerned about the wellbeing of missing women activists in Afghanistan Several have disappeared some not heard from in weeks he said in a tweet I strongly urge the Taliban to ensure their safety so that they can return home Echoing the UN chiefs concern Australias interim mission to Afghanistan said on Thursday Australia shares the international communitys concerns about the wellbeing of women activists in Afghanistan We urge the Taliban to resolve this issue and ensure the rights of all Afghans Meanwhile Afghan womens rights activists have called for clarification over the fate of the missing Releasing statements holding conference gatherings and twitter messages will never end in a result which is required and we expect These do not change the situation said Monisa Mubariz a womens rights activist IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-fm-pledged-to-resolve-female-activists-issues-un-193856.html Sat, 12 Feb 2022 05:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/un-provided-313mn-cash-aid-to-afghanistan-in-past-3-months-193857.html Kabul Feb 11 The UN has provided 313 million cash assistance to Afghanistan over the past three months the countrys central bank has said Afghanistan Bank welcomes UN humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and calls for further assistance and cooperation TOLO News reported on Thursday citing Saber Momand spokesman of the central bank as saying Meanwhile some economists consider this aid to be important in reducing poverty in the country amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis Afghanistan needs more aid to be able to help our infrastructure such as our production industry and agriculture said Seyar Quraishi an economist The world financial assistance can help us solve the liquidity problem improve monetary stability and control the exchange rate said Shakir Yaqoubi another economist In the meantime the Taliban government called on the world to provide more aid to Afghanistan The start of formal interaction as well as the expansion of various interactions especially trade and economic interactions can save Afghanistan from the current economic crisis said Inamullah Samangani deputy spokesman of the Taliban After the fall of the former government in August last year nearly 10 billion of Afghan assets were frozen in US banks and international aid to the country was cut off IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/un-provided-313mn-cash-aid-to-afghanistan-in-past-3-months-193857.html Sat, 12 Feb 2022 05:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/usaid-resumes-off-budget-activities-in-afghanistan-193862.html Kabul Feb 11 The US governments Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction SIGAR said that the US Agency for International Development USAID has resumed some offbudget activities to help the people in the wartorn nation Last quarter State Dept and USAID told SIGAR they had suspended all contact with the former Afghan government and terminated suspended or paused all onbudget assistance that is funds provided directly to Afghan authorities and controlled by themThis quarter USAID informed SIGAR that they have resumed some offbudget USmanaged activities in Afghanistan SIGAR said in a tweet Meanwhile the Taliban welcomed international aid in the country The Islamic Emirate asks the humanitarian organizations to play their role in helping the people of Afghanistan in all sectors in the economy health developmentall sectorsand to cooperate with us based on a humanitarian point of view TOLO News quoted Bilal Karimi deputy spokesman of the Taliban government as saying on Thursday The Islamic Emirate said it hopes that foreign countries will help in solving the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan With the fall of the previous government and the cessation of international aid to Afghanistan the level of poverty and hunger increased to such an extent that a large number of citizens sold their young children and kidneys to pay for food said the TOLO News report IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/usaid-resumes-off-budget-activities-in-afghanistan-193862.html Sat, 12 Feb 2022 06:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/who-chief-taliban-discuss-afghan-health-crisis-193864.html Kabul Feb 11 Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus DirectorGeneral of the World Health Organization WHO said that he met Taliban Health Minister Qalander Ebad for talks on the dire health and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan Ghebreyesus revealed that the meeting took place in Geneva on Tuesday Khaama Press reported Ebad is part of a Taliban delegation visiting Geneva for a week of talks with institutions and nongovernmental agencies on humanitarian access and human rights as Afghanistans new rulers expand their international engagement Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan last August the country has plunged into financial chaos with inflation and unemployment surging while the halting of aid and US sanctions has triggered a humanitarian crisis in a country already devastated by decades of war Tedros had already met Ebad during his visit to Kabul in September 2021 in the wake of the Taliban takeover Despite some improvements since then the health situation in Afghanistan is still dire and the acute humanitarian crisis is continuing to put lives at risk Tedros said following his meeting with the Health Minister in Geneva He said they discussed health needs in the country strengthening the system emergency preparedness and training the health workforce in which women are central The acute need in Afghanistan is to deliver diagnostics to detect the Covid19 virus and in particular Omicron as the number of cases is on the rise Tedros said IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/who-chief-taliban-discuss-afghan-health-crisis-193864.html Sat, 12 Feb 2022 06:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/al-qaeda-is-reconstituting-in-afghanistan-us-official-193540.html Kabul Feb 10 A top US official has claimed that the Al Qaeda and Islamic State IS terror groups were reconstituting in Afghanistan Gen Michael Michael Erik Kurilla the nominee to head the US Central Command CENTCOM made the remarks while addressing the Senate Armed Services Committee TOLO News reported One of the challenges is the threat to the homeland from Al Qaeda and ISK Khorasan They are reconstituting The Taliban has not renounced Al Qaeda ISK with the release of the prisoners both from the Bagram prison and PuleCharkhi are in a process of reconstituting he said CENTCOMs main headquarters is based in the US but has established a forward headquarters in Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar But Kurillas claim has been rejected by the Taliban government in Afghanistan In a statement on Wednesday Taliban deputy spokesperson Billal Karimi said The allegations and propaganda that are being spread there is no evidence or documentation We hope instead of spreading propaganda and allegations without evidence the world will come forward and engage and cooperate with the Islamic Emirate Kurillas comments come after a report by the UN Security Council Monitoring Team said that the presence of foreign terror groups have increased in the wartorn nation after the collapse of the former administration in August last year The report also questioned the Talibans commitment under the 2020 Doha Agreement to preventing international terrorist threats from having a foothold in Afghanistan and expressed concerns that foreign groups might find safe haven in Afghanistan IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/al-qaeda-is-reconstituting-in-afghanistan-us-official-193540.html Fri, 11 Feb 2022 00:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/un-partners-dispatch-aid-as-heavy-snow-avalanches-kill-17-in-afghanistan-193776.html Kabul Feb 10 The UN its partners and local authorities in Afghanistan have dispatched aid teams after 17 people were reportedly killed in heavy snowfall and avalanches The partners sent two mobile health teams to the Kunar province site in Dangam district to aid local communities and search and rescue personnel following the Sunday disaster the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA said Many more people were reported missing reports Xinhua news agency The OCHA and its partner agencies also provide cash nonfood items shelter kits and warm clothes to almost 2000 people impacted by recent rain and snowfall in Kunar Nangarhar and Laghman provinces Humanitarians are continuing their work across several other parts of Afghanistan with 60000 people receiving food or cash assistance and relief items OCHA said The current Humanitarian Response Plan targets just over 22 million people and requires 44 billion but is only 9 per cent funded By the end of last year 180 national and international humanitarian organizations reached 196 million people out of a total population of about 37 million people the office said The 196 million surpasses the 177 million people targeted in the last quarter of 2021 OCHA said Humanitarians hope to see a repeat of donor generosity in 2022 of the close to 17 billion raised through the 2021 Afghanistan response plan IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/un-partners-dispatch-aid-as-heavy-snow-avalanches-kill-17-in-afghanistan-193776.html Fri, 11 Feb 2022 21:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/covid-outbreak-in-china-province-hits-aluminium-production-193243.html New Delhi Feb 9 A new COVID19 outbreak in Baise in South Chinas Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region a major domestic production hub of aluminum is expected to tighten supply and lift prices amid booming demand and low inventories Global Times reported The city accounts for 56 per cent of Chinas total production of electrolytic aluminum and interruptions to production will push up prices for raw materials upstream along with other factors industry insiders said Production in Baise has been suspended amid a citywide lockdown for epidemic prevention according to industry sources Another person with a local aluminum company said the production suspension drove up prices by hundreds of yuan per tonne in a single day on Monday and Tuesday Baises annual alumina production capacity is up to 10 million tonnes or 138 per cent of total domestic capacity Electrolytic aluminum production capacity in the city takes up to 80 per cent of the whole figure for Guangxi and 45 per cent of China Booming demand coupled with the traffic controls in Baise are likely to mean lower inventories and higher prices China is the worlds largest electrolytic aluminum producer with output accounting for over half of the global total and it has shown rapid growth in recent years industry data showed IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/covid-outbreak-in-china-province-hits-aluminium-production-193243.html Thu, 10 Feb 2022 03:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/1mn-afghan-kids-may-die-unless-action-taken-unicef-193518.html Kabul Feb 10 The Unicef has warned that 1 million children in Afghanistan may die of acute malnutrition if urgent action wasnt taken the media reported Taking to Twitter on Wednesday the UN agency referred to the case of a two year old child and said Having recently recovered from acute watery diarrhea two years old Soria is back in hospital this time suffering from edema and wasting Her mother has been by her bedside for the past 2 weeks anxiously waiting for Soria to recover In the following tweet the Unicef added that without urgent action 1 million children could die from severe acute malnutrition According to Unicef estimates 244 million Afghans including 131 children will need humanitarian assistance in 2022 Of this number 11 million are acutely malnourished children under the age of five years due to the food crisis and poor access to water sanitation and hygiene services Outbreaks of lifethreatening diseases continue with over 60000 cases of measles reported in 2021 The Talibans Ministry of Public Health has claimed that the number of children suffering from malnutrition is around 44 million in Afghanistan To overcome malnutrition in Afghanistan there have been some measures enforced to enhance the health sector and also to recruit the international aid to support the Afghan health sector said Javid Hajir a spokesman for the Ministry IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/1mn-afghan-kids-may-die-unless-action-taken-unicef-193518.html Thu, 10 Feb 2022 21:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/driver-arrested-for-murdering-mother-2-daughters-in-kabul-193265.html Kabul Feb 9 A man was arrested for murdering a woman and two of her daughters in Kabul capital of Afghanistan on Tuesday night the capital police said on Wednesday A man named Ramin was arrested by security personnel in JaheRahis locality Police District 7 of Kabul city on Tuesday night Xinhua news agency reported citing Khalid Zadran Kabul police spokesman The man who had served as the driver for the victims has confessed that he was behind the murder of the mother and her teenage girls according to Zadran The motive behind the criminal case was not immediately known but further investigation was underway according to the source IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/driver-arrested-for-murdering-mother-2-daughters-in-kabul-193265.html Thu, 10 Feb 2022 06:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-urges-afghan-professors-in-exile-to-return-193530.html Kabul Feb 10 The Taliban government in Afghanistan has urged professors who fled the country after the fall of the former administration in August last year to return home and resume teaching In a statement the Ministry of Higher Education has promised to provide professors with the same financial and working facilities they used to receive before the Taliban took over the country reports Khaama Press Development of a country is fully dependent on the educational system thus the Ministry of higher education of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan urges all the professors of public universities to come back to Afghanistan the statement said The Ministry has also asked other Afghan specialists and experts in exile to come to Afghanistan and occupy the vacant posts of teaching in universities A BBC report earlier this month had claimed that a total of 229 professors from the top three universities in Afghanistan have left the country The professors were from the Kabul University Herat University and Balkh University Among the professors who left most of them held Masters orand PhD Degrees Public universities in tropical provinces have reopened and those in nontropical provinces are slated to to open in March end IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-urges-afghan-professors-in-exile-to-return-193530.html Thu, 10 Feb 2022 22:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghanistan-receives-32mn-in-humanitarian-cash-aid-193041.html Kabul Feb 9 Afghanistan has received a batch of 32 million in humanitarian cash assistance according to the countrys central bank Following a series of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan 32 million in cash reached Afghanistan on Tuesday Da Afghanistan Bank DAB said in a statement The DAB while appreciating the humanitarian assistance of the international community calls for more cooperation in this field it added The statement said any legal measure causing dispatch of currency to Afghanistan and leading to aid for the needy people of Afghanistan is welcomed Xinhua news agency reported The DAB has been continuously trying to maintain the value of afghani the countrys national currency at a fixed and desirable level against the foreign currency it said Since the Talibans takeover of Afghanistan in midAugust the US has reportedly frozen more than 9 billion of assets of Afghanistans central bank and thus undermined the banking system in the wartorn country IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghanistan-receives-32mn-in-humanitarian-cash-aid-193041.html Wed, 09 Feb 2022 06:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/another-chinese-tech-worker-dies-after-excessive-overtime-sparks-furore-193146.html New Delhi Feb 9 Claims that another Chinese tech worker has died after excessive overtime has reignited debate over the industrys 996 culture The Guardian reported The company denied that it overworked the employee but said it would pay more attention to the health of its employees The 25yearold reportedly died in hospital soon after he was taken to hospital from his home on Saturday afternoon The video platform Bilibili where the man was employed as a content auditor said company representatives went to the hospital to assist and then notified his family Bilibili released an internal memo rejecting claims the employee who reportedly died of a brain haemorrhage was overworked It said the man had worked from 930 am to 630 pm for the past week with no overtime the report said But reports of his death by a workplace blogger on Monday renewed heated discussion about a toxic overtime culture dubbed 996 referring to an expectation that employees especially in the tech industry work from 9am to 9pm six days a week The expectation has in the past been promoted by highprofile figures including the Alibaba founder Jack Ma The Guardian reported A hashtag related to the mans death and including the allegation of overwork trended on Weibo receiving hundreds of millions of views including accusations the government had not done enough to address the problems in the year since a spate of high profile deaths linked to overwork in 2020 IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/another-chinese-tech-worker-dies-after-excessive-overtime-sparks-furore-193146.html Wed, 09 Feb 2022 15:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pakistan-desires-to-act-as-a-bridge-between-us-china-193208.html By Hamza Ameer   Islamabad Feb 9 Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed his desire to act as a bridge between the US and China with an aim to ease down tensions between the two global powerhouses and pave the way towards bringing them closer   The Pakistani premier gave this statement during an interview with CGTN emphasizing the importance of dialogue to address all pertaining issues for regional and global stability   We have a good relationship with the US and also an ironbrother relationship with China We want to play a role of the 1970s when Pakistan was instrumental in getting the United States and China together he said   Referring to the historic SinoUS breakthrough in 1971 in which Pakistan played a pivotal role Khan said that the world was not ready for another cold war between two formidable powers   The famous visit of Henry Kissinger the then US Secretary of State was organised by Pakistan so we hope to play the same role Khan said   Khan hoped that both the US and China would not escalate tensions adding that Pakistan would not want to come to a position of having to choose sides between the two countries   The world should not go through the situation where it is divided into two camps and it does not benefit anyone I hope this does not escalate into another cold war where we have to choose sides he said   Talking about the importance of peace and stability in the region Khan said that conflicts take a major toll on the economy   If you have conflicts the first thing that gets affected is the economy and thats the last thing we want he said   I will get my people out of poverty if we have economic wellbeing which comes with stability and peace Khan said while talking about his desire to uplift 220 million Pakistanis   Talking about the situation in Afghanistan and the fourdecade long Afghan conflict Khan highlighted that Pakistan has been the worst beneficiary as it has suffered the most losing thousands of its soldiers and innocent locals only because it shares the troubled border with Afghanistan   It was for the first time that there was an opportunity of restoring peace in the wartorn country Khan said adding that Afghan Taliban takeover should be taken as an opportunity towards regional peace   Pakistan China and other European states had agreed that somehow the likes and dislikes of the Taliban government should be set aside and the only thing in minds should be the 40 million people of Afghanistan half of them in a very precarious position of food security said Imran Khan  IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pakistan-desires-to-act-as-a-bridge-between-us-china-193208.html Wed, 09 Feb 2022 21:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/in-pakistan-it-takes-about-a-decade-or-more-for-youth-to-be-employed-192770.html By Sanjeev Sharma New Delhi Feb 7 Over 31 per cent of Pakistans youth are currently unemployed revealed a report on the employment situation released by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics PIDE Out of these 31 per cent 51 per cent are females while 16 per cent are males with many of them possessing professional degrees The Express Tribune cited the report as saying Nearly 60 per cent of Pakistans population is less than 30 years old Despite all the talk about the youth bulge and reaping the demographic dividend the unemployment rate is the highest for the young new entrants in the labour force it further stated adding that it takes about a decade or more for youth to be employed Far more females and those living in urban areas are unemployed than their male and rural counterparts it added PIDE also revealed that a surprisingly large part of the workingage group is not even part of the labour force These people are either discouraged workers or have other means of income to support them the report stated The Express Tribune reported It also stated that despite pronouncements and policy initiatives the female labour force participation rate LFPR remains shockingly low The report also revealed that education is considered a panacea and the key to all opportunities but reality shows us otherwise PIDE revealed that going by the LFS graduate unemployment is very high Over 31 per cent of the youth with degrees including professional ones are unemployed with females at 51 per cent and males at 16 per cent it stated Rural graduate unemployment is much higher than urban begging the question of mobility it added The report further stated that services remain the largest employer with retail and wholesale trade the largest segment in the urban areas while agriculture including cultivation and livestock continues to employ the majority in rural Pakistan According to the report public employment provides opportunities for betterpaid jobs in Pakistan The wellknown preference for government jobs therefore appears justified as the monthly wage in government shows up to be significantly higher than privatesector jobs it stated Surprisingly construction employs about 8 per cent of the labour force in both urban and rural areas perhaps reflecting the harsh regulatory and zoning laws in urban areas PIDE highlighted The LFS shows onethird of the youth in both rural and urban areas to be disconnected from the system as they are neither employed nor enrolled it added It further stated that the disconnect is higher for young females with 60 per cent neither working nor studying The Express Tribune reported Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at Sanjeevsiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/in-pakistan-it-takes-about-a-decade-or-more-for-youth-to-be-employed-192770.html Tue, 08 Feb 2022 11:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pakistans-clout-with-taliban-declines-192891.html By Sanjeev Sharma New Delhi Feb 7 Pakistans leverage appears to have declined after the Taliban takeover in midAugust 2021 while new irritants have already emerged as per a report by International Crisis Group ICG Pakistans efforts to secure its border with Afghanistan to prevent both an influx of refugees and infiltration by Pakistani militants based in Afghanistan are already a point of contention the report said The Talibans apparent refusal to break off relations with their Pakistani counterparts the TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTP is of even greater concern to Islamabad The Taliban in fact at least initially appeared in some ways to be dictating Pakistans policy choices forcing Islamabad to concede to at least some demands on crossborder movement and pressuring it to reach a negotiated settlement with the Pakistani Taliban Islamabad has difficult choices to make It is unwilling to distance itself from a friendly government that it sees as a vehicle for asserting influence over its western neighbour Yet in the Taliban it could find itself saddled with an ally that refuses to do what is needed to ease Western sanctions and end the attendant diplomatic isolation the report said That Pakistans clout with the Taliban has declined after the group seized power complicates things further Pakistan faces difficult challenges in shaping policy toward Talibancontrolled Afghanistan Though Pakistan continues to back its Afghan ally the Talibans military takeover and subsequent diplomatic and economic isolation could make Afghanistans new government more of a burden than an asset for Islamabad it added Growing instability and economic hardship could lead impoverished Afghans to seek shelter in Pakistan Islamabads alliance with the Taliban could also strain relations with the US and other Western countries Most importantly the Talibans failure to take action against Pakistani militants operating from Afghan territory could endanger Pakistans internal security the report said Islamabads hesitancy to take the plunge this time around is primarily driven by concern that no other government worldwide including among Afghanistans other neighbours has yet taken the step of recognition Unilateral action by Pakistan would likely strain relations with powerful Western countries particularly the US Islamabad also realises that recognition in itself would do little to ease the Talibans diplomatic and economic isolation Islamabad is well aware however that the Taliban must also assuage international concerns with regard to both governance and security if Western pressure is to let up While Pakistan is encouraging the Taliban to opt at the very least for a faÃade of inclusive government and demonstrate at least token respect for basic rights the Taliban have yet to heed its advice Nor has Islamabad succeeded in convincing the militant groupturnedgovernment to break links with Afghanistanbased jihadi outfits such as Al Qaeda the report said Concerned about such inaction on the Talibans part even countries such as Iran China and Russia that have opted for closer engagement with the Taliban government are unlikely to officially recognise it any time soon The odds are even lower that the US and its Western allies will recognise the Taliban government and lift all sanctions so long as the Taliban show no willingness to compromise Given its closeness to the Taliban Islamabad could itself face Western pressure aimed at compelling it to work harder at convincing its Afghan allies to respond more positively to international demands Cooler relations with the US could become particularly onerous given Washingtons weight in international financial institutions such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund on which Pakistan is dependent to prop up its floundering economy the ICG said Islamabad is also concerned about the crossborder implications of Afghanistans economic and diplomatic crises Afghanistans economic collapse is depriving Pakistan of opportunities to revive trade ties that had been badly eroded by frictions with erstwhile Afghan President Ashraf Ghanis government Growing insecurity and economic hardship could translate into thousands possibly hundreds of thousands of impoverished Afghans seeking shelter and livelihoods in Pakistan the report said Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at Sanjeevsiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pakistans-clout-with-taliban-declines-192891.html Tue, 08 Feb 2022 16:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/5-pak-soldiers-killed-in-cross-border-attack-from-afghanistan-192682.html Islamabad Feb 7 Five Pakistani soldiers were killed when terrorists from inside Afghanistan across the international border opened fire on the troops a military statement said The incident took place at the border area in Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province the militarys media wing InterServices Public Relations said in the statement on Sunday The Pakistani troops retaliated the attack in a befitting manner and as per intelligence reports the terrorists have suffered heavy losses Xinhua news agency quoted the ISPR statement as saying Pakistan strongly condemns the use of Afghan soil by terrorists for activities against Pakistan it added IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/5-pak-soldiers-killed-in-cross-border-attack-from-afghanistan-192682.html Tue, 08 Feb 2022 01:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/29-afghan-evacuees-find-jobs-at-skoreas-hyundai-heavy-192696.html Seoul Feb 7 Twentynine Afghan evacuees airlifted to South Korea last year have been hired by a subcontractor of the shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries Co leading to their departure on Monday from the governmentprovided temporary residence according to the Justice Ministry The newly hired and their family members totaling 157 people from 29 households will move into company housing provided by Hyundai Heavy in Ulsan about 415 km southeast of Seoul Yonhap News Agency quoted the Ministry as saying They are among 391 Afghan coworkers and their family members that South Korea evacuated from their home country when it was taken over by the Taliban in August 2021 for fear they could be persecuted for having supported foreign operations The evacuees include medical professionals vocational trainers IT experts and interpreters who worked for the Korean Embassy in Kabul and its humanitarian and relief facilities in Afghanistan Except for one household that left for the United States with a special immigration visa a total of 78 households have been staying at the temporary residence in the southern city of Yeosu and undergoing various assimilation programs including Korean culture language and economy lessons Of the total 349 people from 71 households have now relocated to other cities in the country including Incheon Ulsan and Gimpo as they found ways to settle down here The remaining 40 people from seven households also plan to leave the temporary residence on Wednesday IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/29-afghan-evacuees-find-jobs-at-skoreas-hyundai-heavy-192696.html Tue, 08 Feb 2022 03:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-aid-will-continue-despite-political-obstacles-un-192641.html Kabul Feb 7 A senior UN official for Afghanistan has pledged that humanitarian assistance to the people will continue regardless of the political situation the media reported Addressing reported the UN SecretaryGenerals Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan Ramiz Alakbarov stressed the need to ensure human rights in the country TOLO News reported I am very proud to say that the agencies present at this table were able to reach 18 more than 18 million people in Afghanistan with lifesaving assistance he said Meanwhile the Taliban governments Ministry of Economy said it has finalised a scheme for the transparent distribution of aid to the people who are in need This conference was held to increase our coordination in distributing aid Minister of Economy Din Mohmmad Hanif said on Sunday According to humanitarian organisations around 44 billion is needed to provide aid to the 24 million vulnerable people in the total 36 million population TOLO News reported The Taliban has also welcomed the support of the UN and other aid organisations to counter the ongoing crisis in the country Based on the statistics the suspension of international aid the high rate of unemployment following the Taliban takeover as well as drought and the economic crisis has plunged Afghanistan into a humanitarian disaster IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-aid-will-continue-despite-political-obstacles-un-192641.html Mon, 07 Feb 2022 21:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/5-pilots-return-to-afghanistan-resume-work-192645.html Kabul Feb 7 Five Afghan pilots who had left the country after the Taliban takeover in August last year have returned and resumed work the Ministry of Defence MoD announced In its announcement on Sunday the Ministry also said the Taliban regime will strive to encourage all professional staff of the previous government to return to Afghanistan reports TOLO News With the fall of the former government many of the experienced military and air force staff of Afghanistan fled the country to Tajikistan Uzbekistan the United Arab Emirates and the US But there were no details about where these five pilots have returned from Taking to Twitter on Sunday Taliban member Anas Haqqani welcomed the return of Afghan pilots saying Afghanistan currently needs professionals Reports have stated that around 140 Afghan air force pilots and personnel who were trapped in Tajikistan after leaving Afghanistan have since gone to the US The return of the Afghan pilots comes days after the UN said in a report that over 100 Afghan military forces of the previous government were killed since the Taliban came to power The report was denied by the Taliban regime IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/5-pilots-return-to-afghanistan-resume-work-192645.html Mon, 07 Feb 2022 21:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/cancer-kills-16k-20k-people-in-afghanistan-annually-192655.html Kabul Feb 7 In Afghanistan around 40000 people are diagnosed with cancer annually and an estimated 16000 to 20000 of them lose their lives the Talibans Ministry of Public Health announced In an announcement on Sunday the Ministry said it was planning to establish cancer care centres in cooperation with the World Health Organization in several provinces TOLO News reported In Afghanistan annually around 40000 people are infected by cancer Around 1600020000 people are losing their lives to the disease annually said Mohammad Hussien Ghias Deputy Minister of Public Health told reporters here The officials blamed the previous Afghan government for not properly considering the status of the countrys fragile health sector There has not been good work in the health sector during the times of the previous governments Ministry official Naimullah Ayoubi said Presently there are three active cancer care centres in Kabul Kandahar and Herat the official said IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/cancer-kills-16k-20k-people-in-afghanistan-annually-192655.html Mon, 07 Feb 2022 22:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-professor-steps-down-after-being-accused-of-blasphemy-192400.html New Delhi Feb 6 An Afghan professor at the Alberoni University in Kapisa province claims that his fellow professors have accused him of blasphemy Khaama Press reported Yaqub Yasna one of the professors at the Alberoni University claimed that his fellow colleagues who have accused him are currently lecturers in the faculties of religious studies agriculture and education of Alberoni University Yasna on his Facebook post said that he had criticized ethnic politics in Afghanistan but a professor in the faculty of religious studies and other professors accused him of being irreligious The university lecturer claimed that his colleagues and students accuse him of blasphemy but added that he has disrespected no religion This comes as 229 university lecturers from the top three universities in Afghanistan have left the country after the Taliban takeover on August 15 last year Officials at Albironi University and the Taliban have not commented on the issue yet IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-professor-steps-down-after-being-accused-of-blasphemy-192400.html Mon, 07 Feb 2022 02:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/imran-khan-offers-role-in-resolving-us-china-dispute-192401.html New Delhi Feb 6 Pakistan Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said that Prime Minister Imran Khan as saying that Pakistan was ready to play its role in resolving the dispute between the US and China The News reported During his meetings with think tanks Khan stressed that the world could not afford another Cold War said Fawad The Prime Minister he added would have a oneonone meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday During meetings with the Chinese leadership the bilateral relations between the two countries would be discussed Fawad added He said water projects in Karachi and Faisalabad were discussed during Khans meetings with Chinese investors The water supply project for Karachi K4 Hub Canal and water treatment plant in Faisalabad came under discussion in the meetings Fawad said in a media talk He would also meet UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang in the evening he added The Information Minister said the Pakistani sportsmen were participating in the Chinese Winter Olympics for the first time The Pakistani contingent was warmly welcomed by the people of China on its entry in the stadium which was manifestation of the deeprooted bilateral relations between the two countries Fawad said PakistanChina friendship was based on the expression of love between the people of the two countries adding that Chinese investors were showing interest in investing in Pakistan IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/imran-khan-offers-role-in-resolving-us-china-dispute-192401.html Mon, 07 Feb 2022 03:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/measles-outbreak-kills-74-children-in-afghanistan-192431.html Kabul Feb 6 At least 74 children died following an outbreak of measles in Afghanistans northern province of Badakhshan an official said Sunday There had been pockets of measles cases across several Badakhshan districts including Kuf Ab Darwaz Kohistan as well as provincial capital Faizabad city and its outskirts in the past two months At least 74 children died after being infected with the disease in Kuf Ab and Kohistan districts Maazudin Ahmadi head of the provincial Information and Culture Directorate told Xinhua news agency Most of the children who lost their lives were living in areas without the access of public health workers and local mobile vaccinators The provincial health officials have repeatedly called on the population to stay vigilant and to consult the nearest health centers in case of childrens symptoms including fever generalized rash conjunctivitis cough and cold According to local officials there had been a steady rise in measles cases in the Asian country particularly in the mountainous northeastern region IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/measles-outbreak-kills-74-children-in-afghanistan-192431.html Mon, 07 Feb 2022 07:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/value-of-afghan-currency-climbs-central-bank-192458.html Kabul Feb 6 The US dollar has depreciated against Afghanistans national currency Afghani compared with a couple of days ago said the countrys central on Sunday According to the foreign exchange rate issued by the Da Afghanistan Bank DAB the value of 1 has dropped from 1033 afghanis on January 27 to 8686 afghani on Sunday reports Xinhua news agency The prices of food and nonfood items have also fallen down in Kabuls markets The shortage of the greenback with high demand in the local market has been reportedly behind the rise in the US dollar against afghani a couple of months ago IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/value-of-afghan-currency-climbs-central-bank-192458.html Mon, 07 Feb 2022 10:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-deny-pakistani-access-to-used-nato-equipment-192300.html Kabul Feb 6 Afghanistans Talibanled government has denied denied a claim made by Pakistani Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad that Islamabad was using modern military equipment against terror groups that was leftover from NATOs presence in Afghanistanthe wartorn country Speaking to Pakistani media the Minister had said They the Pakistan military use military equipment remaining from NATO forces In my opinion the Afghan Taliban made a large effort to dissuade the Pakistani Taliban TTP but they dont understand They are settled in Kunar Nangarhar Nuristan Paktia and Khost provinces which are along the Durand Line and they launch attacks against Pakistan The attacks have increased On Saturday the Taliban also denied the presence of any group including the TehrikiTaliban Pakistan on Afghan soil saying that the Afghan territory will not be used against any country TOLO News reported We assure and pledge that there is no threat from Afghan soil to any country The problem exists in Pakistan it is their own internal problem Taliban deputy spokesman Bilal Karimi said IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-deny-pakistani-access-to-used-nato-equipment-192300.html Sun, 06 Feb 2022 16:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-journalists-face-increasing-harassment-under-taliban-media-body-192312.html Kabul Feb 6 The Parisbased Reporters Without Borders RSF said that journalists and media workers in Afghanistan are facing increasing harassment under the Taliban regime RSF said the threats interrogations and arbitrary arrests of journalists have increased and these actions are in violation of Afghanistans press law TOLO News reported According to RSF since the Taliban came to power in August last year at least 50 journalists and media workers have been detained lasting from several hours to nearly a week Threatening to rip out journalists tongues in order to prevent them from covering certain subjects is completely unacceptable said Reza Moini the head of RSFs IranAfghanistan desk Journalists must be able to practice their profession without being under a permanent threat of arrest and torture These unlawful threats which violate Afghanistans media legislation are all the more horrifying for coming at a time of growing harassment and increasingly restrictive rules for the right to news and information According to the RSF the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice had also issued a decree in November last year defining certain rules for media in Afghanistan On February 3 the International Federation of Journalists also raised concerns on the status of media in Afghanistan saying at least 318 media outlets have closed since the fall of the Westernbacked government in 33 of 34 provinces in Afghanistan The crisis has hit newspapers the hardest with just 20 out of 114 continuing to publish the report read Fiftyone TV stations 132 radio stations and 49 online media outlets have ceased operations according to the report compiled for the IFJ The Taliban however reacting to these reports said it is committed to supporting press freedom The Islamic Emirate is committed to freedom of the press The media have also an obligation to stay impartial and remain committed to religious and national values Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Twitter on Saturday He said the Taliban is trying to remove obstacles in the way of media IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-journalists-face-increasing-harassment-under-taliban-media-body-192312.html Sun, 06 Feb 2022 17:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/318-afghan-media-outlets-closed-since-taliban-takeover-192178.html Kabul Feb 5 At least 318 media outlets in Afghanistan have closed since the Taliban took over the country in August last year the International Federation of Journalists IFJ said In a report released this week the IFJ expressed concerns over the status of Afghan media community reports TOLO News The crisis has hit newspapers the hardest with just 20 out of 114 continuing to publish the report read Fiftyone TV stations 132 radio stations and 49 online media outlets have ceased operations Based on the report only 2334 journalists are still employed from a preTaliban high of 5069 Seventytwo per cent of journalists who lost their jobs are women according to the IFJ Currently 243 women are still employed From threats to draconian reporting restrictions and from economic collapse to the withdrawal of development funding the picture is catastrophic not just for journalists who have lost their jobs or been forced to flee but also for citizens who are being denied access to information IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said The Afghan media community called on the Taliban government to help the media gain access to information If the immediate steps are taken towards the situation of the media in the country only some certain number of media organizations will be active in Afghanistan in the near future TOLO News quoted Hujatullah Mujadidi head of the Head of the Afghan Independent Journalists Association as saying on Friday We call on the international community to invest in media to protect the process of access to information in the current Afghan situation said Hafizullah Barakzai head of the Afghanistan Journalists Council Some journalists called on the international community to address the collapse of the Afghan media community If the restrictions imposed on media remain in force the media organisations will stop operating and will collapse said Samiullah Pam a journalist We call on the international community to seriously consider the situation of the Afghan media We call on the government to assist with the media in access to information journalist Naseem said This comes as the Taliban announced earlier that the Media Violation Commission and a Joint Commission of media and the government would be established soon IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/318-afghan-media-outlets-closed-since-taliban-takeover-192178.html Sat, 05 Feb 2022 19:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/alleged-abduction-of-female-afghan-activists-spark-concerns-192181.html Kabul Feb 5 The alleged abduction of at least four female Afghan activists have sparked global concerns with many public figures and organisations demanding information about their whereabouts a media report said While Tamana Paryani and Parwana Ibrahimkhil went missing two weeks ago Zahra Mohammadi and Mursal Ayar disappeared this week said the TOLO News report The US special envoy for Afghan women Rina Amiri said that if the Taliban government seeks legitimacy from the world and the people inside Afghanistan it must respect the human rights of the Afghans These unjust detentions must stop If the Taliban seek legitimacy from the Afghan people and the world they must respect Afghans human rights especially for women including the freedom of expression and immediately release these women their relatives and other activists Amiri said on Twitter Some womens rights activists called on the international community to take serious steps to release of the detained female activists This is concerning that women are going missing one day after another There is no guarantee Tomorrow maybe I or someone else who is fighting for their rights will be arrested Sonia a female rights activist who participated in the recent protest in Kabul told TOLO News If the women are being detained for the sake of the protest this is injustice because protesting is our right and we will continue it said Bahara another womens rights activist Meanwhile the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan UNAMA said it sought urgent information from the Interior Ministry on the alleged abductions UN repeats its call for all disappeared women activists and relatives to be released UNAMA said on Twitter Some social media users launched a campaign calling for the release of the detained women When there are forces of the government everywhere in the country it is unacceptable to believe the government is not aware of the disappearance of the women The government should be accountable said a protestor Waheeda IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/alleged-abduction-of-female-afghan-activists-spark-concerns-192181.html Sat, 05 Feb 2022 19:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/2021-kabul-airport-attack-carried-out-using-single-explosive-device-us-192182.html Washington Feb 5 The US Department of Defense DoD has said the August 2021 attack at the Kabul airport that killed 183 people including 13 American service members was carried out by using a single explosive device The attack took place on August 26 2021 at the airports Abbey Gate as US service members worked to evacuate American citizens and Afghans following the fall of the country to the Taliban The victims comprised 170 Afghan civilians and among the American personnel were 11 Marines a soldier and a sailor Fortyfive others were also injured The attack was claimed by the Islamic State IS terror groups Khorasan unit ISK that has carried out several other bombings since the Taliban came to power While presenting the findings of an investigation into the attack Marine Corps Gen Frank McKenzie the commander of US Central Command said on Thursday The investigation found that a single explosive device killed at least 170 Afghan civilians and 13 US service members by explosively directing ball bearings through a packed crowd into our men and women at Abbey Gate The investigation found no definitive proof that anyone was ever hit or killed by gunfire either US or Afghan This conclusion was based upon the careful consideration of sworn testimony of more than 100 witnesses and especially those witnesses and Observation Towers  both American and British  who were in locations unaffected by the blast and that had commanding views of the scene before during and after the explosive attack McKenzie went on the say that at the time of the attack the best information we had indicated that it was a complex attack by both a suicide bomber and ISK gunmen We now know that the explosively fired ball bearings cause wounds that look like gunshots and when combined with a small number of warning shots that lead many to assume that a complex attack had occurred The fact that this investigation has contradicted our first impression demonstrates to me that the team went into this investigation with an open mind in search of the truth he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/2021-kabul-airport-attack-carried-out-using-single-explosive-device-us-192182.html Sat, 05 Feb 2022 20:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/winter-olympics-genocide-games-say-tibetans-192014.html New Delhi Police detain Tibetan Youth Congress members during a protest against the Beijing Winter Olympic 2022 at Teen Murti Chowk near the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi Friday Feb 4 2022 PTI New Delhi Feb 4 Hundreds of Tibetans held a mass protest at the IOC headquarters on the eve of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing Calling the 2022 Winter Olympics Genocide Games the protesters marched from the IOC headquarter street to the Olympic Museum based in Switzerland on Thursday Tibet supporters and representatives from the Uyghur community also joined the protest The protest started by handing over a joint letter to the IOC in which the Tibetan communities in Europe expressed profound disappointment over IOCs failure in carrying out human rights due diligence for the Winter Olympic games 2022 according to the Tibet Bureau Geneva The communities also called upon the IOC to issue a public statement acknowledging that the Winter Olympics2022 is taking place amid atrocities and genocide by the Chinese government The communities further urged IOC respect and take the voices of victims of human rights abuses by China into account for any future activities The joint letter was signed by Europemembers of Tibetan parliamentinexile Thubten Wangchen and Thupten Gyatso and presidents of Tibetan Communities based in Austria Belgium France the Netherlands Italy Germany Spain Switzerland and Liechtenstein While addressing the gathering representative Chhimey Rigzen of the Tibet Bureau highlighted the atrocities of the Chinese Communist Party in Tibet and gave a brief overview of grave violations of human rights by China especially since the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing Despite mounting evidence and well documented human rights abuses by China the IOC chose to facilitate China in showcasing its authoritarian regime by awarding China the most undeserved opportunity to host the 2022 Winter Olympics said representative Chhimey Rigzen Municipal Councillor of the city of Lausanne Greens llias Penchant reaffirmed the Green partys continued support and solidarity with people of Tibet and other groups suppressed by the Chinese Communist Party In the face of rising threats from China coordinated and collective efforts in defense of suppressed voices and democratic values are more significant than ever said Penchant IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/winter-olympics-genocide-games-say-tibetans-192014.html Fri, 04 Feb 2022 14:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/inflation-at-its-highest-in-2-years-in-pakistan-191614.html New Delhi Feb 2 Pakistan continues to reel under high inflation The countrys general inflation measured by Consumer Price Index CPI clocked in at 24month peak of 13 per cent in January as prices of almost all commodities and utilities maintained a growing trend The sectors that posted doubledigit growth in prices when compared to January 2021 included perishable and nonperishable food items energy transportation clothing restaurants and health reported Dawn news While household and energy rates increased by 155 per cent the transport sector led the inflationary trend with an increase of over 23 per cent followed by 13 per cent and 14 per cent for perishable and nonperishable food items restaurants and hotels 13 per cent and clothing 12 per cent This is the highest CPI inflation since January 2020 when it was 146 per cent The CPI inflation for urban population increased by 13 per cent on a yearonyear YoY basis in January 2022 as compared to an increase of 127 per cent in the previous month and 5 per cent in January 2021 The CPI inflation for rural population was registered to have increased by 129 per cent on a yearonyear basis in January 2022 as compared to an increase of 116 per cent in the previous month and 66 per cent in January 2021 reported Dawn news IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/inflation-at-its-highest-in-2-years-in-pakistan-191614.html Thu, 03 Feb 2022 01:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/universities-to-reopen-today-in-afghanistan-191646.html New Delhi Feb 2 As per the announcement of Afghanistans Ministry of Higher education public universities are set to reopen on Wednesday February 2 The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan UNAMA in a Twitter post applauded the move as crucial saying that every young person has equal access to education UN welcomes the announcement that public universities will begin reopening 2 February to all female and male students said the Twitter post of UNAMA Based on the announcement of the Ministry of Higher education of Afghanistan universities in nontropical provinces will resume in March while the new educational year in all provinces is supposed to begin in April reported Khaama Press A total of 150 public universities across Afghanistan were closed for six months after the Taliban takeover that affected the studies of thousands of students in the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/universities-to-reopen-today-in-afghanistan-191646.html Thu, 03 Feb 2022 05:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/cardiac-surgical-unit-opens-in-key-childrens-hospital-in-afghan-capital-191734.html Kabul Feb 2 The Afghan caretaker governments Ministry of Public Health has inaugurated a cardiac surgical unit in a key childrens hospital in Kabul a senior health official said on Wednesday The ministry inaugurated the surgical unit in Indira Gandhi Childrens Hospital in Wazir Akbar Khan a diplomatic district on Tuesday Deputy Public Health Minister Abdulbari Omar tweeted Henceforth the complicated surgeries that were normally referred abroad will be performed in Afghanistan Xinhua news agency reported citing Abdulbari Omar We are working hard to further enrich this unit and provide standardised health care services to our people he added A total of 135 children in Afghanistan died of pneumonia and malnutrition in hospitals or road hospitals in December last year according to UNICEF It had also appealed for a 2 billion fund in December to respond to humanitarian needs in Afghanistan IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/cardiac-surgical-unit-opens-in-key-childrens-hospital-in-afghan-capital-191734.html Thu, 03 Feb 2022 13:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pakistan-afghanistan-to-have-border-committee-on-durand-line-191336.html By Hamza Ameer Islamabad Jan 31 Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to form a highlevel committee to address the recently flared up dispute over the Durand line which brought the Taliban and Pakistani border security forces at loggerheads The decision to form the committee was taken during Pakistans National Security Advisor NSA Moeed Yusufs recent twoday visit to Kabul During highlevel meetings with the Taliban leadership the issue of Durand Line remained as one of the primary points of discussion Pakistans NSA who also heads the Afghanistan InterMinisterial Coordination Cell AICC held important meetings with Afghanistans acting Deputy Prime Minster Mullah Abdul Salam Hanafi and acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi Both sides discussed the current situation in Afghanistan and strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries Both sides agreed to establish a nationallevel coordination mechanism for enhancing facilitation at border crossing points and to expedite the ongoing negotiations to conclude a new trade agreement stated Pakistans Ambassador in Kabul Mansoor Khan The focus of the visit of Yusuf to Kabul on January 2930 was on increasing facilitation in trade transit business and humanitarian engagements Both sides also agreed to renew deliberations on the 2010 AfghanistanPakistan Transit Trade Agreement APTTA which expired last year Pakistan maintained that the objective of the visit was to discuss with the Afghan leadership the humanitarian requirements of the country and Pakistans proposals for deepening economic engagement to overcome the current challenges Afghanistan is facing The visit yielded substantive outcomes in terms of forward movement on trade facilitation and social sector support Both sides also agreed to initiate barter trade modalities for which will be worked out immediately a statement issued by Pakistans foreign office maintained Pakistan has offered capacitybuilding and training support in multiple sectors including health education banking customs railways and aviation Afghanistan and Pakistan emphasised their commitment to ensuring peace and stability in both countries the statement read IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pakistan-afghanistan-to-have-border-committee-on-durand-line-191336.html Wed, 02 Feb 2022 02:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/christian-community-mourns-targeted-killing-of-pastor-in-peshawar-191084.html By Hamza Ameer Islamabad Jan 31 The Christian community in Peshawar has shut down all educational institutions and churches after a pastor was shot dead by armed assailants As per details shared by police authorities William Siraj who was a pastor at a church within the Chamkani police station limits was with his fellow priest at the Ring Road area on Sunday when the unknown assailants opened fire Siraj died on the spot while the accompanying priestwas later taken to the Lady Reading hospital The incident occurred near Ring Road within Gulbahar police station limits A heavy police contingent had reached the scene and a search operation was carried out Evidence was collected from the crime scene and CCTV cameras are also being checked a statement issued by the police authorities said The body had been shifted to the hospital for conducting an autopsy while further investigation was underway As per initial details of the investigation at least two assailants were involved in the incident which the police have termed it as a terrorist attack Attack on the Christian community was tragic A comprehensive investigation has been launched It can be said that members of the minority community were targeted So it was a terrorist act said Abbas Ahsan Capital City Police Officer CCPO We are determined to protect minorities A team consisting of officials from the Counter Terrorism Department CTD and Peshawar police had been formed to probe the case he added The attack carries sensitive importance as the Christian community which has been living in various parts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has not faced any major threat in the past Terrorism that targets anyone especially for their faith is heinous and must be fought against with the full force of a clear concerted policy and state power No compromise no equivocation said Senator Sherry Rehman a leader from the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party PPP The attack has raised several questions on the increasing intolerance against religious minorities in Pakistan Recent reports have indicated that the level of intolerance by religious extremist groups have increased in the country raising serious concerns over the Imran Khan governments competence and capabilities to ensure security and safety of minorities in the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/christian-community-mourns-targeted-killing-of-pastor-in-peshawar-191084.html Tue, 01 Feb 2022 13:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/foreign-journalists-being-harassed-severely-by-china-report-190916.html New Delhi Jan 31 Media freedom in China is declining at breakneck speed according to a report by a group representing foreign journalists in the country The report by the Foreign Correspondents Club FCC of China said journalists there face physical assaults hacking online trolling and visa denials the BBC reported Local journalists in mainland China and Hong Kong are also being targeted China has labelled the FCC an illegal organisation It comes as the worlds media turn their attention to the Beijing Winter Olympics which is already under scrutiny due to alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang and a crackdown in Hong Kong the report said The report found that foreign journalists are being harassed so severely by the state that a handful of correspondents have left mainland China Others have been forced to come up with emergency exit plans as a precaution Chinese colleagues of foreign reporters have also faced intimidation with authorities harassing their families the BBC report said Other reporters such as Australian Cheng Lei and Chinese national Haze Fan have been detained for over a year over allegations of being involved in state security cases Continued zeroCovid policies staffing issues rising geopolitical tensions growing mistrust and at times outright hostility towards Western media in China create a perfect storm the BBC quoted an editor of the report as saying IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/foreign-journalists-being-harassed-severely-by-china-report-190916.html Tue, 01 Feb 2022 00:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/press-freedom-in-pakistan-deteriorated-in-2021-report-190765.html Karachi Jan 31 The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors CPNE has released a report to highlight how press freedom deteriorated in 2021 as compared to the previous two years In the report titled Pakistan Media Freedom Report 2021 the CPNE on Sunday expressed concerns over tactics aimed at stifling freedom of media freedom of expression and access to information reports The Express Tribune In 2021 alone the report revealed that five journalists were killed in the line of duty including Karachibased social media activist and community journalist Nazim Jokhio who was abducted and killed mercilessly At least nine journalists lost their lives due to the coronavirus pandemic whereas two newsmen committed suicide due to the lingering unemployment it added It stated that following 2020 the year 2021 came to be an extremely difficult year for journalists media workers and media organisations in Pakistan as freedom of press and freedom of expression remained under pressure It went on to say that due to the Covid19 pandemic not only several journalists lost their lives but it also plunged the media houses into deep financial crises The report added that different institutions continuously attempted to keep the journalist community under pressure through direct and indirect tactics CPNE also noted that the number of journalists who were harassed tortured and killed in the line of duty last year could be higher the report said The report highlighted that many journalists had to face murder attempts threats lawsuits and telephone calls from unknown numbers in addition to online harassment on various occasions The Express Tribune reported The family members of the affected journalists were also subjected to physical and mental torture it added CPNE also mentioned that state institutions registered cases against several journalists during 2021 and elaborated how the government enforced a controversial media law to control the media by hook or by crook Talking about finances CPNE mentioned that media houses financial woes precede the pandemic which only further aggravated the crisis Unfortunately the report regretted Pakistan is one of the countries where violence against journalists is increasing and not even a single murderer has been brought to justice During the previous year it observed that journalists and media institutions faced censorship and restraint on several occasions It went on to mention notable journalists who were harassed or tortured during 2021 The report also mentioned the governments attempts to stifle social media including blocking 19000 accounts and the repeated bans on TikTok the report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/press-freedom-in-pakistan-deteriorated-in-2021-report-190765.html Mon, 31 Jan 2022 13:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/17-injured-in-balochistan-grenade-attack-190768.html Quetta Jan 31 At least 17 people including two policemen were injured in a grenade attack in Balochistans Dera Allahyar town Dawn news reported The police said that unknown motorcyclists on Sunday hurled a handgrenade near Subatpur Chowk which exploded and injured 17 people including the two traffic police constables Security officials rushed to the site after the blast and shifted the injured to a hospital According to hospital officials at least four of the injured were in critical condition We have shifted the critically injured people to Larkana a senior police officer said adding that the cops could be the target of the attack Police launched an investigation into the blast However no one has claimed responsibility for the grenade attack Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo and Balochistan Assembly Speaker Mir Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali condemned the incident and described it as an act of terrorism However they emphasised that the elements trying to create chaos would never succeed in their nefarious designs and would soon be brought to justice They said the government would continue to fulfil its responsibility of protecting the life and property of citizens IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/17-injured-in-balochistan-grenade-attack-190768.html Mon, 31 Jan 2022 13:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/new-attorney-general-of-afghanistan-appointed-190867.html Kabul Jan 31 Maulvi Shamsuddin Sharihati has been appointed as Attorney General in the Talibanled government of Afghanistan according to deputy spokesman Inamullah Samangani In accordance with the decree of leadership of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Maulvi Shamsuddin Sharihati former deputy Minister of Agriculture Irrigation and Livestock appointed as Attorney General of Afghanistan Xinhua news agency quoted Samangani as saying in a tweer According to Samangani Sharihati who hails from Kishim district of the northern Badakhshan province had previously served as the Governor of Paktia province and that of Maidan Wardak province among other posts IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/new-attorney-general-of-afghanistan-appointed-190867.html Mon, 31 Jan 2022 17:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/british-hitman-found-guilty-of-trying-to-kill-pak-dissident-190649.html New Delhi Jan 30 A British hitman has been found guilty of conspiring to kill a Pakistani dissident in the Netherlands the BBC reported A court in London heard that Muhammad Gohir Khan was offered about 134000 to carry out the murder in Rotterdam last year However he failed to track his target down and was arrested on his return to the UK the BBC report said Now a jury has given a unanimous guilty verdict of conspiracy to murder and he is set be sentenced in March The intended victim Waqass Goraya told the BBC that he is sure the Pakistani intelligence services were ultimately behind the plot and that it forms part of a wider crackdown on dissenting voices both inside and outside Pakistan Pakistani officials have not commented on the case Khan from east London had racked up debts of more than 200000 pounds whilst running a cargo company He was working as a delivery driver for a supermarket but reacted enthusiastically when he was contacted about a job in Europe by a contact in Pakistan the BBC report said The man they planned on killing was Goraya a prominent social media activist and critic of the Pakistani military and government living in Rotterdam He was abducted and tortured whilst visiting Pakistan in January 2017 by suspected members of the intelligence services and told the BBC he was convinced they had now attempted to have him killed in Europe IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/british-hitman-found-guilty-of-trying-to-kill-pak-dissident-190649.html Mon, 31 Jan 2022 00:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-to-reopen-afghan-universities-on-feb-2-190706.html Kabul Jan 31 The Talibanled government in Afghanistan has announced that universities across the country will reopen on February 2 In a statement on Sunday the Ministry of Higher Education said that the students who are yet to complete their last semester will be given three weeks and the new educational year in those provinces will start in late April reports Khaama Press The universities in cold and snowy provinces will reopen in early March the statement said A total of 150 public universities across Afghanistan will finally be reopened after they were closed following the countrys takeover by the Taliban in August 2021 IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-to-reopen-afghan-universities-on-feb-2-190706.html Mon, 31 Jan 2022 09:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/european-parliament-to-host-afghan-women-days-190711.html Brussels Jan 31 The European Parliament announced that it is going to host a series of events on February 1 and 2 to discuss the situation of Afghan women following the Taliban takeover of the country In a statement it said the Afghan Women Days will kick off with a highlevel conference which will be attended by members of the European Parliament prominent Afghan women who were finalists for Parliaments 2021 Shakarov Prize activists UN representatives and representatives from several other international organisations reports TOLO News The European Union EU has said the Afghan womens situation since the collapse of the previous government is worrying The conference will feature interventions by Parliament President Roberta Metsola former Afghan Minister of Womens Affairs Sima Samar Angelina Jolie Special Envoy to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and UN Deputy SecretaryGeneral Amina Mohammed It will be concluded with an address and musical appearance by Afghan singer and songwriter Aryana Sayeed with her song Lady of the Land of Fire the statement added The participants are also expected to discuss the future perspectives for women in the country and how to support women Reacting to the announcement the Taliban said that it supported negotiations which are productive Islamic Emirate welcomes the negotiations which are constructive and not challengeable Of course I should say that these talks should be based on Islamic values TOLO News quoted Talibans deputy spokesman Inamullah Samangani as saying IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/european-parliament-to-host-afghan-women-days-190711.html Mon, 31 Jan 2022 09:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/unicef-urges-us-to-reconsider-programme-for-afghanistan-190714.html Kabul Jan 31 The Unicef has urged the US State Department to reconsider the latters decision to suspend the Fulbright program for Afghanistan which provides talented Afghan youth opportunities to build their future The Fulbright program was first launched in 1952 in Afghanistan It was suspended in 1997 and then relaunched in 2003 after the US and allies entered the country in 2001 reports TOLO News Over the past 18 years around 960 Afghan students were granted Fulbright scholarships Taking to Twitter Sam Mort Chief of Communication Advocacy and Civic Engagement for Unicef Afghanistan expressed disappointment over the suspension of the programme Afghanistans youth need every educational opportunity they can get Education is the foundation of their future she said Please reconsider Please go the extra mile for them Please put yourself in their shoes Earlier ABC News had reported that the US State Department is seeking to evaluate whether to provide Fulbright scholarship for the Afghan students or not The suspension comes as a shocking news for 140 Afghan students who won the scholarships but are now living an uncertain status We received an email on January 29 that the US canceled the Fulbright program for Afghanistan and from now on no student from Afghanistan will be enrolled in this program This is very concerning TOLO News quoted Mariam Jami who won the Fulbright scholarship as saying on Sunday The ABC cited the suspension of diplomatic and political relations between Kabul and Washington as one of the reasons for cancellation of the program This decision of the US is bad news for the education of Afghan youths The US should mull over the decision and not sacrifice the education program for political issues Jami added IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/unicef-urges-us-to-reconsider-programme-for-afghanistan-190714.html Mon, 31 Jan 2022 10:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghans-want-inclusive-govt-womens-rights-karzai-190718.html Kabul Jan 31 Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said that the formation of an inclusive government and respecting the rights of women are the will of the citizens of the country not only the international community The formation of an inclusive government and ensuring human rights and womens rights are the preconditions of the international community to consider recognition of the current Taliban government in Afghanistan In a special interview on Sunday Karzai told TOLO News that he and Abdullah Abdullah former chairman of the high council for national reconciliation in a letter to the Taliban government called for political reconciliation process and meetings with the political leaders over holding a Loya Jirga National Assembly to pave the way for a clear destiny of the country The former President suggested that the Afghans must find a solution to the existing conditions of the country instead of waiting for foreigners proposals We offered a process of political and national engagement with some of the Afghan politicians a summit in which the Afghan women are also present and eventually a national process for holding the Loya Jirga which is our national and historic tradition he told TOLO News If the world wants it or not if the UN calls on the Afghans or not If the UN calls on the caretaker government or not This is first the will of the Afghans to have an inclusive and national government which represents all and ensures the rights of women and their role in the society and girls access to education These are our fundamentals and they should be Karzai also criticised the process of distribution of aid to the people in the country If the aid provided to Afghanistan by the international community is not distributed through the Afghan government departments and the NGOs UN and other foreigners are in direct contact with the people then it is the start of the end of the government in Afghanistan the former leader added IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghans-want-inclusive-govt-womens-rights-karzai-190718.html Mon, 31 Jan 2022 10:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pak-nsa-meets-taliban-officials-in-kabul-190479.html Kabul Jan 30 Visiting Pakistani National Security Adviser NSA Moeed Yusuf held talks with Taliban officials in Kabul and discussed various topics including the formation of a joint working committee for the economic growth of the two nations The meeting was held on Saturday between the Pakistani delegation led by the NSA and highranking Taliban officials including Second Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi and acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Amir Khan Muttaqi reports TOLO News The Islamic Emirate held talks over different issues such as politics trade the economy transit and the extension of bilateral relations the Talibans deputy spokesman Inamullah Samangani said The Pakistan ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmad Khan called the negotiations between Moeed and Muttaqi constructive Moeed Yusuf called on Afghan acting Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Salam Hanafi and discussed strengthening of Pakistan Afghanistan brotherly relations to promote trade transit connectivity Khan said on Twitter In a statement the Foreign Ministry said that during the meeting Muttaqi asked Yusuf to provide additional facilities for Afghan traders Khaama News reported Afghanistans transit routes with Uzbekistan Turkmenistan Tajikistan have been opened and we expect you to provide facilities for our traders the statement quoted Muttaqi as saying to the NSA On his part Yusuf reiterated the Pakistan governments commitment to provide further facilities for the movement of people in the crossing points of Torkham and Chaman There were reports earlier that the NSA would discuss about the recent tensions surrounding the Durand Line the defacto border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan But there was no official confirmation on this from either the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul nor the the government in Islamabad Following several delays Moeed finally arrived in Kabul on Saturday He is the third senior Pakistan official to visit Afghanistan since the Taliban came into power in August last year Pakistan is yet to recognise the Taliban regime IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pak-nsa-meets-taliban-officials-in-kabul-190479.html Sun, 30 Jan 2022 10:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/civilian-military-airports-in-afghanistan-resume-operations-190511.html Kabul Jan 30 The Talibanled government in Afghanistan has announced that 27 civilian and military airports across the country have resumed operations after they were halted following the fall of the former administration last August the media reported Most of these airports did not have problems only limited airports such as Khwaja Rawash Kandahar and Khost airports had problems TOLO News quoted Latifullah Hakimi head of the military and civil regulatory commission as saying on Saturday We divided the five parts into two parts one military and the other civilian because it is no longer necessary and here is one government before it used to be like multiple governments According to Hakimi there are currently three military airports operating Bagram in Parwan Shurab in Helmand and Shindand in Herat Services are provided normally from Afghanistans airports flights operate normally especially from Kabul airport foreign and domestic flights are happening Military flights from military airfields as well as parts of Kabul airport are being used for military logistical and other flights said Imamuddin Ahmadi spokesman for the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation Meanwhile political analysts consider the resumption of activities in the countrys airports essential especially the military ones to carry out special operations and to provide assistance to the people in emergency situations In the current situation today the first step that should be taken is to separate military and civilian activities in the airfields said Mohammad Qasem Wafayeezada former chairman of the ACAA Saturdays announcement comes as negotiations are underway in Doha over certain aspects of the management of Afghan airports between the Taliban Turkey and Qatar A final agreement is yet to be reached IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/civilian-military-airports-in-afghanistan-resume-operations-190511.html Sun, 30 Jan 2022 13:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghans-urged-to-get-vaccinated-against-covid-190526.html Kabul Jan 30 The Talibans acting Health Minister Qalandar Ebad has urged Afghans across the country to get vaccinated against Covid19 as a collective effort to stop the further spread of the virus In a video message on Saturday Ebad said protecting oneself is one of the obligations of the Islam religion and that the vaccine is the most effective way to fight Covid19 reports Khaama Press Fortunately Afghanistan has imported millions of doses of Covid19 vaccines that are now available in centres across all 34 provinces the acting Health Minister said He said that although the Covid19 situation is Afghanistan is not so serious presently but people should remain vigilant and follow precationary measures as the pandemic is still prevalent Earlier the Ministry had said that they 21000 doses of Covid19 vaccine were being administered across Afghanistan on a daily basis According to figures by the World Health Organization a total of 5081064 vaccine doses have been administered till date Since the onset of the pandemic in early 2020 Afghanistan has reported a total of 161290 coronavirus cases and 7405 deaths IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghans-urged-to-get-vaccinated-against-covid-190526.html Sun, 30 Jan 2022 14:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/faced-with-starvation-afghans-sell-kidneys-report-190336.html Kabul Jan 29 Faced with starvation amid the prolonged humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and the subsequent economic collapse some people in Herat province are being forced to sell their kidneys in order to feed their families a media report said According to the TOLO News report these residents from Injil district have sold their kidneys in the black market for little money in order to survive amid the dire poverty We sell our kidneys if someone buys in order to bring something for our children to eat said one of the residents Among those who have been selling their kidneys are children and women According to the law of the country selling organs or parts are the body is illegal but these families say that they have no other options to survive We are happy the security situation is good but prices are a bit high in the country another resident told TOLO News The sale of kidneys due to poverty in some parts of Herat made headlines last year also But now as a catastrophic humanitarian crisis looms in Afghanistan world leaders and officials are taking the warning seriously The UKs foreign secretary Liz Truss said We are working very hard first of all to bring people out of Afghanistan and we are using various routes to do that we are also putting in additional humanitarian aid into Afghanistan When asked she said reports of selling kidneys are very concerning Economic analysts say the lifting of sanctions and the release of billions of frozen dollars of the countrys assets from world banks would be effective ways to improve the lives of the people of Afghanistan The price of goods rose sharply and caused the most vulnerable sections of society to suffer more said Abdul Nasir Reshtial economist Following the takeover of the country by the Taliban last August the World Bank International Monetary Fund IMF and US Federal Reserve cut off Afghanistans access to international funds Unemployment poverty and hunger have reached alarming levels in Afghanistan IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/faced-with-starvation-afghans-sell-kidneys-report-190336.html Sat, 29 Jan 2022 09:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/700-security-personnel-commissioned-in-afghan-forces-190214.html Kabul Jan 27 A total of 700 security personnel receiving military training have been commissioned in the security forces of the Talibanled caretaker government in Afghanistan authorities said on Thursday In eastern Nangarhar province 500 police personnel graduated from a police training centre after completion of a onemonth training in the provincial capital Jalalabad city on Wednesday Nida Mohammad Nadim police chief of the province told Xinhua news agency The newly graduated police personnel will be deployed in four eastern provinces including Nangarhar Xinhua news agency reported In the northern region 200 border security soldiers graduated from military professional and ideological training in the armys 209th Fatah Corps according to a statement issued by the government The soldiers will be deployed to provide better security on the countrys borders especially in the border areas of the northern provinces according to the statement Qari Fasihuddin army chief of the Talibanled caretaker administration has recently said that the administration was trying to make a capable army to ensure security of the wartorn country IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/700-security-personnel-commissioned-in-afghan-forces-190214.html Fri, 28 Jan 2022 17:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/ties-between-taliban-foreign-fighters-remain-close-tirumurti-190097.html By Arul Louis United Nations Jan 27 Indias Permanent Representative TS Tirumurti who heads the Security Councils Taliban Sanctions Committee has warned that the ties between the Taliban and foreign terrorist fighters remain close Briefing the Council on Wednesday as the committees chair he said that its monitoring team had reported that the ties between the Taliban largely through the Haqqani Network and the al Qaeda and foreign terrorist fighters remain close and are based on ideological alignment and relationships forged through common struggle and intermarriage The continued presence of ISIL Islamic State torror group and its activities in Afghanistan remains a matter of our concern he added Terrorists attacks have become despicable acts used by this terrorist organisation to demonstrate its power and influence in the country and abroad he said Later switching roles and addressing the Council on behalf of India he said Terrorism continues to pose a serious threat to Afghanistan and to the region The concern was shared by Secretary General Antonio Guterres who said Terrorism remains a constant threat  not only to the security of Afghanistan but to the entire world His Special Representative Deborah Lyons who heads the UN assistance mission in Afghanistan also in her briefing to the Council voiced concern that the existence of numerous terrorist groups in Afghanistan remains a broad international and especially regional concern She said that there must be more meaningful actions behind the Talibans promise to contain terrorist groups in Afghanistan The Council resolution adopted in August shortly after the Taliban took control of Kabul requires it to not to allow the use of the Afghan soil for terrorism and it noted the Talibans commitment to it Tirumurti said speaking in his capacity as Indias representatve However we need to see concrete progress in ensuring that such proscribed terrorist entities do not get any support tacit or direct either from Afghan soil or from the terrorist sanctuaries based in the region he said The mention of sanctuaries was a reference to Pakistan that has been sheltering various terrorist organisations and their leaders operating across the border Naseer Faiq a minister counsellor in Afghanistans UN mission in his speech to the Council thanked Tirumurti for his role as the head of the Councils Sanctions Committee overseeing the implementation of the sanctions on the Taliban Chinas Permanent Representative Zhang Jun in a show of diplomatic courtesy thanked Tirumurti for the briefing Guterres described the conditions for the Afghan people as a frozen hell and said that since the Taliban takeover Afghanistan is hanging by a thread He appealed for aid for Afghanistan separating the humanitarian catastrophe from the political issues of Taliban governance and said the international community should put its hands on the wheel of progress provide resources and prevent Afghanistan from spiraling any further Speaking as the chair of the committee that oversees sanctions imposed by the Council Tirumurti pointed out that the Council has decided that provision of humanitarian assistance is not a violation of the sanctions and neither are processing payment of funds using other financial assets and proviiding goods and services necessary to deliver such aid But he also cautioned that according to the UN over 30 members of the Taliban on the list of sanctioned terrorists now occupy senior cabinet positions in Afghanistan Therefore he said humanitarian aid providers should use reasonable efforts to minimise the chances of aid benefiting them directly or through diversions to sanctioned individuals or entities And later switching to the role of New Delhis representative Tirumurti said As Afghanistans largest regional development partner India is willing to coordinate with other stakeholders to work towards enabling expeditious provision of much needed humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people He said that India has already delivered three shipments of medical supplies and Covid19 medicines to the World Health Organisation and the Indira Gandhi Children Hospital in Kabul India was also offering 1 million doses of Covid19 vaccines to Afghanistan He said that India was committed to providing 50000 tonnes of wheat to that country but did not mention the difficulties it faces in sending the direly needed food supplies Islamabad has thwarted Indias request to send the wheat through through Pakistan the shortest route to the landlocked country by putting several conditions that would effectively give it control over the supplies India reportedly has received an offer from Iran to send the wheat by sea to the Chabahar port from where it would be sent to Afghanistan as in the past We remain steadfast in our commitment towards humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan Tirumurti said Both Guterres and Lyons spoke of the dire human rights situation in Talibancontrolled Afghanistan Lyons said Here on the ground there is compelling evidence of an emerging environment of intimidation and a deterioration in respect for human rights We continue to receive credible allegations of killings enforced disappearances and other violations that are not being addressed by the judiciary In addition we are seeing a growing number of detentions of political opponents civil society representatives and those who voice dissent she said Guterres focused on the plight of women and girls who he said are once again being denied their rights to education employment and equal justice This is a tragedy for those women and girls who grew up believing that any dream was within reach and now helplessly watching those dreams slip away he said Arul Louis can be reached at arulliansin and followed arulouis IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/ties-between-taliban-foreign-fighters-remain-close-tirumurti-190097.html Fri, 28 Jan 2022 08:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/eu-accuses-china-of-illegal-trade-practises-as-it-takes-cudgels-on-behalf-of-lithuania-190107.html New Delhi Jan 27 The EU has accused China of illegal trade practises as it launched an official dispute on behalf of one of its smallest member states BBC reported The row was sparked when Lithuania allowed Taiwan to open a de facto embassy there angering Beijing which sees Taiwan as part of its territory China downgraded its diplomatic relations with Lithuania but denies ordering a boycott of Lithuanian goods the report said The EU has now taken the case to the World Trade Organisation European Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said China was blocking Lithuanian imports and imports from other EU states if they have components coming from Lithuania Dombrovskis told the BBC that the EU would still try to find an amicable solution in parallel with pursuing the WTO case But experts say the WTO case could easily become bogged down It will probably take years to litigate said Noah Barkin a Visiting Senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund the report said Valdis Dombrovskis said The EU is respecting the OneChina policy and our assessment is that steps taken by Lithuania do not step out of the OneChina policy framework Beijing has denied ordering a trade boycott but the European Commission says it has evidence that China is refusing to clear Lithuanian goods through customs rejecting import applications and pressuring EU companies to remove Lithuanian inputs from their supply chains BBC reported IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/eu-accuses-china-of-illegal-trade-practises-as-it-takes-cudgels-on-behalf-of-lithuania-190107.html Fri, 28 Jan 2022 09:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/un-envoy-urges-taliban-to-enhance-engagement-with-intl-community-190005.html United Nations Jan 27 The UN envoy for Afghanistan has urged the Taliban to demonstrate their commitment to future engagement with the international community Noting that some donors are understandably reluctant to contribute financially to help with the humanitarian crisis in the country Deborah Lyons UN secretarygenerals special representative for Afghanistan told the Security Council meeting on the situation in Afghanistan that she hoped the Taliban would demonstrate commitment to a pathway towards future engagement with the international community to ensure critical donor funds are not diverted or misused On Wednesday the UN team in the country launched the OneUN Transitional Engagement Framework TEF a 36 billion plan to save lives and sustain health education and other essential services throughout 2022 Xinhua news agency reported The UN has kept its commitment to remain in Afghanistan to deliver support alongside aid partners ever since the Taliban became the de facto authorities of the wartorn country reaching some 18 million people last year said the envoy Talking about the pathway that the Taliban should take Lyons also head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said that by pathway I mean a series of clear mutually understood commitments with human rights at the forefront which would result in Afghanistan rejoining the community of nations by securing domestic legitimacy that aligns with Afghanistans modern history and the aspirations of its population its multiethnic character and its traditional Islamic identity Lyons reported that the de facto authorities have taken some steps to function more effectively as a government including agreeing a budget fully financed by their own revenues Although senior Taliban officials have met with ethnic minority representatives greater inclusion in governing structures is yet to be seen To demonstrate commitment to governing based on trust the Taliban must first initiate a wider dialogue towards national reconciliation a process that must be entirely initiated and shaped by Afghans she said speaking virtually to the council from the capital Kabul The de facto authorities must also deliver on their commitment to girls education she continued welcoming recent statements that girls of all ages will be educated nationwide The promise to contain terrorist groups must also be followed with more meaningful actions though Lyons suggested a certain amount of realism will be required here Given the common interest in addressing this threat if sufficient trust can be established this could be an area for potential cooperation between the international community and the de facto authorities she said A new conversation a new dialogue on this is warranted IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/un-envoy-urges-taliban-to-enhance-engagement-with-intl-community-190005.html Thu, 27 Jan 2022 20:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-govt-stops-media-outlets-from-holding-conference-190018.html New Delhi Jan 27 The Taliban government in Afghanistan prevented media outlets from holding a press conference in Kabul over concerns about the status of media in the country reported media organisations The conference was supposed to be held on Wednesday in Kabul reported TOLO News The Afghanistan Journalist Center in a statement said the conference was to be attended by 11 representatives from different media organisations All national and international media outlets were covering it however unfortunately due to the verbal order of the officials of the Islamic Emirate the conference was cancelled said Ali Asghar Akbarzada head of the Afghanistan National Journalists Union Members of the Afghanistan National Journalists Union said that the Islamic Emirate instructed them to not hold the conference until they receive permission We call on the Islamic Emirate to finalise their decision in the future They should make the decision as soon as possible and give us a permit so we can hold our conference based on it Akbarzada said The Taliban government did not comment over whether it prohibited the conference of the media outlets or not but said that it remains supportive of the media based on Islamic regulations Over 43 per cent of media activities have been halted and over 60 per cent of media employees have become jobless since the Taliban swept into power in Afghanistan say media reports IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-govt-stops-media-outlets-from-holding-conference-190018.html Thu, 27 Jan 2022 22:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/un-humanitarians-seek-additional-36-bln-for-afghanistan-aid-190031.html United Nations Jan 27 The UN team in Afghanistan has launched a 36 billion plan to help reduce newfound suffering and save lives a UN spokesman said The overarching OneUN Transitional Engagement Framework launched on Wednesday aims to help the Afghan people meet their basic human needs said Stephane Dujarric chief spokesman for UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres The funding is in addition to the 44 billion Humanitarian Response Plan the UN announced on January 11 saying it needed to aid 221 million Afghans this year Xinhua news agency reported citing Dujarric It just shows the increased needs that we see in Afghanistan as we gain access to more regions The UN team is working to reduce the suffering of the Afghan people by saving lives sustaining essential services and preserving basic community systems he said The framework is a way of better managing the resources that we will get and better managing the implementation The framework calls for additional funding to sustain essential social services such as health and education support community systems through maintenance of basic infrastructure and promotion of livelihoods and social cohesion with specific emphasis on socioeconomic needs of women and girls Afghans suffer from a hobbled agricultural economy sanctions throttling financial liquidity and now severe winter weather following the Taliban takeover of the wartorn country on August 15 2021 Last month the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a humanitarian exemption to a 1988 sanctions regime It said humanitarian assistance for basic human needs in Afghanistan is not a violation of the sanctions IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/un-humanitarians-seek-additional-36-bln-for-afghanistan-aid-190031.html Thu, 27 Jan 2022 22:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/imran-khan-govt-most-corrupt-in-pakistans-history-maryam-nawaz-189796.html New Delhi Jan 26 Pakistan Opposition politicians have called the corruption index report a charge sheet against PM Imran Khan and calling upon him to resign Dawn reported Leader of the Opposition in the Pak National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif said the PTI govt has broken all records of corruption in the last 20 years Among the AsiaPacific region Pakistan has unfortunately been ranked as the 5th most corrupt country He tweeted that under his brother Nawazs rule corruption had decreased despite massive development projects being undertaken This Sharif said was down to transparency good governance and legal reforms adding that corruption was rampant under Imran Khan even though he had not carried out any major development works PMLN vice president Maryam Nawaz declared the Imran Khan government the most corrupt government in Pakistans history claiming that every sector had witnessed a decline during his reign Punjab Assembly opposition leader Hamza Shehbaz said that Imran Khans anticorruption slogans were merely a front for targeting the opposition after coming to power while the partys information secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb asked the premier to address the nation and answer their questions over the latest TI report Zulfiqar Ali Bader spokesperson for Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that after the publication of this report there was no justification for Imran Khan to remain in government Imran Khan came to power with the slogan of ending corruption but now with corruption increasing he should go home he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/imran-khan-govt-most-corrupt-in-pakistans-history-maryam-nawaz-189796.html Thu, 27 Jan 2022 04:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-authorities-continue-assisting-needy-families-official-189928.html New Delhi Jan 26 About 1000 poor and needy Afghan women received relief assistance in Kabul on Wednesday as the Talibanled government and aid agencies redoubled efforts to help destitute families in winter an official said Some 1000 women including dozens of widows received assistance packages on Wednesday The women came from 22 municipality districts of Kabul province as they were registered via a transparent process Abdul Matin Rahimzai director of provincial Refugees and Repatriations Directorate Xinhua news agency reported The assistance supplies were donated by Pakistan and China according to Rahimzai Hundreds of thousands of needy families have received humanitarian aid in most of the countrys 34 provinces in recent weeks Rona a mother of eight told Xinhua at the site that the families also need firewood and coal after recent snowfalls in most parts of the Asian country We are thankful to all organisations that provide food and clothes and we also need firewood or coal during this difficult winter she said Economic woes hit the impoverished country following the freezing of over 9 billion of Afghan central banks assets by the US as well as a halt of funds by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-authorities-continue-assisting-needy-families-official-189928.html Thu, 27 Jan 2022 16:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-women-submit-demands-to-taliban-delegates-in-oslo-189754.html New Delhi Jan 26 Afghan womens rights activists have submitted a paper to the Taliban delegation visiting Norway demanding rights Hoda Khamosh one of the womens rights representatives at the meeting called for the release of two female activists who disappeared last week reported Tolo News Another Afghan activist Mahbouba Seraj who attended the meeting said the Islamic Emirate should fulfill whatever they promise at the meeting If they continue this way to tell us something and do something else thats when the trust is going to break completely When the trust breaks completely they should remember what happened to the exgovernment of Afghanistan We lost trust with them too The people of Afghanistan could not find themselves in that government either said Mahbouba Seraj Yes they were listening I should say that They really were listening We gave them a paper We asked them what we wanted They took it They were very very cordial about it she said The representatives of the international community spoke their own concerns over human rights and the rights of women and stressed that the Taliban need to build trust said Nazifa Jalali after attending the meeting At the same time Amir Khan Muttaqi said We will try and ask about the incident in which women activists were allegedly arrested by the Taliban It is not possible in a government that has 40 million citizens that no one gets arrested and jailed and that we can not protect people from harm It is possible it is a government some people are jailed some people get released It is not an abnormal action that only exists in Afghanistan said Amir Khan Muttaqi IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-women-submit-demands-to-taliban-delegates-in-oslo-189754.html Wed, 26 Jan 2022 23:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pak-govt-slammed-for-policy-of-appeasement-towards-terror-outfits-189524.html New Delhi Jan 25 The Pakistan opposition in the Senate slammed the Imran Khan government for what it called a policy of appeasement towards terrorist outfits noting that talks with those who challenged writ of the state had emboldened and encouraged such actors Dawn reported Speaking on an adjournment motion on the rising tide of terrorism opposition senators also voiced concern over talks with the outlawed TehreekiTaliban Pakistan TTP which were being held through a government that was not recognised by any country of the world Former Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani said the state had been patronising extremist right wing forces and religious groups adding that TTP was said to be reorganising in Afghanistan Dawn news reported He said that the TTP kept on violating a ceasefire agreement but the government still says its doors are open for talks Senator Tahir Bizenjo of the National Party said that over the last 10 days eight terrorist attacks had taken place across Pakistan while Nawabzada Umar Farooq Kasi said that negotiating with terrorists only encouraged them JamaatiIslami Senator Mushtaq Ahmad regretted that terrorists and target killers ruled the roost and demanded that former military ruler Pervez Musharraf be brought to Pakistan and tried for his surrender before the US and the murder of Nawab Akbar Bugti IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pak-govt-slammed-for-policy-of-appeasement-towards-terror-outfits-189524.html Wed, 26 Jan 2022 00:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pakistan-slips-further-in-corruption-index-189542.html New Delhi Jan 25 Pakistan has slipped further in Transparency Internationals latest Corruption Perception Index CPI 2021 with the opposition berating the Imran Khanled government and demanding the Prime Ministers resignation Geo News reported Pakistans rank has fallen 16 places to 140 from 124 out of 180 countries Transparency Internationals report showed Tuesday In CPI 2021 Pakistan scored 28 out of 100 The index which ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption according to experts and businesspeople uses a scale of zero to 100 where zero is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean the organisation said The top countries on the index are Denmark 88 Finland 88 and New Zealand 88 all of which also rank in the top 10 per cent in the world on the Democracy Index civil liberties score it said Somalia 13 Syria 13 and South Sudan 11 remain at the bottom of the CPI Syria is also ranked last in civil liberties while Somalia and South Sudan were unrated it added In response Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif said for the second consecutive year Transparency International has testified that corruption during the incumbent government is a thief and is corrupt The international organisations report is an indictment against the government and the corrupt rulers should resign The country cannot bear their plundering anymore he said The Opposition leader said the Prime Ministers corruption rank was increasing at a rapid pace as he lamented that Pakistans further slip in the corruption perception index was unfortunate IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pakistan-slips-further-in-corruption-index-189542.html Wed, 26 Jan 2022 03:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/participants-of-oslo-talks-call-for-understanding-cooperation-on-afghanistan-189663.html Copenhagen Jan 26 Representatives from the interim government of Afghanistan and a group of Afghans from various sectors of society called on all Afghans to work together for better outcomes in the wartorn country according to a joint statement released after a meeting in Oslo of Norway The participants of the meeting held on Tuesday recognised that understanding and joint cooperation are the only solutions to all the problems of Afghanistan said the statement on the official website of the Norwegian government All the participants according to the statement with one voice declared such meetings to be in the interest of the country Xinhua news agency reported The participants affirmed that Afghanistan is the common home of all Afghans and emphasised that all Afghans need to work together for better political economic and security outcomes in the country it added The meeting taking place on January 23 was hosted by Norway Norway has invited representatives of the Taliban to Oslo on January 2325 for meetings with the Norwegian authorities and representatives of the international community as well as with other Afghans from a range of fields within civil society The Norwegian Foreign Ministry said that one of the key principles underpinning Norways peace and reconciliation efforts is the willingness to talk to all parties Norway has been in dialogue with the Taliban for many years These meetings do not represent a legitimisation or recognition of the Taliban But we must talk to the defacto authorities in the country We cannot allow the political situation to lead to an even worse humanitarian disaster the Ministry added in a statement before the meetings Meanwhile the Taliban delegation hailed the Oslo meeting as a major breakthrough We have had very fruitful conversations in Norway We have not negotiated but have had interesting exchanges of views on the situation in Afghanistan Norwegian national broadcaster NRK quoted an anonymous representative of the delegation as saying on Monday The fact that Norway arranged for us to come here and share the stage with the international community is a major breakthrough he added Jan Egeland of the Norwegian Refugee Council NRC described international sanctions imposed on Afghanistan since the Taliban took power as devastating The sanctions are holding us back We cannot save lives without lifting the sanctions They are harming the same people that NATO spent billions of dollars on defending until August Egeland told Norwegian news agency NTB on Tuesday IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/participants-of-oslo-talks-call-for-understanding-cooperation-on-afghanistan-189663.html Wed, 26 Jan 2022 15:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-meets-representatives-of-us-7-other-nations-in-oslo-189377.html OsloKabul Jan 25 A visiting Taliban delegation and representatives of the US and seven other nations and region held talks in Oslo which mainly focused on Afghanistans economy humanitarian aid to the wartorn country security and healthcare according to media reports According to the Taliban Foreign Ministrys spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi the meeting set to last for three days started on Monday and the remaining representatives were from the UK Norway Germany Italy France Qatar and the European Union EU In a tweet Balkhi said The meeting focused on discussions on economy humanitarian aid security central bank operation health other relevant issues The discussions are in progress full report will follow A day before the meeting the US special envoy for Afghanistan Thomas West on Sunday evening said that Washington and its allies were seeking ways to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis reports TOLO News As we seek to address the humanitarian crisis together with allies partners and relief organisations we will continue cleareyed diplomacy with the Taliban regarding our concerns and our abiding interest in a stable rightsrespecting and inclusive Afghanistan he said Political analysts believe that such meetings could play a vital role in solving the problems in the country There is a need to take a constructive step inside Afghanistan for the formation of an inclusive and sustainable government said professor Sayed Baqir Mohseni Earlier on Sunday the Taliban met with members of the civil society of Afghanistan including women and discussed the ongoing situation in Afghanistan The delegation headed by acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi landed in Norway on Saturday night This is their first visit to Europe after the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021 Although the visit comes on an official invite by Norway the government in Oslo has said it does not represent a legitimisation or recognition of the Taliban IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-meets-representatives-of-us-7-other-nations-in-oslo-189377.html Tue, 25 Jan 2022 14:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/42-people-dead-due-to-heavy-snowfall-in-afghanistan-189379.html Kabul Jan 25 Since the last 20 days at least 42 people have died and 118 other injured as heavy snowfall has lashed 15 provinces of Afghanistan officials said Meanwhile over 2000 houses have also been destroyed the officials from the Ministry of Disaster Management said adding that emergency aid to the affected people were being delivered reports Khaama Press Deputy of the Ministry Enayatullah Shuja said that hundreds of people who were stranded on several highways due to heavy snowfall have been rescued and that the further operations were still underway Shuja further said that they are working with different aid agencies to deliver emergency assistance to those affected Freezing winter and heavy snowfall have contributed to the ongoing humanitarian crisis of Afghanistan Based on the statistics of the UN over half of the Afghan population which is more than 24 million people need lifesaving assistance IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/42-people-dead-due-to-heavy-snowfall-in-afghanistan-189379.html Tue, 25 Jan 2022 14:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/35mn-doses-of-covid-vax-administered-in-afghanistan-since-aug21-189383.html Kabul Jan 25 The Taliban has claimed that 35 million doses of Covid19 vaccines have been administered in Afghanistan since they took over the country in August 2021 the media reported In a statement on Monday the Ministry of Public Health said that they still have 3 million additional doses at their disposal and that 5 million more have been pledged to arrive in Afghanistan reports Khaama Press Spokesperson of the Ministry Javed Hazheer said that they are distributing the vaccines in schools universities government administrations mosques and other places apart from health clinics across Afghanistan We have 1064 vaccination centres in Afghanistan among them 124 in Kabul and 911 in other provinces We administer 21000 doses of Covid19 vaccines on a daily basis he said Afghanistan has been receiving the vaccines from the US China India and the COVAX international program In the meantime Afghanistan has not reported any case of the Omicron variant yet Since the onset of the ongoing pandemic in early 2020 Afghanistan has reported a total of 159896 confirmed Covid19 cases and 7393 deaths IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/35mn-doses-of-covid-vax-administered-in-afghanistan-since-aug21-189383.html Tue, 25 Jan 2022 14:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-delegation-in-oslo-faces-protests-by-afghans-189088.html New Delhi Jan 23 A number of Afghans based in Norway protested against the visit of a highranking Taliban delegation led by acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to Oslo saying that they Taliban do not represent us The demonstration was staged on Saturday to oppose the visit of the Taliban delegation and their meetings with Norwegian authorities and members of the International community Khaama Press reported The Afghan protesters said that the Taliban are on the blacklist for terrorists of the US and that they should not be negotiated within Norway The delegation arrived in Oslo on Saturday on an invitation by the Norwegian government They are scheduled to discuss important issues with Norwegian officials envoys from the US and the European Union EU as well as some influential Afghan figures Taliban deputy spokesman Inamullah Samangani had said on Friday The Foreign Ministry in Oslo also confirmed that a highlevel summit on Afghanistan with a focus on girls access to education and human rights will be attended by the Taliban delegation But the Ministry reiterated that these meetings do not represent a legitimisation or recognition of the Taliban This is the second foreign trip in January by a Taliban delegation Earlier this month a delegation led by Muttaqi visited Iran where he held talks with Ismail Khan the former Governor of Herat province and Ahmad Masoud leader of Resistance Front However the Resistance Front said that the negotiations didnt reach a positive result IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-delegation-in-oslo-faces-protests-by-afghans-189088.html Mon, 24 Jan 2022 03:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/high-schools-for-girls-to-reopen-in-march-taliban-189135.html Kabul Jan 24 Afghanistans Talibanled government has announced that high schools for girls which have remained closed since the August 2021 takeover of the country will reopen in March according to media reports In Afghanistan the new academic year begins from March which also marks the first month of the new solar year reports Khaama Press In a statement on Sunday spokesman of the Ministry of Education Aziz Ahmad Reyan said the Taliban is committed and optimistic to reopen schools for girls and that it is working in this regard seriously and tirelessly Reyan claimed the reason behind not allowing girls to attend classes in high schools was because the Taliban was creating a safe system for girls The Taliban has no issue with girls education that is why we have paid the salaries of female teachers We will hire more female teachers for girls Khaama Press quoted the spokesman as saying The spokesman further said that they were working on capacity building of female teachers and want to increase the number of these teachers so that only women teach girls If female teachers were not available in some areas then only elderly male teachers will be allowed to educate girl students he added Girls were only allowed to attend classes up to six since the Taliban gained power on August 15 last year which drew strong criticism at home and abroad The spokesmans remarks come after the US special representative to Afghanistan Thomas West told BBC Pashto over the weekend that Washington and the international community intends to pay the salaries of schoolteachers if the Taliban permits schools for girls to reopen reports TOLO News IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/high-schools-for-girls-to-reopen-in-march-taliban-189135.html Mon, 24 Jan 2022 10:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-delegation-meets-afghan-civil-society-members-in-norway-189146.html Kabul Jan 24 A visiting Taliban delegation led by acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met a group of Afghan civil society members in Oslo during which the two sides reportedly agreed to work together for the betterment of the wartorn nation according to media reports A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul after the meeting on Sunday said the participants listened patiently to each others opinions and exchanged views on the current situation in the country They affirmed that Afghanistan is the shared home of all Afghans and stressed that all Afghans need to work together for the political economic and security prosperity of the country The participants of the meeting recognized that understanding and joint cooperation are the only solutions to all the problems of Afghanistan All participants with one voice declared such meetings to be in the interest of the country the statement added The names of the Afghan civil society members have not been disclosed yet Taking to Twitter the US special envoy for Afghanistan Thomas West who is also presently in Oslo said he welcomed Norways taking the initiative to hold the meeting Welcome our hosts initiative to bring Afghan civil society and Taliban together for dialogue Civil society leaders are the backbone of healthy and prosperous economies and societies he said As we seek to address humanitarian crisis together with allies partners and relief organization we will continue cleareyed diplomacy with the Taliban regarding our concerns and our abiding interest in a stable rightsrespecting and inclusive Afghanistan The delegation landed in Norway on Saturday night This is their first visit to Europe after the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021 They are also scheduled to meet authorities of Norway and members of the international community including US officials as well as attend a summit on Afghanistan In the first meeting with the Americans the release of the Afghan assets the removal of the blacklist and also the resumption and extension of bilateral ties will be discussed TOLO News quoted Taliban deputy spokesman Inamullah Samangani as saying However the official invitation of the Taliban delegation to Norway faced diverse reactions A movement named Afghanistan Womens Government in Exile in a statement accused the Taliban of violating human rights and criticised the Norwegian government for inviting the Kabul delegation Some Afghans living in Europe staged protests in Oslo over the talks as well in front the Norwegian embassy in London IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-delegation-meets-afghan-civil-society-members-in-norway-189146.html Mon, 24 Jan 2022 10:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/un-hrw-demand-inquiry-into-missing-afghan-activists-189150.html Kabul Jan 24 The UN and the Human Rights Watch HRW have demanded the immediate launch of an inquiry into the disappearance of two Afghan activists who were reportedly abducted from their homes the media reported In a statement on Sunday the UN Assistant Mission in Afghanistan UNAMA expressed grave concerns over the disappearance of two Afghan women activists Tamana Zaryabi Paryani and Parawana Ibrahimkhel reportedly abducted from their homes overnight on Wednesday January 19 reports TOLO News We urge the Taliban to provide information on their whereabouts and to protect rights of all Afghans the UNAMA said Paryani and Ibrahimkhel had staged demonstrations in support of womens rights in Kabul We are deeply concerned about the whereabouts of the two protesters who were arrested on Wednesday night It has been four days now that they have been missing and there is no information The Taliban have denied that they have taken these women but they also havent indicated that they have any knowledge of their whereabouts or any plan to try to locate them said Heather Barr Associate womens rights director of the HRW Meanwhile some womens rights activists staged gatherings in the capital Kabul and central province of Bamiyan where they called for the release of Paryani and Ibrahimkhel We are not aware of the location of the women who have been detained despite five days passing Why is everyone silent at least inform us about their health condition said a participant We call on the UN to hear the voice of Afghan women especially the voice of female protesters because protesting is the right of every citizen The protestors must not be suppressed said Waheeda Amiri a womens rights activist However the Taliban government have denied the alleged arrests of these two activists saying that it has started an investigation into the case The investigation is underway to find out the truth but we havent found any clues about them Efforts are underway TOLO News quoted Bilal Karimi a deputy spokesman as saying The disappearance of Paryani and Ibrahimkhel sparked a widespread reaction among social media users in Afghanistan Some prominent Afghan figures condemned the crackdown on women rights activists residences saying such actions are not in accordance with human values IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/un-hrw-demand-inquiry-into-missing-afghan-activists-189150.html Mon, 24 Jan 2022 11:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-delegation-visits-norway-for-talks-spokesman-188944.html Kabul Jan 23 A delegation of Afghanistans caretaker government left for Norway to hold talks on different issues a Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry said A senior delegation led by acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi left for Norway in a special flight of the said country where talks will be held with representatives of various countries and a number of Afghans about humanitarian aid political educational and economic issues Spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi wrote on Twitter Among members of the visiting team was Maulvi Matiul Haq Khalis Acting DirectorGeneral of the Afghan Red Crescent Society according to the society The Taliban took over Kabul in midAugust last year and announced in early September the formation of Afghanistans caretaker government and some important personnel arrangements Xinhua news agency reported IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-delegation-visits-norway-for-talks-spokesman-188944.html Sun, 23 Jan 2022 15:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/us-has-no-specified-schedule-to-recognise-taliban-govt-188990.html WashingtonKabul Jan 23 The US has no specified schedule to recognise the Talibanled government in Afghanistan said Thomas West Washingtons special representative for Kabul He also emphasized that normalisation of relations between the Islamic Emirate and the world depends on the Talibans behaviour West made the remarks while speaking to BBC Pashto The top diplomat said that normalisation of ties between the US and the Taliban does not seem easy and that Washington has outlined preconditions in this regard Khaama Press reported Respect for human and womens rights freedom of speech education of women and formalisation of the rights of minorities in Afghanistan are preconditions of the US to the Taliban The special representative said that the US will pay the salaries of Afghan teachers in collaboration with the International Society in case the Taliban reopen schools Regarding the frozen assets of Afghanistan West said that a part of the money will be released for humanitarian purposes in Afghanistan but reiterated that it will not be given to the Taliban Afghanistans over 95 billion funds has been frozen by the US since the country fell to the Taliban in August last year Taliban officials meanwhile have said they want good relations with the world while claiming to have fulfilled the promises made to the world for recognition The Islamic Emirate has hopes from the international community which have several aspects particularly that the US European Union and other organisations take a position that is understandable and engage in a new phase of engagement in Afghanistan said Taliban spokesman Inamullah Samangani IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/us-has-no-specified-schedule-to-recognise-taliban-govt-188990.html Sun, 23 Jan 2022 17:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/iran-china-and-russia-hold-joint-naval-drill-in-indian-ocean-188809.html New Delhi Jan 21 Iran China and Russia have launched a joint naval exercise in the Indian Ocean with the aim of boosting marine security the Daily Mail reported Irans state TV said that 11 of its vessels have been joined by three Russian ships including a destroyer and two Chinese vessels Irans Revolutionary Guard will also participate with smaller ships and helicopters The military exercise comes at a time of heightened tension between Russia and the West over Moscows buildup of some 100000 troops on its border with Ukraine Russia is also being joined by China and Iran two nations which are at loggerheads with the West with Beijing recently accused of sending a spy to the heart of the UK Parliament the report said The joint naval exercise will cover some 6560 square miles 17000 square kilometres in the Indian Oceans north and include night fighting rescue operations and firefighting drills The purpose of this exercise is to strengthen security and its foundations in the region and to expand multilateral cooperation between the three countries to jointly support world peace maritime security and create a maritime community with a common future Irans Rear Admiral Mostafa Tajoldini spokesman for the drills told Iranian state TV This is the third joint naval drill between the countries since 2019 It coincided with a recent visit by Irans hardline President Ebrahim Raisi to Russia Improving bilateral relations between Tehran and Moscow will enhance security for the region and the international arena Raisi said upon returning from Russia on Friday the official IRNA news agency reported IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/iran-china-and-russia-hold-joint-naval-drill-in-indian-ocean-188809.html Sun, 23 Jan 2022 00:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/chinas-state-broadcaster-implicates-jack-mas-ant-group-in-corruption-scandal-188852.html New Delhi Jan 21 Chinas state broadcaster has implicated Jack Mas Ant Group in a corruption scandal ratcheting up pressure on the billionaire following a crackdown that has wiped billions of dollars from his internet empire the Financial Times reported A documentary on staterun China Central Television alleged that private companies made unreasonably high payments to the brother of the former Chinese Communist Party head of Hangzhou an eastern city that is home to Ant Groups headquarters in return for government policy incentives and support with buying real estate the report said According to public records and two sources close to the deals a unit of Ant Group bought two plots of land at a discount in Hangzhou in 2019 after taking stakes in two mobile payment businesses owned by the party secretarys younger brother that were named in the documentary While the documentary did not name Jack Mas company the Ant unit was the only external corporate investor in one of these businesses according to public records and was among three corporate investors in the second The nature of such a transfer of interests is an exchange of power and capital said the documentary produced by the Communist Partys Central Commission for Discipline Inspection Material aired by Chinas state broadcaster represents the official party line FT reported The programme has intensified pressure on Ant as the fintech group with more than 1 billion users struggles to overhaul its business to comply with the authorities demands Chinese regulators pulled the plug on a 37 billion initial public offer planned by the company in 2020 and forced it to restructure Last week Ant suffered a setback to its governmentled reform efforts after a stateowned asset manager pulled out of a deal to invest in the fintechs lending arm without explanation FT reported The documentary alleged that Zhou Jiangyong the former Hangzhou party secretary who was arrested in August for corruption helped unidentified companies acquire cheap land and enjoy preferential policies after they bought shares in firms controlled by the senior officials younger brother Zhou Jianyong Public records show Shanghai Yunxin Venture Capital Management Co a subsidiary of Ant paid 268000 for a 143 per cent stake and a board seat in Youcheng United Ningbo in March 2019 the report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/chinas-state-broadcaster-implicates-jack-mas-ant-group-in-corruption-scandal-188852.html Sun, 23 Jan 2022 06:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/faisal-akram-was-referred-to-uk-anti-terror-programme-in-2016-mi5-in-2020-188874.html New Delhi Jan 21 Security forces in the UK are facing fresh questions after it was revealed on Friday that the Blackburn terrorist shot dead as he held up a synagogue in Texas the US last week had previously been referred to counterextremism scheme Prevent the Daily Mail reported In the latest embarrassment for UK counterterrorism officials it was revealed that Malik Faisal Akram 44 had been referred to the antiterror programme following the breakdown of his marriage and concerns over his growing extremist views the report said The 44yearold was also investigated by MI5 in December 2020 when British spies watched him for a month However the fatherofsix who was shot dead by FBI SWAT teams last week while holding up a Texas synagogue was not considered a terrorist threat despite multiple reports that he had been radicalised The fresh revelations will heap yet more pressure on the Home Office over Prevent which is already under scrutiny following the death of MP Sir David Amess and a series of highprofile failures Ali Harbi Ali 25 the man who is accused of and denies murdering the Tory MP in a knife attack in his constituency of Southend in October last year had been referred to Prevent a few years ago the report said And it was also claimed at an inquest into the London Bridge terror attack that Prevent officers had no specific training in handling terrorist offenders IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/faisal-akram-was-referred-to-uk-anti-terror-programme-in-2016-mi5-in-2020-188874.html Sun, 23 Jan 2022 09:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/us-broadcaster-urged-to-include-chinas-oppression-in-tibet-in-coverage-188570.html Dharamsala Jan 21 An advocacy group working to promote democratic freedoms for Tibetans has written to NBC the US broadcaster of the Olympics urging them to include Chinas oppression in Tibet in their coverage of the Games With just weeks to go before the 2022 Winter Olympics we trust you plan to roll out the usual coverage But these will be no ordinary Games The severe oppression including of freedom of expression that the Chinese government inflicts on Tibetans and others under its rule demands equal attention said the letter by the International Campaign for Tibet The Winter Games are scheduled to open on February 4 As you are well aware the Chinese government is one of the most brutal human rights abusers the world has seen in decades Since falsely promising to improve its human rights record ahead of the last Beijing Olympics in 2008 China has cracked down viciously on Tibet which Freedom House now ranks as the worlds leastfree country alongside Syria In 2020 the US government also designated Chinas persecution of the Uyghurs as genocide The US and other governments have imposed a diplomatic boycott of the Olympics in response to Beijing not abiding by international norms Knowing this the International Olympic Committee should have had the moral fiber to demand the Chinese government adhere to internationally upheld standards of freedom and human rights to deserve the Games That has not taken place Now as the designated broadcaster of the Games NBC too has an ethical responsibility as a defender of freedom particularly that of expression and must go beyond business as usual By airing these Olympics you are choosing to give Chinas authoritarian regime a platform to spread its propaganda Therefore its only just that you provide equal time to the victims of Chinas oppression who deserve more than to be brushed aside in the name of access and profits added the letter Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has lived in India since fleeing his homeland in 1959 The Tibetan governmentinexile is headquartered in this Himachal Pradesh hill town IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/us-broadcaster-urged-to-include-chinas-oppression-in-tibet-in-coverage-188570.html Sat, 22 Jan 2022 04:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/over-90-students-in-pakistan-weak-in-maths-science-188582.html New Delhi Jan 21 More than 90 per cent of primary and lowersecondary students in Pakistan have only a weak or basic understanding of the mathematics and science they are required to learn according to a nationwide study conducted by faculty at the Aga Khan Universitys Institute for Educational Development More than 15000 students in grades five six and eight in 153 public and private schools across the country completed standardised tests in mathematics and science as part of the study which was funded by Pakistans Higher Education Commission The News International reported All tests were aligned with Pakistans curriculum and have been validated for use in the country by previous studies The average mathematics score was 27 out of 100 The average science score was 34 out of 100 Only one per cent of students scored over 80 in either subject thereby demonstrating what researchers called excellent understanding Girls slightly outperformed boys in science and tied boys in mathematics The average score in private schools was higher than in public schools but did not exceed 40 in either subject The average score in Punjab province was the highest among the countrys regions but did not exceed 40 in either subject In total 78 public schools and 75 private schools participated in the study Eighty per cent of students were the children of parents with a high school certificate or less IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/over-90-students-in-pakistan-weak-in-maths-science-188582.html Sat, 22 Jan 2022 05:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/baloch-nationalist-army-claims-responsibility-for-lahore-blast-188583.html New Delhi Jan 21 The Baloch Nationalist Army a newly emerged militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the powerful blast in Lahore that killed three people and injured dozens others Dawn reported The group was formed earlier this month when Balochistan Republican Army and United Baloch Army merged and appointed Mureed Baloch as their spokesman However Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid said in a TV show on Thursday evening the TehreekiTaliban Pakistan had claimed responsibility but intelligence agencies were yet to determine who was behind the terrorist attack In what appears to be a reemergence of militancy in Lahore a powerful blast ripped through the crowded Anarkali market killing three people and injuring 33 others here on Thursday Police and other law enforcement agencies initially declared it a gas cylinder explosion but later investigations confirmed it was a bomb blast The explosion left a deep crater on the road damaged windowpanes of several buildings vehicles and left 33 people injured three of them critical Three women were among the injured the report said Several photos and videos shared online showed plumes of smoke rising from a damaged motorcycle and some carts outside a shop and partially damaged setups nearby Police officers believed the explosion resembled the timeddevice blast carried out in July 2013 at the Old Anarkali food street that had killed five people IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/baloch-nationalist-army-claims-responsibility-for-lahore-blast-188583.html Sat, 22 Jan 2022 05:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/new-baloch-nationalist-group-emerges-in-pak-after-lahore-blast-188586.html New Delhi Jan 21 At least three people lost their lives and 26 others were wounded when a remotecontrolled device blew up in Lahores New Anarkali Market A couple of hours after the blast a Twitter handle purportedly from one Mureed Baloch said that Baloch Nationalist Army BNA has claimed responsibility Samaa TV reported There are several Baloch nationalist groups that are operating in Pakistan but BNA has not been heard of previously Officials have confirmed that the group was created as recently as this month The Transnational Terrorists Intelligence Group TTIG of Sindh CounterTerrorism Department CTD investigates threats from militant groups Its chief Raja Umar Khattab said BNA is a new terrorist group that has been formed by a merger of the banned Baloch Republican Army and United Baloch Army UBA Khattab says the merger or alliance emerged on January 11 when the group was formed This explains why many officials were surprised when the BNA claimed responsibility for the Lahore attack Most of the information about the group was gathered after the blast the report said The TTIG chief said the Lahore blast was the second terrorist attack claimed by this new group in two days It claimed to have carried out an attack on a security convoy in Balochistans Kech on January 19 He said it was not clear who was heading this new group but Mureed Baloch claims to be its spokesperson Counterterrorism experts believe the group could carry out more attacks The banned outfits that were merged to form BNA have a similar history BRA is a banned terrorist organization headed by Brahumdagh Bugti It was founded in 2006 and the government of Pakistan banned it in September 2010 UBA is also a banned Baloch separatist group Its chief Mehran Marri is the brother of the banned Balochistan Liberation Army BLA chief Hyrbyair Marri Mehran Marri was initially associated with BLA but he later formed another faction after developing differences with his brother The Pakistan government banned this group on March 15 2013 IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/new-baloch-nationalist-group-emerges-in-pak-after-lahore-blast-188586.html Sat, 22 Jan 2022 06:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/reopening-schools-for-girls-our-responsibility-not-world-pressure-taliban-188418.html Kabul Jan 21 The Talibanled government in Afghanistan has said that reopening schools for girls across the country was their responsibility and not due to world pressure The remarks were made by Acting Minister Maulaee Noorullah Muneer during his meeting with Deborah Lyons the UN GeneralSecretarys special representative to Afghanistan here on Thursday Khaama Press reported Muneer said that getting an education is the right of girls and the Taliban government has the responsibility to provide it Taliban officials have announced that higher schools for girls and public universities for boys and girls will be reopened in the next educational year that begins in March At least 150 public universities for boys and girls and all public higher schools for girls have remained closed since the countrys takeover by the Taliban in August 2021 Earlier this month the Talibans Minister of Higher Education Abdul Baqi Haqqani had announced that universities across the country for both male and female students will reopenin but classes will be separate for boys and girls He however did not mention a date of the reopning IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/reopening-schools-for-girls-our-responsibility-not-world-pressure-taliban-188418.html Fri, 21 Jan 2022 11:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-aircraft-parked-abroad-unlikely-to-be-returned-188360.html New Delhi Jan 19 The Pentagon has said that no final decision has been made about the Afghan aircraft parked in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan but it is likely that these aircraft will not be returned to Afghanistan Tolo News reported At a press briefing on Tuesday Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby in response to a question on the fate of the aircraft said it is safe to assume that the aircraft will not be sent back to Afghanistan I dont have any update on it for you or any decision about how they will be handled But it is safe to assume that they will not be sent into Afghanistan to be used by the Taliban he said as per the report He said the US is still working towards a decision about the aircraft Kirbys remarks follow comments by acting Afghan Defense Minister Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob who on January 11 at a ceremony in Kabul called on Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to return Afghan aircraft Our aircraft that are in Tajikistan or Uzbekistan should be returned We will not allow these aircraft to remain abroad or to be used by those countries he said According to reports before the fall of the former government Afghanistan had over 164 active military aircraft and now only 81 are in the country The rest were taken out of Afghanistan and brought to different countries IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-aircraft-parked-abroad-unlikely-to-be-returned-188360.html Fri, 21 Jan 2022 00:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/un-sends-32-mn-in-cash-to-afghanistan-188402.html Kabul Jan 21 Da Afghanistan Bank DAB the central bank of the country has announced that the UN has sent 32 million in cash to the wartorn nation as part of the world bodys humanitarian aid assistance the media reported In a statement the DAB said that the money was delivered to Afghanistan International Bank AIB on Thursday reports Khaama Press Welcoming the UN aid the DAB said the money is part of a process based on which the UN will provide 20 million weekly until March to the country This will definitely help the fragile economic and banking systems of Afghanistan that are feared to be collapsing it added On the other hand economic analysts have said that unless the injection of dollars to Afghanistans market the countrys local currency Afghani will further depreciate IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/un-sends-32-mn-in-cash-to-afghanistan-188402.html Fri, 21 Jan 2022 09:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pak-nsa-scraps-kabul-visit-in-face-of-massive-anti-pakistan-protests-188296.html New Delhi Jan 19 Amid a planned antiPakistan protest in Kabul the Pakistan National Security Adviser NSA has quietly scrapped his trip to Afghanistan Pajhwok News reported Moeed Yusuf was scheduled to arrive in Kabul on Tuesday at the head of a highlevel delegation for talks on humanitarian aid for the Afghans and other issues of bilateral importance However the NSA had to cancel his twoday visit as a massive protest against Pakistan was planned at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul the report said A wellplaced diplomatic source confided to Pajhwok Afghan News Yusuf decided against visiting Afghanistan capital to escape embarrassment Hundreds of Afghans carrying antiPakistan banners marched near the airport to protest what they called Pakistans twofaced policy the source said He claimed tensions were rising between the neighbours over fencing of the Britishera Durand Line which Kabul does not recognise as a formal international border Meanwhile a Kabulbased social media user wrote that the Taliban had detained human rights activist Azim Azimi for organising the antiPakistan demonstration On the other hand Pakistan officials say the NSAs visit had been postponed due to bad weather They dismissed the impression that there are differences between the Taliban and Islamabad We have been in contact with Kabul both on Durand Line fencing and the presence of Pakistani Taliban in Afghanistan one official said denying rifts between the two sides IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pak-nsa-scraps-kabul-visit-in-face-of-massive-anti-pakistan-protests-188296.html Thu, 20 Jan 2022 18:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/ahmadi-women-seek-leaderships-explanation-on-rapes-188317.html New Delhi Jan 19 In the wake of several allegations of rape and sexual assault at the highest tiers of the JamaateAhmadiyya as many as 136 members of the community majority of them women have sent an open letter to their global head raising concerns over the Jamaats handling of the cases being reported Samaa TV reported The cases went public last December when Nida Ul Nasser 36 the granddaughter of both the third and the fourth Ahmadi leaders revealed a long history of alleged sexual abuse by her father and close family members of the incumbent global leader of the community which was recorded as telling her to produce four witnesses to prove rape or stay silent otherwise the Jamaats system would take its course to deal with her the report said Although some of the signatories of the open letter are exAhmadis this letter is the first of its kind as no culture of questioning policies of the Jamaat has existed to date The Jamaat officebearers closely monitor their members on social media and issue warnings to those liking tweeting retweeting or quoting tweets of sex abuse survivors including Nida and Afzal Upal or those endorsing hashtags such as AhmadiMeToo or JusticeForNida the report added A copy of the fivepage letter started floating around on social media and particularly in WhatsApp groups Monday when the initiator informed all signatories that it had been sent electronically to the community heads office in the UK and national executive bodies of the Jamaat in the US and Canada The signatories of the letter out of whom 91 are women belong to different cities in the US the UK Canada Pakistan Germany Mauritius and Scotland IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/ahmadi-women-seek-leaderships-explanation-on-rapes-188317.html Thu, 20 Jan 2022 19:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/do-not-seek-revenge-on-previous-officials-sarajudin-haqqani-to-taliban-commanders-188100.html New Delhi Jan 19 Sarajudin Haqqani who is the acting interior minister of Afghanistan has ordered the Taliban commanders in Kabul to not seek revenge on previous Afghan governments security officials and abide by the general amnesty of supreme leader Mullah Hebtullah Akhundzada Anyone who seeks revenge spoils the current system which is not acceptable said Haqqani while speaking at a capacitybuilding conference of Kabul police districts commanders The Khaama Press News Agency reported He further said that he met the previous leaders and officials who have assured him that no one will harm them unless they commit a crime I direct you to investigate cases of prisoners release them if they were imprisoned for no crime and felony Incarcerate those who have put innocent people at jails Haqqani said Black listed by the US Haqqani asked the head of the PDs to only serve people The Khaama Press News Agency reported According to him support from common people has made the Taliban government successful Therefore they should be taken care of Haqqani is not the only highranking official of Afghanistan reiterating the general amnesty to be obeyed as per reports of The Khaama Press IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/do-not-seek-revenge-on-previous-officials-sarajudin-haqqani-to-taliban-commanders-188100.html Thu, 20 Jan 2022 02:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/un-conducts-post-quake-assessment-in-afghanistan-187921.html United Nations Jan 19 The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA is leading an interagency assessment team deployed to Qadis District of Badghis Province in Afghanistan following the 53magnitude earthquake that struck the area on Monday Initial reports indicate that 26 people have been killed four others injured Hundreds of houses were damaged or destroyed Heavy rains before the earthquake made mudbrick houses more vulnerable to damage Xinhua news agency quoted OCHA as saying People whose homes have been damaged or destroyed are sheltering with relatives and other members of their communities Preliminary reports indicate that food shelter and nonfood items and heating materials are most urgently needed In addition to the OCHAled assessment team aid agencies are providing initial emergency support in the form of hot meals and distributing water purification tablets hygiene kits and water kits IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/un-conducts-post-quake-assessment-in-afghanistan-187921.html Wed, 19 Jan 2022 11:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pak-election-commission-declassifies-key-documents-in-pti-foreign-funding-case-187956.html New Delhi Jan 19 As troubles mount for Imran Khan the Election Commission of Pakistan ECP has ordered the declassification of all critical documents linked to the foreign funding case against the ruling Pakistan TehreekiInsaf PTI The documents were part of the ECP scrutiny committee report released a couple of weeks ago which had been kept secret and were not released along with the report when it was made public reported Dawn news The documents being made public will include all the papers sought by the ECP through the state of Pakistan in its letter dated July 3 2018 Chief Election Commissioner CEC Sikander Sultan Raja passed the order on Tuesday when the counsel for the petitioner contended that certain critical portions of the report had been kept secret and his client was being denied access to them The CEC directed that no part of the report should be kept confidential and the whole report should be provided to the petitioner IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pak-election-commission-declassifies-key-documents-in-pti-foreign-funding-case-187956.html Wed, 19 Jan 2022 13:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-govt-convenes-conference-on-afghan-economic-situation-188019.html Kabul Taliban Prime Minister Mohammad Hassan Akhund speaks during an economic conference at the former Presidential Palace in Kabul Afghanistan Wednesday Jan 19 2022 Even as Afghanistan faces a humanitarian catastrophe and its economy teeters on the brink of collapse the United Nations representative on Wednesday told a Talibanorganized economic conference in the capital Kabul there have been some advances including a surprising 1 billion in exports PTI New Delhi Jan 19 The Taliban regime in Afghanistan on Wednesday will be discussing the economic situation of the country A oneday conference Economy of Afghanistan is being convened in Kabul Khaama Press reported This is the first time the government will be discussing the economy after the Taliban captured power on August 15 last year The conference is said to be headed by the acting Prime Minister Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund and will be broadcast live on the staterun RTA channel A statement reads that the conference will be opened by second Deputy PM Abdul Salaam Hanafi and will be concluded by a speech of first Deputy PM Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar The acting PM is not likely to speak It is not clear who else will be attending the conference and whether foreign people are invited or not previously it was said that foreigners will also take part in the conference The economic conference comes as Afghanistan is potentially on the brink of economic collapse and the country is going through the worst humanitarian crisis on earth IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-govt-convenes-conference-on-afghan-economic-situation-188019.html Wed, 19 Jan 2022 18:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pakistan-to-pay-chinese-victims-in-terrorist-attack-188045.html New Delhi Jan 19 Pakistan has decided to compensate the 36 Chinese nationals who died and were injured in a terrorist attack last year aimed at removing a major irritant in bilateral relations Express Tribune reported A total of 10 Chinese national lost their lives and another 26 were hurt in a suicide attack on a bus that was carrying them to the work site of the Dasu Hydropower Project in July last year The Pak government has worked out four different compensation amounts ranging from 46 million Rs 810 million to 203 million Rs 36 billion sources told The Express Tribune Pakistan has decided to make the payment despite there was no legal or contractual obligation on the government the report said The Dasu Hydropower Project is funded by the World Bank and does not fall in the scope of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor CPEC Four Pakistani nationals had also died in the attack After the government tried to downplay the terrorist attack as an accident caused by gas leakage China immediately retaliated and cancelled a scheduled meeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee of the CPEC the report said The Chinese contractor had also stopped the work on the project and demanded a compensation of 37 million The compensation that the contractor had claimed was over 500 per cent more than what a Chinese nationals heirs would have received if killed in a similar attack in their own country according to government sources The 4320MW Dasu Hydropower Project is being constructed by China Gezhouba with funding from the World Bank IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pakistan-to-pay-chinese-victims-in-terrorist-attack-188045.html Wed, 19 Jan 2022 20:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/western-banks-mutual-funds-rush-to-enter-china-despite-hostile-environment-187684.html New Delhi Jan 16 For many companies doing business in China is getting trickier by the day But Western banks and asset managers are more than willing to up their bets on the worlds second biggest economy convinced that the opportunities remain too good to pass up CNN reported Major banks in recent weeks have inked deals to expand their footprint in China  or are otherwise attempting to take greater control of their businesses there  after years of being forced to enter the market via joint ventures Thats despite fraught geopolitics a slowing economy and an increasingly hostile environment for private business the report said Late last month HSBC received approval from Chinese regulators to take full control of its life insurance joint venture which was created in 2009 in equal partnership with a Chinese company under rules that were rolled back in 2020 The bank said the move underscored its commitment to expanding business in China HSBC isnt the only one Wall Street Alisters such as BlackRock JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs are already a few steps down that road And the stateowned China Securities Journal reportedlast week that Deutsche Bank wants to establish its own wealth management joint venture in the country The German bank declined to comment CNN reported The sheer size of Chinas virtually untapped equity and bond market is irresistible to the worlds large financial institutions especially since Beijing is finally allowing them to operate wholly owned mutual funds said Alex Capri a research fellow at the Hinrich Foundation IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/western-banks-mutual-funds-rush-to-enter-china-despite-hostile-environment-187684.html Mon, 17 Jan 2022 00:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pashtun-mp-in-pakistan-remains-incarcerated-for-anti-state-speech-187736.html New Delhi Jan 16 A hearing of incarcerated Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement PTMlinked MNA Ali Wazirs case has been postponed once again in Pakistan with rights activists raising concerns about absence of due process Friday Times reported While Wazir was recently granted bail in a case pertaining to antistate speech he remains behind bars as another case registered against him is still pending On Friday the PTM held a protest in Islamabad calling for the release of Ali Wazir as well as Hanif Pashteen and Uwais Abdal among other PTM members Rights activist Tahira Abdullah and Pakistan Peoples Party PPP leader Farhatullah Babar were among the participants the report said In early January Ali Wazirs lawyer Qadir Khan had his house ransacked in Karachi Several close to the attorney claimed the raid was the work of the Sindhi Rangers whom they also alleged harassed the lawyers family including his daughter the report said Ali Wazir a lawmaker from South Waziristan elected in 2018 was arrested in Peshawar in December 2020 on charges of sedition along with 10 other PTM members Wazir was granted bail by the Supreme Court in November last year but remains incarcerated in another case IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pashtun-mp-in-pakistan-remains-incarcerated-for-anti-state-speech-187736.html Mon, 17 Jan 2022 06:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/aafia-siddiqui-pakistan-born-neuroscientist-who-became-lady-al-qaeda-187810.html New Delhi Jan 16 The man who stormed a Texas synagogue on the Sabbath and was holding hostages before he was shot and killed was demanding the release of Lady Al Qaeda who is serving 86 years in a federal prison less than 30 miles from where the hostage standoff took place Daily Mail reported The suspect stormed the Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville for Aafia Siddiqui a known terrorist who is incarcerated at Carswell Air Force Base near Fort Worth and he was demanding for her release according to police sources the report said Siddiqui was arrested in Afghanistan in 2008 by local forces who found her with two kilos of poison sodium cyanide and plans for chemical attacks on New Yorks Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire State Building The Pakistaniborn neuroscientist had bragged to her student friends at the age of just 21 that she would be proud to be on the FBIs Most Wanted list the report added She is serving an 86year sentence at the Federal Medical Center Carswell in Fort Worth about 25 miles from the hostage site at the Texas temple During her trial Aafia demanded that every jury member get DNA tested to see if they were Jewish Siddiqui who was a biology major at MIT said in 1993 that she wanted to do something to help our Muslim brothers and sisters even if it meant breaking the law the report added IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/aafia-siddiqui-pakistan-born-neuroscientist-who-became-lady-al-qaeda-187810.html Mon, 17 Jan 2022 13:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/displaced-afghans-selling-kidneys-children-to-survive-187859.html New Delhi Jan 16 Displaced families living in a camp in the capital city of Balkh province of Afghanistan have sold their children and their kidneys for funds to survive Tolo News reported The displaced families escaped heavy conflict between the Islamic Emirate and former government forces before the fall of the republican government in the northern provinces of Balkh SarePul Faryab and Jawzjan A charity committee is helping displaced families with food and cash aid in order to dissuade them from selling their children and kidneys The price of a child is between 100000 to 150000 Afs and the price of one kidney is 150000 to 220000 Afs the report said The families are living in a camp in MazareSharif the capital of Balkh province The families said that they were forced to make such decisions due to poverty the economic problems in the country as well Covid19s outbreak We are overwhelmed with problems No one pays attention to us We are in deep trouble said a displaced person Every family has around two to seven children Dilbar is a wardisplaced person whose family is struggling with starvation Dilbar said she had no choice but to sell her kidney to take care of her children I was rescued by my operation My child was sick I took her to the hospital for treatment but the doctors told me her treatment would not be done she said the report added These families were helped by a charity committee to stop them from selling the kids and kidneys The charity committee provided cash aid and food for thousands displaced and vulnerable people in MazareSharif The head of the charity committee Mohammad Sadiq Hashimi called on national business people to boost efforts to help the people in need across the country There were some sisters who were ready to sell their kidneys some of them have already sold their kidneys I saw some families who were selling their children We were able to help them he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/displaced-afghans-selling-kidneys-children-to-survive-187859.html Mon, 17 Jan 2022 16:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/theres-no-need-for-foreign-manpower-in-afghanistan-karzai-187495.html Kabul Jan 16 Reacting to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khans directive to send qualified and trained Pakistani manpower to Afghanistan former President of the wartorn nation Hamid Karzai said that there was no need of that the media reported On Friday while attending the third meeting of the Apex Committee on Afghanistan Khan said the reason behind sending manpower to the country is to prevent a humanitarian crisis TOLO News reported In a statement his office said The Prime Minister directed the authorities concerned to explore bilateral cooperation with friendly countries as well to stave off humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan by exporting qualified and trained manpower especially in medical IT finance and accounting In response Karzai said on Saturday that Afghanistan has hundreds of thousands of qualified boys and girls who have studied both at home and abroad reports Khaama Press He added that that there was no need for a foreign workforce in Afghanistan The former President also called on the Taliban authorities in Kabul to provide working facilities to Afghan boys and girls who are university graduates and also facilitate the return of Afghan experts and specialists to the country Khans remarks came after a recently published report by The New York Times which highlighted the lack of professional staff within the Talibanled government in Afghanistan reports TOLO News The report says that many of the selected theologians are graduates of Darul Uloom Haqqania madrasa one of Pakistans oldest and largest Islamic seminaries According to the report they lack professional training and skills required to perform jobs in the government IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/theres-no-need-for-foreign-manpower-in-afghanistan-karzai-187495.html Sun, 16 Jan 2022 09:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pakistans-headache-protege-taliban-187636.html New Delhi Jan 16 Pakistan is being driven mad by its protege Taliban 20 And is in a fix not knowing whether to get tough with the new Kabul masters or continue to act like their patron in the hope of establishing oneday Pakistani hegemony over Afghanistan Two issues have created a chasm between the Taliban rulers in Kabul and the GHQ in Rawalpindi which rules Pakistan through their selected civilian proxies in Islamabad One Pakistan wants Taliban to take stern action against TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTP  the bad terrorists so that they are eliminated Two Pakistan wants Kabul to rein in the Afghan Pashtuns who are objecting to the fencing of the 2500 kmlong defacto border the Durand Line Pakistans dilemma is that it cannot armtwist Kabul since the Interim government of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is dominated by Haqqani Network HN who as the nonstate actors are in the pay roll of GHQ Shura Council comprising the corps commanders A frustrated Pakistan has therefore turned to its timetested diplomacy tool blackmailing to make Kabul to fall inline Islamabad has told Kabul that its rulers would lose credibility globally if they failed to do what Pakistan wants according to a local media report Put simply the message is address Pakistani concerns Otherwise dont expect us to get the world to recognize your regime Funnily Pakistan itself is not in a hurry to formally recognise Taliban 20 So is its iron friend China and its new ally Russia All the three especially the Imran Khan government in Islamabad dont want to rush in before the deep pocketed angelthe US kick starts the recognition process But the West is showing no urgency even while expressing sympathy and concern in equal measure for the suffering Afghans Now cut to the TTP factor It has fraternal ties with the Taliban for long it does not hide its linkages with the Islamic State which also goes around as ISKhorasan ISK and shares a hostile relationship with the Afghan Taliban For the IS egg heads the Taliban 2O are filthy nationalists with their ambitions confined to the boundaries of Afghanistan The ISK has two goals near term goal is Sharia basedrule in the AfghanistanPakistan region while longterm goal is worldwide Caliphate This front has been formed by former members of the Pakistani Taliban Afghan Taliban and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan IUM In the past fiveyears TTP and its extended arm ISK have entrenched themselves in Nangahar and Kunar provinces of Afghanistan And have been giving nightmares to the Pakistani Generals Shortly before the return of the Taliban to the drivers seat in Kabul Pakistan had claimed that its army had finished the threat from the TTP during a campaign to drive out terror groups This claim is clearly for domestic consumption Otherwise Pakistan would not be putting so much pressure on Kabul now to smoke out the TTP Before August 15 2021 Afghanistan was under the rule of USbacked America educated economist Ashraf Ghani He saw no reason to rein in the TTP or other groups that troubled Pakistan Because terror attacks on Afghanistan were mounted by Pakistanbased outfits with the connivance of the Army and its intelligence wing InterServices Intelligence ISI which in Pakistanis known as the permanent establishment of the country Change of guard in Kabul has not ended Pakistan woes Moreover TTP that so annoys Pakistan is almost entirely of Pushtun ethnicity and thus has close ties with fellow Pashtuns on either side of the Durand Line It is this Pashtun factor that has made Taliban 20 to put their foot down on fencing the border Like the Taliban 10 the present Taliban also doesnt accept the British drawn border The Taliban thinks that the fencing would divide families with movement across the porous border obstructed by the fence Result Taliban commanders inflicted a bloody nose on the Pakistani border guards Pakistans leadership knows that the attack had come with the tacit approval of Talibans top brass But right nowPakistan can only twiddle its thumb The Afghan Taliban is not keen to start any assault against the TTP because that will infuriate the Pashtuns and make them restive There is a fear that if Kabul moves against the TTP its soldiers would swiftly move over to the deadlier ISK This reality check prompted the Taliban 20 to become the facilitator of a monthlong ceasefire between TTP and Pakistan It ended on December 9 last year Another ceasefire agreement does not appear to be on the horizon though Pakistan says it is in talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan to restore peace on the border and to push ahead with the fence There is an unmistakable irony in the TalibanTTPPakistan saga The Taliban that enjoyed patronage of Americas CIA in the days of jihad against Soviet Army and became ISIs nonstate actor in facilitating Pakistans strategic goals is disapproving ISK If ISK influence spreads in Afghanistan it can only be at the expense of the Taliban But the scenario one that the Taliban fears is a mass exodus from its ranks to ISK And hence finishing the ISK is one of its top priorities Not weeding out the TTP as Pakistan wants Put simply Pakistan will experience no respite from the TTP blitzkrieg And get a good taste of its own medicine Well Pakistan has done little to put out of operation the Indiacentric terror groups nurtured and sheltered on its soil IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pakistans-headache-protege-taliban-187636.html Sun, 16 Jan 2022 19:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pakistan-to-give-permanent-residency-for-wealthy-afghans-chinese-187333.html New Delhi Jan 15 The Pakistan government has decided to offer permanent residency to foreign investors especially to fetch heavy investments from wealthy Afghans Chinese and American Sikhs Dawn reported In a tweet late Friday night Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said In line with new National Security Policy through which Pakistan declared geoeconomics as core of its national security doctrine the government has decided to allow permanent residency scheme for foreign nationals new policy allows foreigners to get permanent resident status in lieu of investment The government believes it will fetch billions of dollars of foreign investment by giving Pakistani nationality and proprietary rights to the foreign investors the Dawn news report said An informed source told Dawn that the government wanted to attract heavy investments from the wealthy Afghan nationals who were presently investing in countries such as Iran Turkey and Malaysia They said the government also hoped that USbased Sikh nationals would be happy to make investment in different sectors in Pakistan due to their affection with Sikh religious sites in the country the report added Also Prime Minister Imran Khan in his recent statements hinted that he wanted to attract top ChiÂnÂese investors who relocated their industries to other countries in the region The government also hoped that the rich Arabs rulers who used to visit Pakistan every year for hunting purpose would like to have Pakistani citizenship IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pakistan-to-give-permanent-residency-for-wealthy-afghans-chinese-187333.html Sat, 15 Jan 2022 16:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/universal-vax-distribution-best-way-to-end-covid-pak-fm-187359.html Islamabad Jan 15 Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the production and universal distribution of vaccines are the best way to try and end the Covid19 pandemic He made the remarks as akistan assumed chairmanship of the G77 a coalition of more than 130 developing nations for the year 2022 reports Xinhua news agency Addressing a virtual handover ceremony of the chairmanship to Pakistan the Foreign Minister said the world is still battling the virus which has taken a massive human economic social and psychological toll He said the world is facing a triple crises the Covid19 pandemic the related economic downturn and the threat posed by climate change Qureshi said the pandemic has affected developing countries disproportionately Due to weak health systems and meagre resources millions in the developing world have suffered enormously and mostly in silence he added He said that over 20 countries are food insecure and some are getting stalked by famine especially in conflict zones in Africa and Afghanistan To address the contemporary challenges being faced by the world the Foreign Minister said the survival of humanity requires the adoption of mutual support solidarity and unity IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/universal-vax-distribution-best-way-to-end-covid-pak-fm-187359.html Sat, 15 Jan 2022 18:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/two-women-killed-in-unexploded-ordnance-blast-in-east-afghanistan-187180.html Jalalabad Jan 12 Two women lost their lives and a teenaged girl was seriously injured in an unexploded ordnance blast in Afghanistans eastern province of Nangarhar a local official confirmed on Wednesday The incident occurred in a house in Warsak village Lal Pur district on Tuesday when explosive remnants of war ERW exploded Xinhua news agency reported citing Basir Zabuli from the provincial police directorate According to the source one of the victims found and brought the ERW after they returned from collecting firewood from nearby mountains in an effort to sell the item as scrap metal in the village Afghan officials use the term ERW referring to unexploded ordnance UXO and abandoned explosive ordnance AXO Landmines antipersonnel mines as well as ERWs left behind from wars kill or maim about 120 people every month in the postconflict country according to Afghanistans State Ministry for Disaster Management On Monday at least six children and a vendor were killed and several others injured when an ERW exploded outside a school in remote Lal Pur district near the border with Pakistan IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/two-women-killed-in-unexploded-ordnance-blast-in-east-afghanistan-187180.html Thu, 13 Jan 2022 12:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-warns-of-consequences-if-choppers-planes-not-returned-by-tajikistan-uzbekistan-187223.html New Delhi Jan 12 Acting Minister of Defence of Afghanistan Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob Mujahid has asked Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to bring back Afghanistans planes and choppers lest they will react forcefully Khaama Press reported Speaking at a gathering of Afghan pilots and personnel of the Afghan Air Force Yakoob Mujahid said that the planes and choppers that were flown out to the neighbouring countries by Afghan pilots after August 15 are the possession of Afghanistan thus they should be returned We may relatively be weaker than those of our neighbour country but we are not cowardly and will take into account every single spare part of our planes and helicopters I ask them respectfully to return our planes and helicopters and do not question our patience any further said the Defence Minister Son of the founder of Taliban Mullah Omar Yakoob Mujahid thanked all engineers staff and pilots of the Afghanistan Air Force for not leaving their country and having reactivated the Force and asked the Afghan pilots who have left Afghanistan to return to the country Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob further said that they are working for having an independent Air Force that is reliable to no foreign aid and will be used to protect people and the borders of Afghanistan Like other officials of IEA Yaqoob also asked those Afghans who have left Afghanistan to return to the country and collaborate with them in developing the country the report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-warns-of-consequences-if-choppers-planes-not-returned-by-tajikistan-uzbekistan-187223.html Thu, 13 Jan 2022 15:36:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pashtuns-protest-in-front-of-pak-consulate-in-los-angeles-187230.html New York Jan 12 A protest was organised by the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement PTM California in front of the Pakistan Consulate in Los Angeles The protest held on Monday highlighted the human rights violations perpetrated against the Pashtuns in Pakistan The protesters plastered the walls of the Consulate building with 24 handmade posters saying Pakistan is the mother of terrorists Stop Pashtun Genocide Stop Enforced Disappearances With the advancement of Taliban Democracy Human Women and children Rights are at stake etc The Pashtuns numbering around 200 and carrying flags and placards led a peaceful march to the Consulate All the while they were chanting Yeh jo dehshatgardi hai uske peechey vardi hai Behind the terrorism is the Uniform Yeh jo namaloom hai woh humein maloom hai those who are unnamed we know the names and other proPTM slogans At the Consulate speeches were delivered highlighting Pakistans support and funding to terrorist organisations and illegal disappearances and killing of Pashtuns in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa In the afternoon about 30 protesters forcibly entered the Consulate premises Following this the police arrived and requested them to leave the premises IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pashtuns-protest-in-front-of-pak-consulate-in-los-angeles-187230.html Thu, 13 Jan 2022 16:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/5-shot-dead-in-afghan-provinces-187084.html Kabul Jan 12 As many as five people were shot dead in two separate incidents in Afghanistan on Tuesday authorities confirmed on Wednesday In eastern Laghman province four members of a family were killed and one person from the same family was wounded in a shooting attack in Surkhakan locality 90 km east of Kabul Xinhua news agency reported citing Afghanistan Ministry of Interior Haqel Jan Azam The assailant fled the scene and local security officials have conducted an investigation into the case The motive behind the shooting might be personnel enmity according to the source In northern Baghlan province an engineer of a local cement factory was shot and killed on the outskirts of provincial capital PuleKhumri Officials from provincial government confirmed the incident The security situation in Afghanistan has remained generally calm since the Talibans takeover of power in midAugust last year however uncertainty remains as the economic situation has worsened with a higher unemployment rate and rising poverty The security personnel of Talibanled caretaker government have arrested scores of criminals and members of armed theft gangs across the country within the past couple of months IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/5-shot-dead-in-afghan-provinces-187084.html Thu, 13 Jan 2022 02:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/covid-19-out-of-control-in-karachi-187129.html New Delhi Jan 12 The Covid19 situation in Karachi is spinning out of control amid the fifth wave of the pandemic as the positivity rate in Pakistans financial hub reached 2022 per cent Wednesday morning The News reported As per the latest statistics 6048 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours in the city and out of which 1223 returned positive In 95 per cent of the positive cases Omicron is being confirmed said the report Meanwhile Lahores Covid19 positivity rate has surged to 7 per cent Islamabads 45 per cent and Rawalpindis 4 per cent According to the National Command and Operations Centre NCOC Pakistan has recorded the highest number of coronavirus infections 2074 in the last 24 hours since September 24 2021 more than three months ago Following the detection of new cases the positivity ratio has reached 470 per cent and overall infections have jumped past 1309 million while the recovery ratio stands at 962 per cent as 126 million people have recovered from the virus data from the NCOC showed today morning Pakistan also registered 13 deaths in the last 24 hours the highest since December 15 2021 pushing the death toll to 28987 official figures showed IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/covid-19-out-of-control-in-karachi-187129.html Thu, 13 Jan 2022 08:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/crisis-hit-sl-asks-china-to-restructure-debt-repayments-186672.html New Delhi Jan 10 Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has asked China to restructure the crisishit island nations debt repayments as part of efforts to help the South Asian country navigate its worsening financial situation the BBC reported Rajapaksa made the request during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday In the last decade China has lent Sri Lanka over 5 billion for projects including roads an airport and ports the BBC report said China is Sri Lankas fourth biggest lender behind international financial markets the Asian Development Bank and Japan But critics say the money was used for unnecessary schemes with low returns The President pointed out that it would be a great relief to the country if attention could be paid on restructuring the debt repayments as a solution to the economic crisis that has arisen in the face of the Covid19 pandemic Rajapksas office said in a statement The statement also said China was asked to provide concessional terms for its exports to Sri Lanka which amounted to around 35 billion last year without providing further details the report added Rajapaksa also offered to allow Chinese tourists to return to Sri Lanka provided they adhere to strict coronavirus regulations Before the pandemic China was Sri Lankas main source of tourists and it imports goods from the Asian giant more than from any other country In recent months Sri Lanka has been experiencing a severe debt and foreign exchange crisis which has been made worse by the loss of tourist income during the pandemic the BBC report said The country has received billions of dollars of soft loans from China but the islandnation has been engulfed in a foreign exchange crisis which some analysts have said has pushed it to the verge of default as per the BBC report Sri Lanka has to repay about 45 billion in debt this year starting with a 500 million international sovereign bond which matures on January 18 IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/crisis-hit-sl-asks-china-to-restructure-debt-repayments-186672.html Mon, 10 Jan 2022 19:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-female-journos-fear-increased-taliban-curbs-186587.html Kabul Jan 10 A number of female Afghan journalists have confirmed that restrictions imposed against them by the Taliban have increased saying they were worried about their future in the wartorn nation the media reported The journalists have claimed they were not allowed to enter press conference held by Taliban officials TOLO News reported We went to cover two events one event was organised by the Kabul governor and the other was by the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum We were not allowed to attend the events Amina Hakimi a TOLO News reporter said on Sunday Another journalist Suhaila Yousufi calimed that freedom of press in Afghanistan is facing serious restrictions and the continuation of this situation will create big obstacles in the way of reporters especially female reporters Meanwhile a number of organisations supporting free media in Afghanistan said restrictions against female reporters are worrisome Since the new government has been in power the number of female media workers has decreased and this is worrying for us said Jamil Waqar an official from the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee We urge the decisionmakers of this government to not have double standards against journalists Female reporters have the same rights as male reporters to attend meetings press conferences said Masroor Lutfi a media officer at Afghanistan National Journalists Union The Taliban officials however said they do not intend to impose restrictions on reporters and the media So far we have not received any specific complaints that female reporters are facing a problem TOLO News quoted Inamullah Samangani the Talibans deputy spokesman as saying Last December a survey conducted by the Reporters Without Borders RSF and the Afghan Independent Journalists Association AIJA showed that 40 per cent of media outlets have closed in the country since the Taliban takeover on August 15 2021 IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-female-journos-fear-increased-taliban-curbs-186587.html Mon, 10 Jan 2022 14:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/posters-across-kabul-reminding-women-to-wear-hijab-186589.html Kabul Jan 10 The Talibanled governments Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice have stuck posters across Kabul to remind women to wear a hijab the media reported on Monday The posters seen across the capital city on Sunday say Based on the Sharia law a Muslim woman must observe hijab because this is a commandment of Sharia law Khaama Press reported The posters include two portraits showing two different kinds of hijab namely a black Abaya covering the whole face including eyes and a fullbody blue garment burqa which is a traditional outfit for women in Afghanistan Ministry officials have said that the placards were only to remind the women to wear a hijab but not forcefully Nearly five months after regaining power the Taliban has reclaimed its role as the enforcer of the groups radical interpretation of Islamic law In a spate of decrees issued in recent weeks the Ministry has imposed restrictions on the behaviour movement and appearances of residents particularly those of women and girls Most recently women and girls without a close male relative accompanying them were banned from entering coffee shops in Herat province According to a Taliban official in the province coffee shops serve as a convenient place for most of the moral corruption something has misled the youths in Herat Last month the Taliban ordered shop owners to cut off the heads of mannequins insisting they were unIslamic and announced that women seeking to travel more than 72 km should be refused transport unless they were accompanied by a close male relative The advisory distributed by the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice also directed all vehicle drivers to refrain from playing music in their cars and not to pick up female passengers who did not wear an Islamic hijab covering their hair Since then Taliban religious police have erected checkpoints across Kabul to inspect whether taxi drivers were complying with the orders The Taliban has also shut down all public bathhouses for women in the northern city of Mazare Sharif Such facilities are considered crucial because many Afghans do not have access to heating or electricity at home IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/posters-across-kabul-reminding-women-to-wear-hijab-186589.html Mon, 10 Jan 2022 14:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/top-taliban-official-urges-world-to-help-afghanistan-186405.html Kabul Jan 8 A top official of the Talibanled government in Afghanistan has urged the world to help the wartorn country amidst an ongoing humanitarian crisis without considering the nations political issues the media reported In a video broadcast by the staterun RTA media outlet the Talibans Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar said the current situation in Afghanistan was critical reports TOLO News On the one side there are the oppressive sanctions and on the other side there is no infrastructure in Afghanistan from the past 20 years to facilitate job opportunities for citizens he said According to Mullah Baradar citizens across the country are in grave need of money shelter and food In the current situation the Afghans are in need of the immediate humanitarian assistance of the world he said However Mullah Baradar said the Taliban government is fully prepared to tackle the emergency situation and that the Ministries and government departments have been instructed to help the citizens Since earlier this week heavy snowfall and rainfall have lashed the country making the situation even worse for the people in dire need of humanitarian assistance Humanitarian organisations have repeatedly warned of a severe crisis amid the cold winter in Afghanistan The UN earlier said that it has collected 15 billion to tackle the Afghan crisis IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/top-taliban-official-urges-world-to-help-afghanistan-186405.html Sun, 09 Jan 2022 03:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/wfp-asks-for-26bn-to-feed-afghans-in-2022-186419.html Kabul Jan 8 Amidst the ongoing humanitarian crisis and an economic fallout in Afghanistan the World Food Program WFP has once again expressed concerns over the ongoing situation in the wartorn nation and said that they need up to 26 billion to feed the vulnerable people the media reported Speaking to a radio outlet WFP spokesperson for Afghanistan Shelley Thakral said that the Afghan people have survived acute hunger in the past but the poverty and starvation this time is concerning reports Khaama Press Thakral said that the worst drought in decades a spike in food prices and the Talibans takeover that triggered the economic fallout were the reasons why up to 23 million people of Afghanistan are currently starving Hundreds of thousands of people especially teachers and construction workers who have been laid off after political transformation are experiencing food shortage and insecurity of food for the first time the spokesperson said adding that there was new urban class of hungry people The spokesperson said that people have run out of vegetables meat and dairy at a time when malnutrition is on the rise She further added that some people were resorting to selling personal items in order to feed family members and get firewood to warm their homes According to WFP figures 228 million Afghans have been identified as acutely food insecure including hundreds of thousands who have been displaced by conflict in 2021 Undernutrition rates were also increasing and 2 million children are malnourished IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/wfp-asks-for-26bn-to-feed-afghans-in-2022-186419.html Sun, 09 Jan 2022 05:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/over-40-killed-many-displaced-as-heavy-rains-snowfall-hit-pakistan-186460.html Islamabad Ambulances carry the dead bodies of victims after a heavy snowfallhit area in Murree some 28 miles 45 kilometers north of the capital of Islamabad Pakistan Saturday Jan 8 2022 Temperatures fell to minus 8 degrees Celsius 176 Fahrenheit amid heavy snowfall at Pakistans mountain resort town of Murree overnight killing multiple people who were stuck in their vehicles officials said Saturday PTI Islamabad Jan 9 As Pakistan is currently witnessing its first spell of heavy rainfall and snow of the new year the country has reported more than 40 deaths with hundreds of people displaced and many houses damaged officials said In a mishap 22 people including nine children froze to death in vehicles stranded due to heavy snow in the countrys north Murree region as thousands of tourists flocked to the resort area which created a big management crisis NoumanulHaq an official from the National Disaster Management Authority told Xinhua news agency He added that entry of tourists to the hill station would be banned for the next two days Around 1000 cars have been stuck in Murree as authorities launched a fullfledged operation to rescue the stranded people with locals providing them food and blankets to help them combat the chilly weather At least 20 others were killed in other parts of Pakistan owing to extreme weather conditions the official said According to rescue officials in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province nine people were killed and 10 others injured in various rain and snowfallrelated incidents on Friday and Saturday Similarly heavy rains also claimed the lives of 11 people in Punjab and Balochistan provinces whereas dozens of people also sustained injuries Personnel of the Pakistan Army Navy and paramilitary Frontier Corps are assisting local governments in rescue and relief operations in the affected areas of the country Hundreds of people have been shifted to safe places after torrential rains damaged their houses in Balochistan the worst affected region in the wet spell According to a statement of the Pakistan Meteorological Department heavy rains with snowfall over the hills are expected in parts of the country until Sunday Heavy rainfall may generate flash flooding in vulnerable parts of the country said the weather department adding that heavy snowfall in hilly areas may cause road closures and all the concerned authorities should remain alert during the forecast period The heavy rains and snowfall also disrupted travel across Pakistan More than 20 flights to and from Lahore were cancelled or diverted owing to the inclement weather sources from the citys Allama Iqbal International Airport told Xinhua The bad weather affected the train services in the country where passengers had to face long delays with authorities urging people to only make necessary travels during the forecasted period and get details of their flights or train departures Many residents have reported power outages in several parts of Pakistan due to the inclement weather IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/over-40-killed-many-displaced-as-heavy-rains-snowfall-hit-pakistan-186460.html Sun, 09 Jan 2022 10:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/paks-ex-navy-chief-faces-criminal-proceedings-for-illegal-construction-186479.html New Delhi Jan 8 Declaring the Pakistan Navys sailing club and farmhouses constructed on the national park land illegal the Islamabad High Court IHC has issued directions to initiate criminal proceedings against former naval chief Zafar Mehmud Abbasi and other officials for approving the illegal constructions Dawn reported In a 45page judgement IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah ordered the Capital Development Authority CDA to take over the naval farmhouses saying that navy had trespassed on the land situated on the embankment of Rawal Lake and that too in a protected national park area The court termed it an irony of fate that the chief of naval staff and one of the branches of the armed forces ie the Pakistan Navy were involved in violating the enforced laws and transgressions from the mandate prescribed under the supreme law of the country the Constitution The most disturbing factor was the conflict created by one of the branches of the Armed Forces with the society and its citizens Any such conflict is intolerable in a society governed under the Constitution Dawn news quoted the court order as saying The verdict also singles out Abbasi saying that he violated his oath and transgressed his constitutional duty by inaugurating an illegal building on encroached land in violation of the Act of 1997 and the Ordinance of 1960 Admiral Abbasi and other officers involved in the illegal construction and inauguration of the sailing club have made themselves liable to criminal proceedings The order directed competent authorities to ensure that criminal proceedings are initiated against them forthwith saying The federal government shall proceed against Admiral Abbasi under the Ordinance of 1961 for acts and omissions amounting to misconduct on his part In its verdict the court noted that the engagement of the armed forces in an activity which is a transgression from the constitutional mandate eg undertaking commercial or real estate ventures etc is definitely not in the public interest Its coercive power strength and discipline can only be used for the restricted functions prescribed under the Constitution rather than using these characteristics to enforce its will on the people that created it Dawn news reported Engaging in such undertakings on the one hand compromises the professionalism integrity cohesion of the Armed Forces while on the other it weakens the civilian institutions and becomes a cause for distraction from the core function It damages the relationship of the Armed Forces with the people and the society the verdict noted In the verdict the IHC Chief Justice noted that the two ventures PN Farms and the PN Sailing Club were directly or indirectly undertaken by the navy illegally and executed in violation of the enforced law The Secretary Cabinet Division shall place the copies of this judgment before the worthy Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet ie the Federal Government The latter shall take measures for ensuring restoration of rule of law and strict implementation of the enforced laws within the 1400 square mile area of the Islamabad Capital Territory the court order stated The court also declared that the occupation of the land was illegal without lawful authority and jurisdiction The navy has been ordered to cease all its activities on Rawal Lake and hand over the land to the Small Dams Organisation while the court ordered the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board to restore the natural habitat in the lakes surroundings IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/paks-ex-navy-chief-faces-criminal-proceedings-for-illegal-construction-186479.html Sun, 09 Jan 2022 11:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/2-soldiers-2-terrorists-killed-in-pak-clashes-186143.html Islamabad Jan 6 Two soldiers and two terrorists were killed in clashes in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province an army statement said The troops conducted intelligencebased operations in Dera Ismail Khan and South Waziristan districts on the reported presence of terrorists the militarys media wing InterServices Public Relations said in the statement During intense exchange of fire two terrorists got killed three terrorists were apprehended and one terrorist surrendered to security forces Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying Two soldiers also lost their lives while fighting the terrorists Weapons and a huge cache of ammunition including improvised explosive devices and rockets were also recovered from the terrorists said the statement IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/2-soldiers-2-terrorists-killed-in-pak-clashes-186143.html Sat, 08 Jan 2022 01:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/chinese-city-under-lockdown-suspends-intl-flights-186146.html Beijing Jan 6 The city of Xian in Chinas Shaanxi province currently under a lockdown due to a latest Covid19 outbreak has suspended international passenger flights authorities said on Thursday Previously the city had already suspended domestic flights according to the Xian Xianyang International Airport The airport is an important air transportation hub in western China with international routes connecting 74 major destinations in 36 countries around the world reports Xinhua news agency On December 9 2021 the city reported a locally transmitted Covid19 case a staffer engaged in disinfection at a quarantined hotel for inbound flights from the airport Since then the city has registered a total of 1856 cases the provincial health commission said Overall the provincial caseload surged to 1883 on Thursday after 63 locally transmitted infections were reported in the last 24 hours Previous viral genome sequencing of the locally transmitted cases in the outbreak identified the strains as the highly infectious Delta variant IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/chinese-city-under-lockdown-suspends-intl-flights-186146.html Sat, 08 Jan 2022 02:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/thousands-of-families-receive-assistance-in-afghanistan-unicef-186157.html Kabul Jan 6 The Unicef on Thursday announced that it has distributed basic needs to over 1700 families in Afghanistans western province of Herat To keep children and women warm and meet their basic needs during this harsh winter Unicef Afghanistan distributed 5000 blankets 1700 tarpaulin and 1700 buckets to 1700 most vulnerable families in Herat Province the UN agency said on Twitter The statement came as snow covered most parts of the mountainous Asian country in recent days reports Xinhua news agency Since the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban in midAugust 2021 the impoverished country has faced economic woes IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/thousands-of-families-receive-assistance-in-afghanistan-unicef-186157.html Sat, 08 Jan 2022 03:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pakistan-received-39-bn-from-beijings-financial-diplomacy-186160.html By Sanjeev Sharma Islamabad Jan 6 Pakistans shipping corridors and pipelines attract nearly onethird of Chinas financial diplomacy across South and Central Asia SCA countries A report by AidData analyses Beijings efforts to cultivate and deepen economic social and network ties with 13 countries in SCA over two decades These ties have the potential to both empower and constrain SCA countries while threatening to displace or diminish regional rivals such as Russia India and the US the report said Beijing has a deep but narrow financial diplomacy footprint concentrating outsized investments in a small number of strategically important communities The report said that China targeted 62 per cent 78 billion of its financial diplomacy dollars to just 25 provinces The largest provincelevel recipient was Sindh provincen which Beijing bankrolled to the tune of nearly 13 billion approximately 10 per cent of its financial diplomacy for all of South and Central Asia Other big ticket investment locations included Turkmenistans Mary province 8 billion and Pakistans Punjab province 7 billion If budgets are reflective of ones real priorities then it is notable that each of these three provinces attracted more money from Beijing between 20002017 than seven of the 13 countries in the SCA region Taking a more granular view a privileged club of 25 districtlevel recipients accounted for 41 per cent 52 billion of Chinas overall assistance across the entire region Pakistans Karachi division alone pocketed 8 billion of Beijings financial diplomacy with Kazakhstans Atyrau district 5 billion not far behind the report said The Chinese government directed 127 billion in financial diplomacyÂthe cornerstone of Beijings efforts to sway popular opinion and leader behaviourÂacross 865 projects in the South and Central Asia region between 2000 and 2017 Looking across the region there is a clear pecking order in terms of the countries that garner the lions share of Beijings financial diplomacy Pakistan and Kazakhstan accounted for 56 per cent of Beijings financial diplomacy during the period receiving 39 billion and 33 billion respectively Much of this statedirected investment was concentrated in relatively few outsized investments such as the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor CPEC and Kazakhstans portion of the ChinaCentral Asia Gas Pipeline Over a quarter 26 per cent of Beijings financial diplomacy was directed towards three countries Sri Lanka 13 billion Bangladesh 11 billion and Turkmenistan 9 billion Beijing split the remaining 18 per cent of its financial diplomacy across the remaining seven countries the report said Chinese leaders were more likely to bankroll financial diplomacy investments in Pakistani communities that generated lower rather than higher economic output once population and petroleum deposits were taken into account This is distinct from Beijings approach in other countries where there was a positive relationship between a communitys economic output and its reception of Chinas financial diplomacy investments Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at Sanjeevsiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pakistan-received-39-bn-from-beijings-financial-diplomacy-186160.html Sat, 08 Jan 2022 04:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-embassy-in-rome-calls-police-after-diplomat-attacks-ambassador-186214.html New Delhi Jan 6 The Afghanistan Embassy in Rome has said it was forced to call the police for help after a sacked Afghan diplomat attacked the Ambassador RFERL reported The Embassy said in a statement on Wednesday that the former diplomat identified as Mohammad Fahim Kashaf entered the Embassy building a day earlier claiming that he had been named the Ambassador by Taliban militants who seized power in Afghanistan in August last year The statement said Kashaf attacked the Ambassador in the presence of an Embassy employee but the Envoy defended himself and called the police Kashaf was escorted out of the Embassy by the police it added The Embassy in Italy like many of Afghanistans other diplomatic missions remains in limbo with most staff still loyal to the Westernbacked government toppled by the Taliban According to the statement Kashaf had lost his job recently due to lack of commitment to national values and the values of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is the internationally recognised name of the country The Taliban call the country the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan the report said In Kabul Abdul Qahar Balkhi a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the Talibanled government denied Kashafs appointment as Ambassador but also said that he had not been dismissed Balkhi said that the ministrys records showed Kashaf was appointed first secretary at the Embassy in Rome in December 2020 with a contract valid until December next year But the ministry has also not appointed him as Ambassador of the Afghan Embassy in Rome Kashafs contract is valid and his termination is illegal Balkhi said in a statement the report added IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-embassy-in-rome-calls-police-after-diplomat-attacks-ambassador-186214.html Sat, 08 Jan 2022 11:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/16-19-dead-in-pak-after-being-stranded-in-snowfall-minister-186266.html Murree In this photo provided by the Inter Services Public Relations army troops take part in a rescue operation in a heavy snowfallhit area in Murree some 28 miles 45 kilometers north of the capital of Islamabad Pakistan Saturday Jan 8 2022 Temperatures fell to minus 8 degrees Celsius 176 Fahrenheit amid heavy snowfall at Pakistans mountain resort town of Murree overnight killing multiple people who were stuck in their vehicles officials said Saturday PTI New Delhi Jan 8 Pakistan Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Saturday that around 16 to 19 people had died after their cars were stranded because of snowfall and traffic congestion in Murree Dawn news reported In a video message he said tourists flocked to the hill station in such large numbers for the first time in 15 to 20 years which created a big crisis The administrations of Rawalpindi and Islamabad along with police had been working to rescue the stranded people while five platoons of the Pakistan Army as well as Rangers and Frontier Corps have been called on an emergency basis he added Around 1000 cars are stuck on the hill station the Interior Minister said adding We have rescued some and turned back others Around 16 to 19 deaths have occurred in cars Ahmed said that residents of Murree provided food and blankets to those stranded adding that the administration had closed all routes to the hill station and was allowing only vehicles planning to take food and blankets We have decided to stop people travelling on foot as well It is no time for pedestrian tourists to visit Meanwhile Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said he had issued orders to accelerate work to rescue citizens stuck in the snow and send more machinery from Pindi More than 23000 cars were evacuated from the area the night before and the rescue operation was going on he shared Buzdar appealed to people to strictly follow instructions given by the police and district administration and cooperate with them IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/16-19-dead-in-pak-after-being-stranded-in-snowfall-minister-186266.html Sat, 08 Jan 2022 23:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/no-more-fencing-allowed-on-durand-line-says-taliban-185877.html Kabul Jan 6 The Talibanled government in Kabul said it will not allow any more fencing on the Durand Line that forms the AfghanistanÂPakistan border the media reported We will not allow the fencing anytime in any form Whatever they did before they did but we will not allow it anymore There will be no fencing anymore Mawllawi Sanaullah Sangin commander of the border forces for the eastern zone told TOLO News on Wednesday Sangins remarks were in response to Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshis statement that the issue of the Durand Line fencing would be discussed via diplomatic channels The Taliban is building over 30 outposts to prevent the movement of the Pakistani military alongside the Durand Line Commander Sanaullah Sangin also claimed that the Pakistan military has been launching attacks on Kunar province for a long time and the Afghan side would take similar actions from now on You have seen some days ago that they Pakistani military fired some mortars In response we fired 32 mortar rounds he said Residents of Kunar called on the Taliban to prevent fencing along the line TOLO News reported The fencing constructed by Pakistan has separated our brothers relatives and tribes said Mattiullah Momand a resident IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/no-more-fencing-allowed-on-durand-line-says-taliban-185877.html Fri, 07 Jan 2022 04:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-announces-state-of-emergency-over-heavy-snow-rainfall-185905.html Kabul Jan 6 The Talibanled government in Afghanistan has declared a state of emergency over heavy snow and rainfall lashing majority of the country and also directed provincial officials to prepare for the inclement weather Speaking with Radio Free of Afghanistan REFRL on Wednesday an official of the Ministry for Disaster Management said that they have sent material to provinces of which the distribution is still going on reports Khaama Press The official added that they were in contact with the Ministry of Public Work and private firms to urgently undertake operation to clear roads if they were closed due to heavy snowfall The Salang Highway that connects the Afghan capital with the northern provinces has been cut off due to heavy snowfall Snow and rainfall has lashed 32 out of 34 provinces of Afghanistan leading to clogged routes and floods Earlier this week officials had confirmed that seven people were killed and 26 others injured in multiple traffic accidents triggered by the heavy snow IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-announces-state-of-emergency-over-heavy-snow-rainfall-185905.html Fri, 07 Jan 2022 08:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pti-govt-returned-favour-to-donor-by-awarding-luxury-hotel-contract-186049.html New Delhi Jan 6 The incumbent ruling party Pakistan TehreekeInsaf PTI received funding from an individual who owns an offshore company Dreshak Security Solutions Inc The News reported The security firm claims it has provided around 15000 specialised noncombat security personnel to the American forces in the Iraq war The PTIled government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa returned the favour to its donor by awarding a multimillion dollars contract to build a luxury hotel in scenic and tourist destination Nathiagali in October 2021 the report said The Election Commission of Pakistans ECP scrutiny committee report reveals that Mumtaz Ahmed Muslim is one of the party donors who gifted 24979 to the PTI Mumtaz Muslim is the president and owner of hotel chain and also owns Dreshak Security Solutions that provides security services in war zones Mumtaz is not just a party donor but he also has close ties with PTI leadership On April 15 2018 he met Prime Minister Imran Khan at his Banigala residence After this meeting Khan decided to appoint him his special adviser On April 26 2018 the PTI chief signed a notification to appoint Mumtaz Muslim as a special adviser to the chairman on special projects on April 26 2018 Mumtazs name also appeared in the media as a PTI leader when the FIA released a list of Pakistanis who own properties in the UAE Recently the PTI social networking website posted a tweet about signing an agreement between the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and his hotel chain for setting up a luxury hotel in scenic Nathiagali Interestingly before the agreement was signed Mumtaz Muslim held a meeting with Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan on September 16 2021 Almost a month later the provincial government awarded the contract to Mumtaz Muslim and signed the agreement with his company on October 20 2021 IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pti-govt-returned-favour-to-donor-by-awarding-luxury-hotel-contract-186049.html Fri, 07 Jan 2022 17:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pak-again-raises-jk-issue-at-un-185727.html New Delhi Jan 5 Pakistans Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi once again raised the JammuKashmir issue on the 73rd anniversary of the United Nations UN Shah wrote on Twitter On the 73rd anniversary of UN our commitment to resolve the Jammu Kashmir dispute through free and impartial plebiscite under the UN auspices we reaffirm our full support to Kashmiris in their just demand for the realization of their inalienable right to self determination Pakistan calls upon the intl community to take cognisance of the deteriorating situation in IIOJK and hold India accountable for grave human rights violations and serious crimes against humanity in the occupied territory Its not the first time that Pakistan calls for international interference in JammuKashmir In December 2021 Qureshi wrote a letter to the President of the UN Security Council and the UN Secretary General to call upon India to reverse its actions including those initiated on and after August 5 2019 when Modi Government abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir In response to this India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of the Article 370 was its internal matter and advised Pakistan to accept the reality and stop all antiIndia propaganda IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pak-again-raises-jk-issue-at-un-185727.html Thu, 06 Jan 2022 15:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pak-oppn-attacks-imran-khan-for-false-information-on-funding-185764.html New Delhi Jan 5 Opposition parties have lambasted Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and the ruling Pakistan TehreekeInsaf PTI for reported nondisclosure of millions of rupees in election funds as brought to light by the Election Commission of Pakistan ECP in the ongoing foreign funding Friday Times reported The report issued by a scrutiny committee of the ECP indicated that PTI provided false information about their funding to the constitutional body A bank statement from the State Bank of Pakistan showed that the party received Rs 164 billion in funding of which more than Rs 310 million remained unreported and unaccounted for according to the report A chorus of members from various opposition parties including the Pakistan Muslim LeagueN PMLN Pakistan Peoples Party PPP and Pakistan Democratic Movement PDM condemned the ruling partys concealment of funds and called for immediate further investigation In a statement PMLN Vice President Maryam Nawaz said that Imran Khan not only stole and hid but also plundered the pockets of the people and indulged in their hard work and hard earned money PDM spokesperson Hafiz Hamdullah released a statement reiterating that the ECPs findings revealed the theft of Imran Khan and PTI The scrutiny committee has exposed the true face of the PTI before the nation Imran Khan and PTI who accused others of theft turned out to be thieves themselves Hamdullah said the report said The ongoing foreign funding case against PTI was filed in 2014 by the partys founding member Akbar Babar In the original filing Babar alleged significant financial irregularities including illegal sources of funding hidden bank accounts in Pakistan and abroad money laundering and the use of private bank accounts to receive illicit funds from the Middle East IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pak-oppn-attacks-imran-khan-for-false-information-on-funding-185764.html Thu, 06 Jan 2022 17:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/chinas-action-plan-to-takeover-latin-america-185439.html New Delhi Jan 3 Chinese Communist Party officials have unveiled an action plan for cooperation with Latin American countries that amounts to a comprehensive plan to influence the region and threaten US interests following a new summit with the nearest neighbours of the US Washington Examiner reported The Chinese dont say We want to take over Latin America but they clearly set out a multidimensional engagement strategy which if successful would significantly expand their leverage and produce enormous intelligence concerns for the United States US Army War College research professor Evan Ellis a former member of the State Department policy planning staff told the Washington Examiner Chinese officials outlined their ambitions following a summit with the community of Latin American and Caribbean states This intergovernmental forum was launched in 2011 under the auspices of the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez who wanted a venue to rival the Organization of American States and challenge US influence in Latin America and it now stands to furnish Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping with a platform to gather a coalition of leftist and authoritarian leaders congenial to Beijings interests the report said The Chinese Communist Party and government are actively looking to strengthen their ties throughout the Western Hemisphere in particular with antiAmerican elements Florida Sen Marco Rubio a senior Senate Intelligence Select Committee Republican said in a statement to the Washington Examiner Beijing is seeking to surpass the United States in every sector and we must take this threat seriously Chinas exploitation of ideological fault lines in Latin America was thrown into sharp relief earlier this month when Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega just weeks after the OAS General Assembly rebuked him for overseeing elections that were not free fair or transparent and have no democratic legitimacy opted to close the Taiwanese Embassy in favour of a new relationship with Beijing The OrtegaMurillo regime has announced it has severed diplomatic relations and ended official contact with Taiwan but the sham election on November 7 did not provide it with any mandate to remove Nicaragua from the family of American democracies State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a December 9 response IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/chinas-action-plan-to-takeover-latin-america-185439.html Wed, 05 Jan 2022 16:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/imran-khans-party-tried-to-keep-lid-on-foreign-accounts-185545.html New Delhi Jan 5 A report compiled by the scrutiny committee of the Election Commission of Pakistan ECP has confirmed that Pakistan TehreekiInsaf PTI underreported funds received from foreign nationals and companies and concealed dozens of its bank accounts The Dawn reported that the party underreported an amount of Rs 312 million over a fouryear period between FY200910 and FY201213 Yearwise details show that an amount of over Rs 145 million was underreported in FY201213 alone A perusal of the chartered accountants opinion on the accounts of PTI for this period does not indicate any deviation from the reporting principles and standards the report points out It also calls into question the certificate signed by PTI chairman Imran Khan submitted along with the details of PTIs audited accounts The report also refers to the controversy over allowing four PTI employees to receive donations in their personal accounts but says it was out of the scope of its work to probe their accounts said the Dawan The report emerged as the ECP resumed hearing of the foreign funding case against PTI on Tuesday after a gap of around nine months The case has been pending since November 2014 IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/imran-khans-party-tried-to-keep-lid-on-foreign-accounts-185545.html Wed, 05 Jan 2022 22:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-shut-down-womens-baths-in-afghan-province-185303.html New Delhi Jan 3 Taliban officials in northern Balkh province bordering Uzbekistan have announced the closure of all general baths for women Khaama Press reported As the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is taking root across the country their restrictions especially on women are also increasing The decision was taken unanimously by religious scholars and provincial officials of the Directorate of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in the province Based on the new decision women can only take shower in private baths while observing Islamic hijab not in general baths the report said The head of the Directorate of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in Balkh province said that the decision was made after consultations with religious scholars Ulema Since people do not access modern baths at home men are allowed to go to general baths but women are supposed to go to private baths while observing hijab said the head of the directorate Under age boys are also banned from general baths and body massage is also banned in the baths Earlier local officials in western Herat province had temporarily closed general baths for women IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-shut-down-womens-baths-in-afghan-province-185303.html Wed, 05 Jan 2022 04:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/western-ads-with-narrow-eyes-seen-as-racist-in-china-185336.html New Delhi Jan 3 Amid a growing sense of online nationalism and antiWest sentiment in China some have seized upon advertisements as examples of racism towards Chinese people By featuring models with narrow eyes critics say these companies are perpetuating Western stereotypes of Chinese faces the BBC reported In November a top Chinese fashion photographer had apologised for her ignorance after a picture she shot for French luxury brand Dior sparked a backlash It had featured a Chinese model with narrow eyes In recent days there have been other incidents of social media outrage over ads by MercedesBenz and Gucci that featured Chinese women with narrow eyes the BBC reported Many asked why these ads did not feature the kind of models more commonly seen in Chinese advertisements who have fair skin and large round eyes which are typically considered ideal beauty features in China A recent editorial by state news outlet China Daily highlighted how for too long Western criteria of beauty and Western tastes and likes and dislikes dominated aesthetics That included depicting Asian women in adverts as having narrow eyes it said The West no longer has an absolute say over everything The Chinese people do not need to follow their standards on what constitutes beauty and what kinds of women are considered beautiful the opinion piece read As a Chinese brand Three Squirrels should have known about the sensitivity of Chinese consumers to how they are portrayed in advertisements it added the BBC reported At the heart of the controversy is the perception that such depictions invoke the slanted eyes stereotype of Asian people which emerged in Western culture in the 19th century and which is considered hugely offensive by many Asians today the report said In Hollywood the quintessential Asian villain Fu Manchu was pictured with thin and narrow eyes The character embodied and perpetuated yellow peril the racist idea that Asian cultures threatened Western society IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/western-ads-with-narrow-eyes-seen-as-racist-in-china-185336.html Wed, 05 Jan 2022 09:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/questions-about-balochistans-minerals-termed-as-treason-in-pakistan-185088.html By Sanjeev Sharma New Delhi Jan 3 BNPM President Sardar Akhtar Mengal urged the Pakistan government to prevent the people of Gwadar and the rest of Balochistan from becoming a minority in their own province Express Tribune reported Questions about Balochistans minerals and resources fall into the category of treason the MNA said while talking to the media in Quetta after his party met to discuss the Reqo Dik project We will not support any agreement until the problems of the people here in the province are solved he added The owners of the resources of Balochistan are its people Mengal further said according to the Constitution wherever natural resources were discovered the first right belongs to the locals the report said The people of Balochistan have 50 per cent right over their minerals He demanded that refineries should be set up in those areas for testing minerals He recalled that gas was discovered in Balochistan in 1952 Balochistan used to supply gas to 46 per cent of the country but today the reserves have shrunk to 15 per cent He lamented the nonpayment of gas royalty to Balochistan Even royalty is also given like charity The BNPM chief regretted that apart from a few district headquarters Balochistan was deprived of its own gas production Even Quetta the provincial capital has no gas for cooking He maintained that minerals from Saindak were looted instead of providing employment He claimed that the minerals of Balochistan had been used to develop other parts of the country Mengal said despite spending billions of rupees no development had taken place in Gwadar He added that the lack of trust had changed the situation in Balochistan and the province was undergoing its fifth or sixth military operation now Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at Sanjeevsiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/questions-about-balochistans-minerals-termed-as-treason-in-pakistan-185088.html Tue, 04 Jan 2022 09:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pak-concerned-as-taliban-soldiers-tried-to-remove-fencing-along-border-185095.html New Delhi Jan 3 Pakistan has conveyed its concerns at the highest level to the interim Talibanled Afghan government over the repeated incidents where some local soldiers tried to remove fencing along the border The Express Tribune reported The Afghan Taliban leadership was told that Pakistan was observing maximum restraint to avoid any escalation in tensions Nevertheless Pakistan is expected to issue a formal statement on the issue within 24 hours The Express TRibune reported citing informed sources as saying In recent weeks there have been repeated incidents along the PakistanAfghanistan border where some local Taliban soldiers tried to remove the fence The first incident took place on December 18 2021 a day before Pakistan was to host an extraordinary conference of the Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation OIC on Afghanistans humanitarian situation The acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir khan Muttaqi also attended the daylong meeting which agreed to set up a trust fund to help Afghanistan prevent the humanitarian catastrophe A video circulated on social media showed Taliban soldiers seizing spools of barbed wire and one senior official warning Pakistani soldiers stationed at security posts not to try to fence the border again The Express Tribune report said On Sunday another video was shared on the social media showing Taliban fighters breaking polls one after the other using a truck As per Kabul News in a video statement the Afghan Defence Ministry spokesperson said they would not allow fencing since it divides the families on both sides of the border There was no formal reaction from Pakistan to the remarks According to Pakistans assessment there seems some local Taliban commanders who were provoking Pakistani forces on their own Pakistan the official pointed out was observing maximum restraint One official claimed that the Afghan Taliban leadership was also worried about the conduct of their lowlevel soldiers since they understood the importance of Pakistan cooperation in this difficult juncture The official also said there were other elements such as smugglers who might be trying to exploit the situation That is why we are handling the situation with care the official said But Pakistan in a formal statement is likely to make it clear that there will be no compromise on the border since it is a settled issue The fencing would also continue according to the report IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pak-concerned-as-taliban-soldiers-tried-to-remove-fencing-along-border-185095.html Tue, 04 Jan 2022 10:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/evergrande-trading-halted-as-restructuring-awaited-185152.html New Delhi Jan 3 Crisishit Chinese real estate giant Evergrande has suspended trade in its shares in Hong Kong as investors await news on its restructuring plan the BBC reported The statement to the stock exchange did not give a reason for the trading halt Evergrande has more than 300 billion of debt and is scrambling to raise cash by selling assets and shares to repay suppliers and creditors Last week the company dialled back plans to repay investors in its wealth management products the report said Evergrande said on December 31 that each investor in its wealth management product could expect to receive 1257 each month as principal payment for three months irrespective of when the investment matures The company had earlier not mentioned any amount and had agreed to repay 10 per cent of the investment by the end of the month when the product matures Evergrande said in a statement posted on the wealth units website that the situation was not ideal and that it would actively raise funds and update the repayment plan in late March without giving further details the BBC reported The announcement was seen as highlighting the deepening cash squeeze at the struggling property developer Over the weekend local media reported that a city government on the Chinese resort island of Hainan had ordered the company on December 30 to demolish its 39 residential buildings there within 10 days as they were built illegally The companys 19 billion in international bonds were deemed to be in default by rating agencies after it missed a payment deadline last month IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/evergrande-trading-halted-as-restructuring-awaited-185152.html Tue, 04 Jan 2022 15:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pak-reports-highest-covid-cases-in-over-2-months-185153.html New Delhi Jan 3 Pakistan has recorded its highest number of daily Covid19 cases since October 30 2021 as 708 infections were detected during the last 24 hours official data revealed on Monday On October 30 the country reported 733 cases Geo news reported citing figures issued by the National Command and Control Centre NCOC The statistics suggested that 45643 diagnostic tests were conducted overnight during which 708 people tested positive for the virus The latest infections pushed the positivity ratio of the country to 155 per cent Meanwhile two patients succumbed to the virus during the last 24 hours taking the nationwide death toll to 28943 while 144 patients recuperated which placed the number of total recoveries at 1257168 According to NCOC the total number of cases reported so far has reached 1297235 while the deaths stood at 28943 and the number of active cases is 11124 IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pak-reports-highest-covid-cases-in-over-2-months-185153.html Tue, 04 Jan 2022 15:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghans-protest-against-freezing-of-assets-185004.html Kabul Jan 3 Thousands of Afghans took to the streets of Kabul to protest against freezing of the wartorn countrys assets by the US demanding for its immediate release amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis The demonstrators on Sunday were holding placards that said our seized money should be handed over and Give us our frozen money reports xinhua news agency The special demand of Afghan people and my demand is to unfreeze our money it is our rights they should give our rights otherwise we will continue our demonstration to make our voice heard a protester Zekrullah said in a diplomatic district near the shuttered US embassy adding that the demonstrators came from different provinces The protesters said a ban on Afghan assets was an act against the international laws and a violation of international principles Since the takeover of Afghanistan in August 2020 and the formation of the Talibanled caretaker government in September the country has faced economic problems Basic services in Afghanistan are collapsing while food and other lifesaving aid are about to run out The situation worsened following the freezing of over 9 billion of Da Afghanistan Bank DAB the countrys central bank assets by the US as well as a halt of funds by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund IMF The Taliban caretaker government has repeatedly called upon the US to unfreeze assets with aid agencies warning of acute food shortages for more than 22 million Afghans The ongoing crisis has forced many Afghans to flee the country but the Taliban officials have been trying to convince the people to stay promising them that the challenges will be solved in near future IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghans-protest-against-freezing-of-assets-185004.html Tue, 04 Jan 2022 00:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/6-afghan-evacuees-find-jobs-in-skorea-185045.html Seoul Jan 3 Six Afghan evacuees airlifted to South Korea after the fall of Kabul to the Taliban last August have found jobs the Justice Ministry in Seoul said on Monday The six recently got employed at a manufacturer in Incheon 40 km west of Seoul and other companies while another person was admitted to a graduate school in an unidentified regional city reports Yonhap News Agency Accordingly a total of 20 evacuees from seven households will start leaving their temporary residences in the southwestern city of Yeosu early this month to lead their own lives Your role is important as some of the first Afghan evacuees to seek independence in South Korea Justice Minister Park Beomkye told the evacuees set to leave the statedesignated facility We hope all of you adapt well to your new lives and give courage to the other people remaining at the Yeosu residence The government plans to keep helping the Afghan evacuees settle down here in cooperation with various civic organisations South Korea airlifted 390 Afghan coworkers and their family members under a military mission in August as they faced possible Taliban retaliation for having supported foreign operations The evacuees include medical professionals vocational trainers IT experts and interpreters who worked for the Korean Embassy in Kabul and its humanitarian and relief facilities in Afghanistan Except for one household who left for the US with a special immigration visa a total of 387 evacuees have been staying at the Yeosu residence and undergoing various assimilation programs including Korean culture and language lessons IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/6-afghan-evacuees-find-jobs-in-skorea-185045.html Tue, 04 Jan 2022 04:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/nearly-340-000-e-ids-distributed-to-afghans-in-4-months-185053.html Kabul Jan 3 The Afghan National Statistics and Information Authority said that it has distributed about 340000 computerized national identity cards from September to December 2021 The nationwide distribution process of the newly printed eID cards is now going on normally covering 13000 to 15000 applicants on a daily basis in 20 provinces of Afghanistans 34 provinces Xinhua news agency quoted the Authority as saying The eID cards distribution process will be resumed in 14 provinces after assessment and evaluation of the administrations technical teams it added The process of issuing the eID cards and passport were halted after Talibans takeover of Afghanistan in August last year IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/nearly-340-000-e-ids-distributed-to-afghans-in-4-months-185053.html Tue, 04 Jan 2022 05:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/indian-hindu-pilgrims-perform-religious-rituals-in-pak-shrine-185070.html New Delhi Jan 3 As many as 215 Hindu pilgrims including 159 from India performed religious rituals in the Samadhi of Shri Paramhans Ji Maharaj at Teri village in Pakistan Dawn news reported The convoy of pilgrims arrived in Pakistan through Wagah border and then reached Peshawar by air They were later transported to Teri Samadhi shrine in Karak district in tight security Karak police had made foolproof security arrangements on the occasion The security was supervised by Karak district police officer Shafiullah Jan while SP Investigation Zahir Shah was monitoring the security situation at the Samadhi Three DSPs along with a heavy contingent of police were deployed at the Samadhi Pakistan TehreekiInsaf MNA and patroninchief of Pakistan Hindu Council Ramesh Kumar Vankwani while appreciating the arrangements said the Karak police had performed their duties with full responsibility The pilgrims were mostly overwhelmed with emotions and they were praising the security as well as other arrangements made for them We felt as if we have entered the paradise when we reached here Dawn news quoted Varona Malohtra a pilgrim from New Delhi as saying She said that she was fortunate enough to visit this Samadhi and she felt so much spiritual peace at such a holy place The visibly emotional pilgrim hoped that in future pilgrims from both India and Pakistan would be visiting holy sites situated in both the countries Because of the hospitality extended to us in Pakistan and specially in this province we felt ourselves at home she said Another pilgrim Aishwar Das said around 200 of the pilgrims had come from India of which 15 were from Delhi He said they arrived at the Samadhi on Saturday and had spent the night there He hoped that such visits between the two countries would continue in future The Samadhi of Shri Paramhans Ji Maharaj is considered sacred by the Hindu community in different parts of the country as well as abroad the Dawn news report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/indian-hindu-pilgrims-perform-religious-rituals-in-pak-shrine-185070.html Tue, 04 Jan 2022 08:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-man-sells-10-yr-old-daughter-to-keep-family-from-starving-184589.html Herat Jan 1 A man in west Afghanistans Herat province sold his 10yearold daughter for marriage without telling his wife in order to keep his other children alive and fed The desperate father took a down payment from the family who bought his daughter to put food on the table Azizagul the minor girls mother said I told my husband to bring food as my five children had nothing to eat and he would regularly bring food When I asked him from where he had brought the food he answered that a family is giving him food on a daily basis in return for our 10yearold daughter The Khaama Press News Agency reported Recently a lot of destitute families in Afghanistan who have been displaced due to conflicts and rendered unemployed after foreign aids were stopped have taken such desperate decisions to afford food for their families According to the Khaama Press on December 31 residents of northern Badakhshan province stopped another man from selling two of his children to keep his family from starving IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-man-sells-10-yr-old-daughter-to-keep-family-from-starving-184589.html Sun, 02 Jan 2022 06:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/canada-to-resettle-female-afghan-judges-who-moved-to-greece-after-evacuation-184606.html Ottawa Jan 1 Canada has decided to resettle female Afghan judges along with their family members who left the country and sought refuge in to Greece after the Taliban took over spokesperson of Canada immigration minister said on Saturday A total of 230 family members will be resettled The Khaama Press News Agency reported Furthermore the ministry is also planning to resettle gay lesbian transgender bisexual and queers who had been referred by a thirdparty aid organisation However the specific date for relocating the judges and their family members is not clear yet according to Khaama Press So far Canada has resettled 3915 Afghans in connection with the Canadian government 2535 others on humanitarian grounds and has pledged to provide shelter to up to 40000 Afghan refugees Khaama Press reported Thousands of people fled Afghanistan after the Taliban seized control and the US withdrew forces from the Kabul International Airport IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/canada-to-resettle-female-afghan-judges-who-moved-to-greece-after-evacuation-184606.html Sun, 02 Jan 2022 09:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-destroying-graves-of-dead-rivals-184632.html New Delhi Jan 1 Since seizing power in August last year Taliban militants in Afghanistan have been accused of vandalising or destroying the graves of fallen Afghan army and police commanders RFERL reported The Taliban have also allegedly defiled monuments dedicated to figures who fought the group during its first stint in power in the 1990s While the Taliban have denied responsibility for many of the incidents allegations against the hardline group have mounted with Afghans accusing the militants of violating Islamic traditions that advocate respect for the dead In the latest incident Taliban fighters were accused of bombing the tomb of former police commander Daraya Khan Talash in the southeastern province of Paktika on December 26 the report said Talash was killed by a roadside bomb planted by the Taliban in Paktikas Sarobi district in 2020 He had reportedly lost four of his brothers in the war against the Taliban Taliban fighters have also been accused of defiling the tomb of Mohammad Daud Daud a former governor and an expolice chief of northern Afghanistan in the province of Takhar on December 17 the report added Daud was killed in a Taliban suicide attack in Takhars capital Taloqan in 2011 Following the USled invasion in 2001 Daud oversaw the surrender of thousands of Taliban fighters in the northern city of Kunduz He was a commander in Jamiate Islami a politicalmilitary Islamist group that opposed Taliban rule from 1996 to 2001 Bilal Sarwary an exiled Afghan journalist said Dauds family has confirmed that his grave was vandalised But the claim was rejected by the Taliban Meanwhile the Taliban were accused of destroying the tomb of Colonel Azizullah Karwan in a bomb blast in the southeastern province of Paktika on October 31 The Taliban had assassinated Karwan in June 2018 He was a colonel in the special forces unit of the Afghan National Police He had survived dozens of Taliban assassination attempts the report added In September videos emerged that appeared to show damage to the mausoleum of resistance leader Ahmad Shah Massoud in the Panjshir Valley just north of Kabul The footage emerged soon after the Taliban captured the mountainous valley the scene of a shortlived resistance to the militants in early September The vandalism coincided with the 20th anniversary of Massouds death Massoud who fought against the Taliban in the 1990s and occupying Soviet forces in the 1980s was killed by AlQaeda militants posing as journalists just days before the September 11 attacks in the United States The Taliban repaired Massouds mausoleum after a public uproar Anas Haqqani the younger brother of Taliban Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani has urged Taliban fighters to get rid of your personal revenge and envy In a December 27 speech marking the 42nd anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan Haqqani warned that the Taliban regime will collapse if it tries to rule through brute force the report said An infidel government is likely to last but an oppressive regime will not survive he had said But on the same day another Taliban official boasted about the group bombing the tomb of former leftist President Babrak Karmal who assumed power after Soviet forces invaded Afghanistan and killed his predecessor Hafizullah Amin in late 1979 After capturing Mazare Sharif the Taliban bombed Babraks tomb tweeted Nazar Mohammad Mutmaeen head of the Talibans Olympic Committee He was alluding to the destruction of the late presidents tomb in 1997 when the Taliban briefly seized the northern Afghan city the report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-destroying-graves-of-dead-rivals-184632.html Sun, 02 Jan 2022 11:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/53-magnitude-earthquake-hits-parts-of-pakistan-184703.html New Delhi Jan 1 A moderate 53 magnitude earthquake rattled parts of Pakistan including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Gilgit and Islamabad on Saturday Dunya News reported The Pakistan National Seismic Monitoring Centre NSMC confirmed the earthquake with an intensity of 53 on the Richter Scale hit Swat Peshawar Lower Dir Swabi Nowshera Islamabad and other cities forcing people to flee their homes in panic The monitoring centre said that the earthquake had a depth of 180 kilometres with the epicentre in the AfghanTajik border Earlier on December 24 an earthquake of 42 magnitude had hit Swat and other areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa The earthquake had a depth of 226 kilometres with the epicentre in the Hindu Kush mountain range according to the monitoring centre The cities from Karachi to Islamabad Quetta to Peshawar Makran to Abbottabad and Gilgit to Chitral are all affected by the quake with Kashmir and GilgitBaltistan being the most sensitive areas Pakistan is the fifth most earthquake prone country in the world Pakistan is located on the northern border of the Indian plate where it meets the Eurasian plate The sinking of the Eurasian plate and the advancement of the Indian plate has been going on for millions of years All fault lines running under twothirds of Pakistan s territory are operational where intermittent or moderate earthquakes occur intermittently the report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/53-magnitude-earthquake-hits-parts-of-pakistan-184703.html Sun, 02 Jan 2022 16:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/china-reopens-embassy-in-nicaragua-184752.html Managua Jan 2 For the first time since 1990 China has officially reopened its embassy in Nicaragua after the two countries resumed diplomatic relations last month On December 10 the Nicaraguan Foreign Ministry had announced that it breaks diplomatic relations with Taiwan and ceases to have any contact or official relationship adding that it recognises that there is only one single China The reopening ceremony on Friday held at the new location of the Embassy in the capital Managua which was inaugurated by Yu Bo representative of the Chinese Foreign Ministry and Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Denis Moncada reports Xinhua news agency In his speech Yu said that the oneChina principle is the consensus of the international community and a universally recognised norm governing international relations It shows an overriding trend that represents international justice and enjoys popular support China welcomes the Nicaraguan side to actively participate in the Global Development Initiative and join the Belt and Road Initiative at an early date said Yu For his part Moncada said Nicaragua will adhere to the oneChina principle and join forces with China to move towards a new international order featuring multipolarisation peace social justice and equity as well as the realization of human development and progress the foreign minister said Presidential Advisor Laureano Ortega Murillo said the two sides will jointly formulate an agenda for developing NicaraguaChina ties strengthen bilateral exchanges enhance brotherhood and strengthen mutually beneficial relations to take a path of common progress and development he added More than 200 people attended the ceremony including the president of Nicaraguas National Assembly central and local government officials military and police officials representatives of foreign missions and international organisations in Nicaragua IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/china-reopens-embassy-in-nicaragua-184752.html Sun, 02 Jan 2022 20:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/india-supplies-5-lakh-covaxin-doses-to-afghanistan-184569.html New Delhi Jan 1 India supplied humanitarian assistance consisting of 500000 Covaxin doses to Afghanistan on Saturday the Ministry of External Affairs said The doses were handed over to the Indira Gandhi Hospital in Kabul Another batch of additional 500000 doses would be supplied in the coming weeks India has committed to provide humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people consisting of foodgrains one million doses of Covid vaccine and essential life saving drugs Earlier last month India delivered 16 tons of medical assistance to Afghanistan through the World Health Organisation WHO In the coming weeks we would be undertaking the supply of wheat and the remaining medical assistance In this regard we are in touch with UN agencies and others for finalising the modalities for transportation said the Ministry of External Affairs in a statement India has been supplying Covid doses to foreign nations as part of humanitarian assistance India has supplied over 723 lakh doses of Covid19 vaccine to 94 countries and two UN entities since the start of the Vaccine Maitri Programme in January last year India has supplied Covidrelated medical and other assistance to over 150 countries since the beginning of the pandemic IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/india-supplies-5-lakh-covaxin-doses-to-afghanistan-184569.html Sun, 02 Jan 2022 03:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/celebratory-gunfire-in-karachi-leaves-one-dead-17-injured-184476.html New Delhi Jan 1 Karachi reverberated with heavy gunfire on New Years Eve claiming at least one life and leaving more than 15 people injured amid tight security arrangements and warnings from the authorities Geo News reported Karachi echoed with gunfire and fireworks on Friday night despite a restriction on celebratory firing Though the authorities had warned of attempted murder charges against the violators the number of casualties this time was higher than the previous year when only four individuals were injured in the metropolis According to hospital reports a total of 18 people were rushed to hospitals after being struck by stray gunshots An 11yearold boy succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment in Khwaja Ajmer Nagar police said Six were transferred to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center in Korangi four to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital three to Civil Hospital and two to Sindh Government Hospital Iqra a 10yearold girl who was shot and injured by a stray bullet near Kohistan Chowk in North Nazimabad was among the injured According to the police cases have been registered on complaints of aerial firing and arrests are likely around Karachi on New Years Eve for aerial firing the report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/celebratory-gunfire-in-karachi-leaves-one-dead-17-injured-184476.html Sat, 01 Jan 2022 17:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/security-personnel-receive-training-commissioned-to-afghan-forces-184512.html Aybak Jan 1 A total of 300 security personnel have been commissioned to security forces of the establishment after receiving military training in Afghanistans northern Samangan province public relations officer of the province Khair Khaw Samangani said Saturday A total of 300 security personnel of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan received training in the training center of 209 AlFatah Corps and graduated yesterday the official said The newly graduated security personnel are familiar with light and heavy weapons and can serve elsewhere in the country Xinhua news agency reported Without providing more details Khair Khaw added that the new administration would continue to provide necessary training to its security personnel Earlier Qari Fasihuddin the army chief of the Talibanled caretaker administration has emphasised making a capable army to ensure security of the wartorn country IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/security-personnel-receive-training-commissioned-to-afghan-forces-184512.html Sat, 01 Jan 2022 21:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/chinese-cities-cancelled-new-years-eve-activities-184528.html New Delhi Jan 1 Many Chinese cities cancelled New Years Eve events as a precaution against the spread of Covid19 with the Northwest Xians lockdown measure continuing into the ninth day Global Times reported The popular Happy Valley amusement park in Chinas capital city Beijing has cancelled its New Years Eve theme activity scheduled on Friday night according to a notice released by the park The Great World amusement park in East Chinas Shanghai on Wednesday denied the information posted on the Internet that it will hold special events including a countdown artificial snowfall and a night market saying the park will not hold special activities for New Years Eve this year Southern city Guangzhou on Thursday issued a notice that the citys public places including Canton Tower will not host countdown events Other cities including Wuhan in central China Nanjing in East China and Guiyang in Southwest China all issued similar notices and reminded residents to take steps to ensure public health and safety the report said China reported 166 locally confirmed Covid19 cases for Thursday according to the National Health Commission NHC with 161 cases reported in Xian which is in the midst of fighting a recent flareup As the New Year and Spring Festival holidays approach authorities in China recently warned of the transmitting risks of Covid19 and rolled out prevention measures to prepare for the upcoming holidays A total of 15 supervision teams will inspect all regions in China to strengthen epidemic prevention and control during the two holidays Mi Feng spokesperson from the NHC said on Wednesday IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/chinese-cities-cancelled-new-years-eve-activities-184528.html Sat, 01 Jan 2022 22:40:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/i-have-been-made-a-scapegoat-ex-af-president-ashraf-ghani-184294.html New Delhi Dec 30 Afghanistans former president Ashraf Ghani has defended his decision to flee the country as the Taliban closed in earlier this year saying he did it to prevent the destruction of Kabul BBC reported The Taliban seized power in August after taking control of the capital Ashraf Ghani revealed that when he woke up on August 15 he had no inkling it would be his last day in Afghanistan It was only when his plane left Kabul that he realised he was going Ghani said on BBC Radio 4s programme He was heavily criticised and accused of abandoning the country at the time He is now in the United Arab Emirates Three months on Ghani says he is willing to take the blame for some things which led to the fall of Kabul like trusting in our international partnership However he added My life work has been destroyed My values had been trampled on And I have been made a scapegoat As the day started Ghani recalled Taliban fighters had agreed not to enter Kabul but two hours later this was not the case Two different factions of the Taliban were closing in from two different directions Ghani explained And the possibility of a massive conflict between them that would destroy the city of five million and bring havoc to the people was enormous The terrified chief of the presidential security came to him to say that if Ghani took a stand they will all be killed He did not give me more than two minutes Ghani said My instructions had been to prepare for departure for the city of Khost He told me that Khost had fallen and so had Jalalabad the report said I did not know where we will go Only when we took off it became clear that we were leaving Afghanistan So this really was sudden Ghani acknowledged mistakes were made including assuming that the patience of the international community would last However he pointed to the agreement made between the Taliban and the US under thenPresident Donald Trump which paved the way for the events leading to August 15 Instead of a peace process we got a withdrawal process Ghani said The way the deal was done Ghani added erased us IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/i-have-been-made-a-scapegoat-ex-af-president-ashraf-ghani-184294.html Sat, 01 Jan 2022 01:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-supreme-leader-asks-officials-to-respect-amnesty-184312.html New Delhi Dec 30 The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has directed government officials to respect the general amnesty announced by him Pajhwok News reported The Afghans needed to live in unity and brotherhood Haibatullah Akhund told officials at a meeting the governors house in southern Kandahar province on Thursday Mohammad Naeem spokesman for the Talibans political office also shared Akhunds directives on his Twitter account The statement said the meeting was attended by Kandahar Governor Haji Mohammad Yousuf Wafa Deputy Governor Maulvi Hayatullah Mubarak and police chief Mullah Abdul Ghaffar as well as provincial directors district governors and police chiefs The Taliban supreme leader said their struggle was for the enforcement of the Islamic system in the country and that they had to work hard for improved governance and providing better livelihoods for the people He urged civil and military officials to respect the general amnesty announced by him and not to punish former government servants for their past crimes If the Afghans were not respected in foreign countries they should not leave their homeland he remarked asking officials to convince the people to stay in Afghanistan the report said Akhund also made recommendations regarding duties and responsibilities and compliance with orders He said that no one should ask for a responsibility But if a person was handed a responsibility he should follow directions from leaders and discharge that responsibility properly Strictly follow the principles rules and regulations given by the leadership Dont act arbitrarily discharge your responsibility so you would be confident in your community he said The Taliban chief underlined the need to focus on justice saying it was important for all parties to work together for the betterment of the people the report said Jobs should not be given to people based on friendship nepotism and favouritism he cautioned insisting on upholding merit About security Maulvi Akhund called on the officials concerned to treat people well during patrols and search operations The Taliban chiefs recommendations come as some former officials have been harassed in violation of the amnesty announced for them IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-supreme-leader-asks-officials-to-respect-amnesty-184312.html Sat, 01 Jan 2022 04:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/us-to-appoint-2-senior-officials-to-help-afghan-girls-women-184002.html Washington Dec 30 The US is set to appoint two senior officials to lead to support Afghan women girls and human rights the State Department announced in a release While Amiri had previously served as a US special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan during former President Barack Obamas administration Foster has earlier worked for the State Department According to the release issued on Wednesday Special Envoy Rina Amiri and Senior Advisor Stephenie Foster bring decades of public policy diplomatic and advocacy experience to the Department I welcome Rina Amiri back to the Department as the Special Envoy for Afghan Women Girls and Human Rights with her breadth and depth of expertise and strong track record advising governments the US peacebuilding organisations and think tanks Secretary of State Antony Blinken was quoted as saying in the release Blinken said that Amiri will work on issues of critical importance to me this administration and US national security the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women girls and other atrisk populations in all of their diversity We desire a peaceful stable and secure Afghanistan where all Afghans can live and thrive in political economic and social inclusivity Special Envoy Amiri will work closely with me toward that goal he added Regarding Foster the Secretary of State said her diverse public and private sector experiences including at the Department and her passion for advancing women and girls safety and equality will help advance aroundtheclock relocation and resettlement efforts on behalf of our Afghan allies and their families Afghanistan is currently in the midst of severe economic and humanitarian challenges which have further deteriorated since the fall of the country to the Taliban on August 15 According to the UN Afghan women and girls are paying an especially high price for the ongoing poverty and hunger in the country Following the political change secondary girls schools have remained closed in most of the countrys provinces including Kabul Earlier this week the Talibanled governments Ministry of Virtue and Vice issued a new directive that orders women who are travelling long distances by road should be accompanied by a male relative and they should wear a hijab to cover their head and face reports TOLO News The directive also banned playing music in the vehicles It also ordered shops not to show the heads of female mannequins as it is against the Islamic Sharia law IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/us-to-appoint-2-senior-officials-to-help-afghan-girls-women-184002.html Fri, 31 Dec 2021 00:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghanistan-lacks-equipment-to-detect-omicron-variant-184012.html Kabul Dec 30 The Talibanled government in Afghanistan said that the country does not have equipment to detect Omicron adding that it has asked the World Health Organization WHO to provide testing machines for the new fastspreading Covid19 variant Both Pakistan and Iran the two countries that share borders with Afghanistan have confirmed cases of the new variant reports TOLO News Omicron is not distinguishable by the PCR machines that we have now it requires more developed machinery We have contacted the WHO and they have promised to provide these machines for us by the end of January 2022 Javed Hazher a spokesman for the Ministry of Public Health MOPH said on Wednesday Meanwhile health workers have said that the fight against the virus should not be ignored as Afghanistan is struggling with economic and political challenges They added that that neglecting the pandemic will lead to many people to be infected with the Omicron variant The economy and political problems caused Covid19 to be ignored and not taken seriously A crisis will happen if we do not face the latest wave of the coronavirus triggered by the Omicron variant said Ahmad Jawad Fardeen a doctor According to WHO figures Afghanistan has so far registered 157998 confirmed cases of Covid19 with 7355 deaths while a total of 4674518 vaccine doses have been administered IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghanistan-lacks-equipment-to-detect-omicron-variant-184012.html Fri, 31 Dec 2021 01:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/poverty-forces-afghan-kids-out-of-school-184038.html Kabul Dec 30 Driven by extreme poverty amid the economic collapse of Afghanistan the number of children employed in hazardous jobs instead of going to schools has increased a media report said Afghanistan is considered the worst place to be a child as 4 million children are out of school and 2 million are working as child labourers according to estimates by international organisations Speaking with TOLO News some of these children who stopped their education to help their parents financially said that they were severely disappointed about their bleak futures Mohammad who says he has lost hope for his future searches trash cans on the street to find firewood or other items to resell I collect cans of cola and energy drinks and firewood In this cold weather we have nothing at home he said The extreme poverty of Afghan families drives many children into various hazardous jobs to find food for their families The poverty induces many children to leave school I sit at the side of this street to polish the shoes of people I feel so cold not many people come said Basko a girl child The condition of Afghan children has not improved despite the flow of billions of dollars from many agencies in Afghanistan The problems of children increase every day and it is a source of concern It is expected that the Taliban works on plans to avert a humaniterian and economic crisis at such a critical time said Maryam Maarouf Women and Children Activist In the meantime Taliban officials said the government has plans to improve childrens conditions In the economy and education sectors the Islamic Emirate has many plans to provide good education opportunities for a new generation specifically for children said Bilal Karimi deputy spokesman of the Islamic Emirate IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/poverty-forces-afghan-kids-out-of-school-184038.html Fri, 31 Dec 2021 05:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/nawaz-sharif-will-never-return-home-voluntarily-minister-183731.html New Delhi Dec 29 Pakistan Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said the Imran Khanled government would bring back former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to the country as he would never return himself insisting that the opposition was incapable of toppling the present setup led by the Pakistan TehreekiInsaf PTI Dawn news reported Speaking at a joint press conference with National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf after a meeting of the federal cabinet the Minister said Nawaz Sharif will never return home voluntarily rather the government will bring him back once the agreement with the UK government is finalised The recent statement of former National Assembly speaker Ayaz Sadiq that he was going to London to bring the former premier back had gotten the Sharif family worried Chaudhry said adding that the government had finalised matters with the UK regarding the return The opposition parties cannot overthrow the present democratically elected government with their socalled protest movement he said claiming that only Prime Minister Imran Khan could act as real opposition Dawn news quoted Chaudhry as saying Real leadership is required for agitation in politics which the opposition lacks the Minister said adding that the opposition leaders were giving false hopes to their party workers When pointed out that JamiatiUlemaiIslamFazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had given a call for long march which he claimed would lead to the fall of the PTI government the Minister said the Maulana had been giving such calls for the last three years IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/nawaz-sharif-will-never-return-home-voluntarily-minister-183731.html Thu, 30 Dec 2021 02:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/3-radar-systems-to-be-installed-in-afghanistan-183750.html Kabul Dec 29 The Talibanled Afghan government has announced that three radar systems will be installed to controlling the airspace and for tracking civil and military planes the media reported In a statement on Tuesday Imamuddin Ahmadi a spokesman of the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation said that a total of 12 radar systems valued at 112 million euros were bought from France of which three have been dispatched to Kabul and the remaining nine will arrive in the future reports TOLO News Ahmadi added that the three radar systems will be installed in Kabul Herat and MazareSharif The installation is ongoing and the systems equipped with the latest modern technology might start operating within one and a half months TOLO News quoted the spokesman as saying Meanwhile a number of economic analysts said the modern radar systems will increase the international airlines trust in Afghanistan which will result in an increase in air traffic and thus an spike in the countrys income This can lead to an increase in air traffic in Afghanistans airspace and it can become a good revenue source Abdul Nasir Reshtia an economic analyst told TOLO News IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/3-radar-systems-to-be-installed-in-afghanistan-183750.html Thu, 30 Dec 2021 04:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-women-protest-against-new-restrictions-183676.html Kabul Dec 29 In the wake of several new restrictions imposed by the Talibanled government in Afghanistan several women staged a protest in Kabul calling for their right to education employment and social freedom to be honored the media reported In recent days the Talibans Ministry of Virtue and Vice issued a new directive that orders for women who are travelling long distances by road should be accompanied by a male relative and they should wear a hijab to cover their head and face reports TOLO News The directive also banned playing music in the vehicles It also ordered shops not to show the heads of female mannequins as it is against the Islamic Sharia law During the protest on Tuesday the participants raised slogans such as we are the voice of hungry people and we are awake we hate discrimination The protesters said that the Taliban are keeping women away from society by imposing such restrictions How can we find a relative to go outside with in urgent moments They said we are not responsible for your food so pay our salaries and we can eat we are not the women of two decades ago we will not be silent TOLO News quoted Wida a protester as saying We gathered to raise voices against restrictions imposed on women our schools are closed they took away working opportunities now they ordered us not to go out of our homes alone they are talking about the rights described by Islam Does Islam order that a nation should be hungry does Islam say to forbid girls from education Shayesta another protester said The protesters also urged the international community not to ignore Afghan women We are half of the society we are human we have the right to education and to work I ask the international community to not recognise this government Zahra also a protestor told TOLO News The protest however did not last long as Taliban forces fired in the air to disperse the demonstrators IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-women-protest-against-new-restrictions-183676.html Wed, 29 Dec 2021 20:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/protest-in-afghanistans-panjshir-over-murder-of-young-man-183396.html Kabul Dec 27 Hundreds of residents Afghanistans Panjshir province took to the streets to protest against the murder of a young man who the demonstrators claim was shot dead by Taliban affiliates the media reported on Monday During the protest that took place on Sunday in Annaba district the demonstrators carried the dead body to the office of the provincial governor and asked for justice Khaama Press reported The angry protesters were chanting Death to Taliban Death to stooges of Pakistan and Long live Ahmad Masoud The residents of the district have claimed that the 24yearold victim Nazir Aqa was killed by the Taliban affiliates but the motive behind the murder is yet to be ascertained In a statement the Taliban officials in Panjshir confirmed the killing but called the incident a misunderstanding reports Khaama Press They added that the murder suspects have been arrested Panjshir was the last province of Afghanistan that fell to the Taliban in August IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/protest-in-afghanistans-panjshir-over-murder-of-young-man-183396.html Tue, 28 Dec 2021 02:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pakistan-to-unveil-first-ever-national-security-policy-183411.html New Delhi Dec 27 Pakistan will on Monday unveil its firstever National Security Policy at a meeting in which civil and military leadership will discuss internal and external security issues Dawn reported According to Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry Prime Minister Imran Khan has called a meeting of the highpowered National Security Committee which will be attended among others by senior military officials including Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and InterServices Intelligence Director General Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum It will be the firstever National Security Policy to be approved at the meeting and later it will be made public the Minister said When asked about salient features of the policy he said the policy would cover all internal and external security aspects including the situation in Afghanistan and its impact on Pakistan and India among others The draft puts economic and military security at the core of policy and outlines the challenges and opportunities facing Pakistan in the coming years In addition it would provide policy guidelines for mitigation and actualising opportunities through a wholeofgovernment approach The Express Tribune reported IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pakistan-to-unveil-first-ever-national-security-policy-183411.html Tue, 28 Dec 2021 04:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/amid-boycott-india-china-trade-volume-at-record-high-of-100bn-report-183491.html By Sanjeev Sharma New Delhi Dec 27 Amidst repeated domestic boycotts of MadeinChina trade volume between India and China hit a record high of 100 billion by November the Global Times reported citing the latest data from the Chinese General Administration of Customs Chinese state media pointed out that while there are those in India who are concerned about the trade deficit advocating not to rely too much on trade with China the data speaks for itself Whatever the political considerations of these people seeing China as Indias enemy should not be an option for India and one that India cannot afford to make Further increasing cooperation is the right choice the Global Times report said India has long hoped to reduce its trade deficit with China but making bilateral trade more balanced cannot be done by curbing Chinese exports to India which would only hurt the Indian economy Further boosting Chinas imports from India is the right way to go and there is room for coordination between the two sides in this regard and it should be a joint effort the report said The record twoway trade provides the best evidence of the two countries economic complementarities and the strong resilience of bilateral economic relations In particular by importing Chinese products at relatively low prices India has saved more foreign exchange reserves and improved capital efficiency Global Times reported Also Indias large imports of machinery and electronics from China and Chinese investment in the countrys smartphone sector have greatly served the needs of the Indian people and boosted Indian exports to third countries it added Cooperation in manufacturing between India and China has great potential and this cooperation will also create the basis for a more balanced trade between the two countries in the future Therefore India needs to unwind some of its inappropriate practices towards Chinese investment the report added Like it or not India is already tightly connected to China and embedded in the international supply chain The challenge for both sides is not who will replace whom but how to work together to strengthen their positions in the global supply chain It would only mean greater danger if ChinaIndia commerce were not deepened but gradually disconnected the Chinese state media warned Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at Sanjeevsiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/amid-boycott-india-china-trade-volume-at-record-high-of-100bn-report-183491.html Tue, 28 Dec 2021 13:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/us-shouldnt-interfere-in-afghan-affairs-taliban-183311.html Kabul Dec 27 A top official of the Talibanled government in Afghanistan said that the the US should not interfere in the affairs of the wartorn nation adding that it is capable of taking decisions independently the media reported The remarks were made by Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai the Talibans Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs while he addressed a gathering on Sunday reports TOLO News Regarding the withdrawal of US forces in August that led to the Taliban taking control of the country Stanekzai said that American soldiers fled from Afghanistan in the dark of the night He said that the country is independent now and that the last four months have been the first time in four decades in which Afghans are taking their decisions independently The enemies he said should not think that Afghanistan is weakened by 40 years of war as it has the ability to fight another 40 years if it has to The Deputy Foreign Minister acknowledged that hundreds of Afghans were leaving the country for Iran on a daily basis over economic problems and that most of them fail to cross the border or lose their lives on their way He asked Afghanistans neighbours to help the country open their borders to refugees and ease visa norms Stanikzai said that Afghan women and girls have the right to work and education but added that Afghanistans culture is different from that of the West He admitted that solidarity among the people within the country and building relations with the world countries are two big challenges ahead of the Islamic Emirate Also addressing the gathering Anas Haqqani also a member of Taliban government said the world does not want Afghans to become selfreliant TOLO News reported IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/us-shouldnt-interfere-in-afghan-affairs-taliban-183311.html Mon, 27 Dec 2021 19:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/after-14-years-benazir-bhuttos-assassination-still-remains-a-mystery-183331.html Vellore Sriharan alias Murugan one of the convicts of the former prime minster Rajiv Gandhi assassination case being produced before the Judicial Magistrate of the District Court in connection with a case of the usage of mobile phones inside the prison cell in Vellore district Monday Dec 27 2021 PTI New Delhi Dec 27 Despite a lapse of 14 years the mystery surrounding the assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto who was murdered after addressing an election rally in Rawalpindis Liaquat Bagh is yet to be solved and the case is still pending in the Lahore High Courts LHC Rawalpindi bench Express Tribune reported Twenty party workers were killed and 71 others were seriously injured in the attack on the former Pakistan premier In the aftermath of the incident four inquiries were conducted into the highprofile case with the police joint investigation team JIT the Federal Investigation Agency FIA the United Nations UN and Scotland Yard striving to solve the matter However these inquiries and investigations yielded no results as the Bhutto family did not pursue the case in the special antiterrorism court ATC the report said A total of 12 challans were filed in this case 355 appearances were recorded 10 judges were changed and 141 witnesses including 68 prosecution witnesses were testified Sixteen people were accused in the case but only eight of them were arrested The main accused Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud was killed in a drone strike Five other accused  Nadir Khan alias Qari Nasrullah Abdullah alias Saddam Ikramullah and Faiz Muhammad Kaskat  were also killed in encounters with intelligence agencies at different places The suicide bomber who attacked the former Prime Minister was identified as Saeed Blakel who died in the blast The police arrested five accused Aitzaz Shah Sher Zaman Rashid Ahmed Rafaqat and Hasnain Gul The FIA also arrested then Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf former city police officer CPO Saud Aziz and superintendent of police SP Rawal Khurram Shehzad as accused in the case However they were later granted bail by the high court On August 31 2017 Judge Muhammad Asghar Khan of the special ATC pronounced the verdict after nine years acquitting five accused and declaring Musharraf as a fugitive on absenteeism and issued permanent arrest warrants besides confiscating his movable and immovable property the report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/after-14-years-benazir-bhuttos-assassination-still-remains-a-mystery-183331.html Mon, 27 Dec 2021 20:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/heated-debate-erupts-in-pak-over-nawaz-sharifs-possible-return-183047.html New Delhi Dec 26 A heated debate has erupted in Pakistan over the rumours of PMLN supremo and former Prime minister Nawaz Sharifs possible return to the country ahead of the next general elections Geo News reported PMLN President Shehbaz Sharif who is also the former premiers brother categorically said that Nawaz Sharif will not return until he has fully recovered In a statement issued on Saturday Shehbaz Sharif said that Nawaz Sharif might stay in the UK legally until the immigration tribunal rules on his appeal against the British Home Offices rejection for extending his visa Meanwhile PMLN Vice President Maryam Nawaz in a tweet said the visa issue had again proved how her father was on the nerves of the members of the incumbent Imran Khanled government Geo News reported This fake government has accepted its defeat from Nawaz Sharif who is the present and future of Pakistan By targeting a towering personality the stature of a pygmy cannot be elevated she tweeted Special Assistant to the Prime Minister SAPM on Accountability and Interior Barrister Shahzad Akbar questioned whether Nawaz Sharif could participate in the countrys politics despite the Supreme Court declaring him guilty and disqualifying him for life and an accountability court convicting him in an NAB case To make Nawaz Sharif eligible to run for the highest office of the country again it is being rumoured that the Bar Council is filing a petition in court said Akbar It is not appropriate for the Bar Council to file a petition in court I do not understand how it is legally viable to make him the Prime Minister of Pakistan for the fourth time He said the President of the Supreme Court Bar Council had recently met Nawaz Sharif I believe the Supreme Court Bar Council taking up the issue is a political decision he said The Supreme Court Bar is a professional body so it should avoid indulging itself into political matters Submitting an application from the council regarding Nawaz Sharifs case was not appropriate They have not taken up the step so far I call upon them to review it and avoid it IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/heated-debate-erupts-in-pak-over-nawaz-sharifs-possible-return-183047.html Sun, 26 Dec 2021 16:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-creates-police-unit-to-protect-educational-institutes-183077.html Kabul Dec 26 The Talibanled government in Afghanistan has created a special police unit to protect educational institutes across the country the media reported In a statement issued on Saturday the Ministry of higher education said that the new 170member unit is part of its Special Forces that were trained in 313 central corps for 30 days reports Khaama Press Deputy Minister of Higher Education Lutfullah Khairkhaw said that the creation of a special unit to protect educational institutions was required against the backdrop of frequent attacks in the wartorn nation The creation of the special unit comes as public universities and high schools for girls are yet to be reopened IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-creates-police-unit-to-protect-educational-institutes-183077.html Sun, 26 Dec 2021 19:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/deal-with-turkey-qatar-over-afghan-airports-management-yet-to-reach-183115.html Kabul Dec 26 The Talibanled government in Afghanistan has said that they were yet to reach an agreement with Turkey and Qatar over the management of five airports in the wartorn nation the media reported The Ministry of Transportation and Civil Aviation confirmed that discussions were underway with the visiting joint TurkishQatari delegation Khaama Press reported The joint TurkishQatari technical team came to Kabul on Thursday and held meetings with technical teams of the Islamic Emirate These meetings will continue and in the near future they will reach an agreement in light of the countrys national interests TOLO News quoted Imamuddin Ahmadi a spokesman of the Ministry as saying The statement came after Turkeys staterun Anadolu News Agency had reported that the two delegations have reached an agreement on the issue with the Taliban Turkey and Qatar have agreed to manage the Kabul International Airport Kandahar International Airport MazareSharif International Airport Khost airport and Herat airport Afghanistan has 24 airports and reportedly Kabul Balkh Herat Kandahar and Khost airports are designed for international flights and the rest are for domestic flights International and local flights were suspended at the Kabul airport and across Afghanistan after the Taliban seized power in August IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/deal-with-turkey-qatar-over-afghan-airports-management-yet-to-reach-183115.html Sun, 26 Dec 2021 22:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-commander-warns-pak-against-firing-at-afghanistan-182983.html Kabul Dec 26 A top military commander of the Talibanled government has warned Pakistan against firing artillery towards Afghanistan adding that Kabul was ready to respond if Islamabad did not stop the media reported Abu Dojana commander of the 201 Khalid Bin Walid Corps said that despite the Taliban seeking good ties with the neighbouring nations its forces also have the military equipment to defend Afghanistan in case of any provocation reports TOLO News This is precious soil We have paid a large sacrifice for it We want to be good neighbours but if they keep attacking our soil we will certainly give them a response he said The commanders remarks come as residents of Kunar have claimed that Pakistan has been targeting several parts of the province for the past two weeks At least one civilian was also injured in mortar shelling by the Pakistani military on the Chogam area of Shiltan district in Kunar said the TOLO News report Chogam area runs alongside the Durand Line that forms the AfghanistanÂPakistan border I was wounded by the mortar a fragment hit my head I was taken to Asadabad during the night I was in the hospital for two days TOLO News quoted Anwar Shah the injured person as saying Some residents have also claimed of seeing Pakistani drones operating in the province We are being attacked by Pakistan Everyone is in trouble including children and women said Salman a resident of Shiltan district IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-commander-warns-pak-against-firing-at-afghanistan-182983.html Sun, 26 Dec 2021 11:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/200-more-troops-deployed-to-beef-up-security-in-kabul-182991.html Kabul Dec 26 An additional 200 newlytrained soldiers have been deployed in Kabul to beef up security in the capital city and the surrounding areas the Talibanled governments Defence Ministry said in a statement The troops who recently graduated from military training were deployed in armys 313 Markazi Corps Xinhua news agency quoted the Ministry statement as saying Afghanistan will soon have a disciplined and strong army it added After the Talibans takeover of Afghanistan in August and formation of a caretaker government the following month the 350000strong security and defence forces under the former Ashraf Ghani administration had been disbanded The Taliban administration has promised to hire professional personnel from the former government in establishing new security forces IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/200-more-troops-deployed-to-beef-up-security-in-kabul-182991.html Sun, 26 Dec 2021 12:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/is-claims-responsibility-for-kabul-passport-office-attack-183022.html Kabul Dec 26 The Islamic State terror groups Khorasan branch ISK has claimed responsibility for an attack on the passport office in Kabul which was however foiled by Taliban forces the media reported on Sunday According to a report on Khaama Press the terror group released a statement on Saturday saying that it had carried out the December 23 attack According to Kabuls security officials a suicide attacker tried to enter the passport office on December 23 where hundreds of Taliban affiliates had gathered But the attacker was identified and eliminated before he could blow himself up December 23 was allocated for the Taliban affiliates to get passports but not the general public Taliban authorities closed the office for three days following the incident citing security threats Khaama Press reported The ISK has escalated their attacks in Afghanistan since the countrys takeover by the Taliban in August The Taliban on the other hand has been underrated by the militants and has claimed to have arrested 600 ISK affiliates in the past three months IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/is-claims-responsibility-for-kabul-passport-office-attack-183022.html Sun, 26 Dec 2021 14:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/uzbekistan-provides-3-700-tonnes-of-humanitarian-aid-to-afghanistan-182870.html Kabul Dec 25 Uzbekistan has provided 3700 tonnes of humanitarian aid to the wartorn Afghanistan in an effort to help millions of people in need amidst the chilling winter Transported by 63 rail wagons to Afghanistans northern city MazarISharif and received by Afghan officials the batch includes foodstuffs fuel and winter clothes that will be distributed among destitute Afghans as the country is undergoing an economic crisis reports Xinhua news agency Expressing gratitude to Uzbekistan Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai deputy Foreign Minister of Afghanistans Talibanled government called for further enhancing relations between Kabul and Tashkent Stanikzai called on Uzbekistan to help Afghanistan in rebuilding airports building railways and providing scholarships for Afghan students Since the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban in August which resulted in the USled forces departure and slapping sanctions on the new administration Afghanistan has been facing economic crisis as more than 22 million out of the countrys some 36 million population are reportedly facing acute food insecurity To overcome the crisis the Afghan government has called on the international community to provide humanitarian aid So far many countries including China Saudi Arabia Uzbekistan Qatar among others have provided humanitarian aid to the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/uzbekistan-provides-3-700-tonnes-of-humanitarian-aid-to-afghanistan-182870.html Sat, 25 Dec 2021 19:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/un-extends-exemption-of-travel-ban-on-afghan-taliban-leaders-182740.html Kabul Dec 25 The UN Security Council announced that it has extended the exemption of the travel ban on senior members of the Talibanled government in Afghanistan including First Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar for a period of 90 days In its announcement on Friday the UNSC said that the ban which came into force on Wednesday will last until March 21 2022 TOLO News reported Besides Baradar there are 14 other Taliban members on the ban list including Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi The travel ban exemption is solely for travels required for participation in peace and stability discussions in a range of countries TOLO News quoted the UNSC as saying in its announcement Individual itineraries will depend on the location of peace discussions The Committee has also decided to grant a limited asset freeze exemption only for financing exempted travels The Talibanled government welcomed the UNSCs decision while calling for the removal of its leaders names from the UN and US blacklists It is necessary to remove the names of the officials of the Islamic Emirate from the US and UN blacklists based on the Doha Agreement said Inamullah Samangani deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/un-extends-exemption-of-travel-ban-on-afghan-taliban-leaders-182740.html Sat, 25 Dec 2021 08:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/several-afghan-electricity-projects-halted-due-to-funds-suspension-182741.html Kabul Dec 25 Several electricity supply projects to Afghanistan have been halted since the past four months due to the suspension of funds from the Asian Development Bank ADB the World Bank and the US development aid in the wake of the countrys takeover by the Taliban according to officials from the national power company The officials from Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat DABS said that Turkmenistans 500 KV electricity transmission to Afghanistan is one of the halted projects which was transferring electricity from the border of Turkmenistan to Sheberghans Aqina port and then to the Alvazun plain of Kunduz and finally to the Arghandi district of Kabul reports TOLO News Only 10 per cent of the work is yet to be completed Ninety per cent of the 500 KV line project is completed and only 10 per cent of its work remains If the ADB allows it we can complete the remaining 10 percent of its work in the next six months TOLO News quoted Safiullah Ahmadzai the executive chief of DABS as saying The officials added that a complete solution to the shortage of electricity in Kabul will require the construction of two more electricity substations at a cost of 40 million Considering the current situation in Afghanistan they have not given us a positive answer so far We presented all of our plans and alternative ways to start these projects again Ahmadzai added Kabul residents have said said that the shortage of electricity has increased in this winter There is no electricity when it comes it does not benefit us it comes at 8 or 9 at night Borhan a resident of the capital city told TOLO News When there is a need for electricity during the night for lighting and warming the rooms it does not come People are facing a lot of problems said Nooraqa another resident According to some institutions in the country work on nearly a dozen other major projects including the CASA1000 TAPI and TAP projects have also been halted IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/several-afghan-electricity-projects-halted-due-to-funds-suspension-182741.html Sat, 25 Dec 2021 09:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/such-incidents-bring-bad-name-to-pak-kaneria-on-hindu-deity-vandalisation-182539.html By Ishwar Nath Jha New Delhi Dec 23 Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria has condemned the worsening plight of religious minorities in Pakistan saying the government needs to stop such incidents immediately Kaneria told IANS that these kinds of incidents bring a bad name to Pakistan I am a proud Hindu Sanatan Dharm is above all for me and at the same time I respect every religion Pakistan has given me so much love and affection so I am really appalled to see these things Kaneria told IANS Kaneria on Wednesday posted a video on social media platforms Koo and Twitter in which miscreants could be seen vandalising the statue of a Hindu deity The incident reportedly occured in the Ranchore Line area of Karachi on December 20 Kaneria through his social media posts has strongly criticised such vandalism incidents He wrote that the actions are unacceptable and the reputation of the country is getting tarnished He even tagged Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Twitter asking him to intervene in the matter In middle of Karachi Religious freedom should not be compromised Ruining the reputation of Pakistan I request PM Khan to take action he Kooed on Wednesday Kaneria demanded a strong law to be implemented in Pakistan to stop atrocities on minor communities We need a strong law in Pakistan to stop these things Being a Hindu if I can do anything to protect our religion it would be better for me and my community and good for my religion said the legspinner who made his Test debut at the age of 19 against England in November 2000 at Faisalabad However his career got derailed after he was banned for life from all cricket by the English and Wales Cricket Board ECB in 2012 on two charges of spotfixing in the English County Championship pro league matches in 2009 Between 2000 and 2010 Kaneria played 61 Tests taking 261 wickets at 3479 He also represented Pakistan in 18 ODIs taking 15 wickets at 4553 He sitll remains the highest wickettaking spinner for Pakistan in Tests and fourth in the alltime list behind Wasim Akram 414 Waqar Younis 373 and Imran Khan 362 Kaneria also spoke out against the Pakistan Cricket Board and its current chief Rameez Raja saying that PCB has done nothing on his appeal against the life ban while reducing punishments to other cricketers for similar charges Others players have been given permission to play cricket by the PCB but when I asked for a reprieve they turned it down Umar Akmal Mohammad Amir Mohammad Asif all have been allowed by the PCB but I dont know why they left me out Rameez Raja knows me well he saw me playing Being the PCB president he has immense power But he also didnt tackle my plea said the Karachiborn leggie IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/such-incidents-bring-bad-name-to-pak-kaneria-on-hindu-deity-vandalisation-182539.html Fri, 24 Dec 2021 13:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/neighbouring-country-hatched-plot-to-assassinate-ex-afghan-prez-ghani-in-aug-182576.html New Delhi Dec 23 General Ajmal Omar Shinwari spokesman for the armed forces of the former Republic of Afghanistan said there was an alert in August that the intelligence of the neighbouring country read Pakistan had hatched a plot to assassinate then Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani Taand News reported Shinwari disclosed this for the first time in a televised interview on the fall of the regime He revealed in an interview that five days before the fall of the regime Sunday August 15 at a meeting of the National Security Council information about a plot to assassinate President Ghani was leaked and shared with security official the report said According to him it was said at the meeting that the intelligence of the neighbouring country read Pakistan had hatched a plot to assassinate President Ghani the report said Ajmal Shinwari also said that no document was presented at the meeting regarding this information but it was said that the lives of some members of the government leadership besides the President were in danger In the interview the former security and defence spokesman accused the President and other highranking officials and politicians outside the government of playing their part in the fall of the Republic However he stressed that on the day of the fall of the Republic the Ministers of Interior and National Defense and the Director General of National Security were in their offices until 530 pm According to the former military spokesman the Presidential Palace was evacuated on the same day and the President left the country after which the leaders of the security and defence sectors left their office the report said Ajmal Shinwari also said that the military leadership should have taken over the reins of the country after the political turmoil like other countries and prevented the fall The former Afghan general acknowledged that senior members of the security and defence forces were appointed on the basis of bias corruption and injustice and that these appointments had dire consequence the report said Shinwari made the remarks after ousted President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani said in a video message after leaving Afghanistan Citizens of a neighbouring country along with the Taliban were returning to the palace after my departure The Taliban have denied any involvement in the plot to assassinate Ghani and his entourage IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/neighbouring-country-hatched-plot-to-assassinate-ex-afghan-prez-ghani-in-aug-182576.html Fri, 24 Dec 2021 14:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/40-of-afghan-media-outlets-shut-since-taliban-takeover-182636.html Kabul Dec 24 A total of 231 media outlets 40 per cent in Afghanistan has closed since the countrys takeover by the Taliban on August 15 leading to many journalists losing their jobs according to a survey conducted by two nonprofits The survey by Reporters Without Borders RSF and the Afghan Independent Journalists Association AIJA has also revealed that 80 per cent of female journalists and media workers have become unemployed due to restrictions imposed by the Talibanled government reports TOLO news A total of 231 media outlets have had to close and more than 6400 journalists have lost their jobs since August 15 Women journalists have been hit the hardest with four out of five no longer working the survey says According to the RSF and AIJA of the 543 media outlets operating since the beginning of this year only 312 were still functions by the end of November More than four out of every 10 media outlets have disappeared and 60 per cent of journalists and media employees are no longer able to work Women have suffered much more than men 84 per cent of them have lost their jobs the survey report reads According to the nonprofits there were at least 10 private media organisations operating in most of the provinces in Afghanistan before the fall of Kabul There used to be 10 media outlets in the mountainous northern province of Parwan but now just three are functioning In the western city of Herat the countrys third largest and the surrounding province only 18 of the 51 media outlets are still operating  a 65 per cent fall The central Kabul region which had more media that anywhere else has not been spared the carnage It has lost more than one of every two media outlets 51 per cent Of the 148 tallied prior to August 15 only 72 are still operating TOLO News quoted the survey as further saying RSF and AIJA have said that new restrictions imposed on media outlets especially female reporters and the economic and financial challenges are the two main reasons behind the closing of media outlets and female reporters becoming unemployed The dangerous Journalism Rules open the way to censorship and persecution and deprive journalists of their independence forcing them to tell information and culture ministry officials what they would like to cover get their permission to go ahead and finally inform them about the results of their reporting in order to be able to publish There is an urgent need to rein in the spiral leading inevitably to the disappearance of Afghan media and to ensure that respect for press freedom is a priority TOLO News quoted Reza Moini the head of RSFs IranAfghanistan bureau as saying IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/40-of-afghan-media-outlets-shut-since-taliban-takeover-182636.html Fri, 24 Dec 2021 17:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/13-mn-in-chinese-city-ordered-to-stay-at-home-amid-covid-outbreak-182452.html New Delhi Dec 23 More than 13 million people in the Chinese city of Xian have been ordered to stay at home as authorities attempt to tackle a Covid outbreak there BBC reported The northern city has recorded 143 infections since December 9 Under the new restrictions announced on Wednesday only one person per household is allowed to leave home every two days to buy essential goods the report said China has a strict zeroCovid strategy using mass testing and lockdown to stop outbreaks The country is on high alert for Covid as it gears up to host the 2022 Winter Olympics in February Residents of Xian known for its Terracotta Warriors are not allowed to leave the city unless they have extenuating circumstances and approval from officials to do so the report added The restrictions came into effect at midnight on Thursday local time Millions of tests have been conducted in Shaanxi province where Xian is located Longdistance bus stations have already closed and checkpoints have been installed on motorways into the city A large number of flights from Xians airport have been cancelled Nonessential businesses have closed and local government employees have been told to work from home the report added Last weekend authorities had already closed indoor facilities such as bars gyms and cinemas as a precaution according to staterun Global Times Officials say the outbreak is the Delta variant of Covid and have not mentioned Omicron State media have been reporting this week that Xian is facing a dual epidemic as there have been several reported cases of haemorrhagic fever a natural epidemic disease with a high fatality rate IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/13-mn-in-chinese-city-ordered-to-stay-at-home-amid-covid-outbreak-182452.html Fri, 24 Dec 2021 10:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pakistan-govt-to-produce-biopics-on-babar-tipu-sultan-182453.html New Delhi Dec 23 The Pakistan government is coproducing two multimillion dollar biopics based on Zahiruddin Babar with Uzbekistan and Allama Iqbal with Iran Pakistan Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry announced Samaa TV reported A filmmaking division has been established at Pakistan Television Network and currently two projects are in production he said These movies will be made on international standards Another project based on Tipu Sultan is in process with a private production house he added The information minister said that the government is simplifying the process to obtain a noobjection certificate NOC for film productions in the country PTV Films he said will be a platform for young filmmakers to pitch their ideas and produce movies together The government will fund their projects and market their films to revive Pakistani cinema Pakistan has one of the most beautiful sites in the world and foreign filmmakers can easily shoot their films he said the report said The minister vowed to open more cinema houses and shared plans in consideration to boost the industry The government will offer industrial and domestic rates for the electricity consumption in cinema houses he said We have slashed several taxes from cinemas The information minister said that the government has requested NCOC to open cinemas and thankfully they have been running across Pakistan IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pakistan-govt-to-produce-biopics-on-babar-tipu-sultan-182453.html Fri, 24 Dec 2021 10:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/over-100-mps-in-pakistan-not-paying-income-tax-182454.html New Delhi Dec 23 More than 100 members of parliament in Pakistan are either not paying income tax or are not registered with the Pakistan Federal Board of Revenue FBR The News reported As many as 161 of 1170 MPs in Pakistan have not paid tax on their income nor have filed any tax returns These MPs are in violation of tax laws while collectively owning assets worth Rs 35 billion Official records show that some are not even registered with the tax authorities Official documents examined by Geo News have disclosed that more than 103 MPs have collective assets of Rs 8 billion but are not active taxpayers A few dozen are not even registered with the FBR as taxpayers As many as 76 of these 103 MPs represent major political parties two are ministers in Pak Prime Minister Imran Khans cabinet Official records show that these MPs are in the inactive taxpayers list Four MPs who are not active taxpayers have purchased properties collectively worth millions of dollars in Dubai Norway and London in the last decade Around a dozen among them have had declared businesses namely construction companies petrol pumps etc in the country the report said The Parliamentarians Tax Directory for the fiscal year 2018 did not carry a tax record of around 323 of the total 1170 MPs As many as 847 MPs collectively paid around Rs 16 billion in taxes for the year 201819 according to the FBR directory The directory carries tax credentials of total 1008 MPs while tax columns of 161 MPs have been left blank and some names were missing from this important official document the report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/over-100-mps-in-pakistan-not-paying-income-tax-182454.html Fri, 24 Dec 2021 10:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/balochistan-accused-made-to-face-trial-by-fire-182459.html New Delhi Dec 23 A video showing two young men walking barefoot on hot embers to prove their innocence has gone viral on social media in Pakistan The footage is from Sanjawi tehsil Ziarat district in Balochistan province and the two men appear to have been accused of stealing equipment Friday Times reported Authorities in the district have started an investigation into the incident According to Assistant Commissioner of Sanjawi Hassan Anwar this event took place five days ago in Sira Khezi area near Sanjawi about 60 km from Ziarat The two parties who organised this extraordinary ritual are described as having reached mutual consensus to resolve their dispute in this manner the report said One of the men subjected to the ordeal Gul Zaman claims that two weeks earlier some tractors batteries and generators were stolen from his employers When he informed the owners they instead accused Gul Zaman and another employee Mohammad Raza of the theft while also inflicting violence on them The two men were told that the only way to prove their innocence was to walk across hot embers barefoot the report said The video shows the two men taking turns to walk across a pit some 10 to 12 ft long filled with hot embers Having succeeded in walking across it they were apparently acquitted since those present believed that there were no burns or blisters on their feet Video footage shows them being embraced and garlanded after their ordeal the report added Such a ritualised trial by fire includes an invocation of the Holy Quran and the hot embers are asked not to burn the feet of those who are innocent If a person undergoing the trial gets blistered feet from the ordeal they are considered guilty of the crime that they stood accused of Making their way across the pit unharmed leads to a verdict of innocence the report said The man who organised the ritual a local named Saifuddin claims that this event was necessary to avoid violence between the two parties to the dispute Whereas the owners of the stolen equipment wanted to register a case for theft against the two men the latter themselves wanted to sue for detention and kidnap Saifuddin claims that he organised the ordeal after local authorities including the Levies force did not help with resolving the dispute He also claims to have informed the district administration as well as the Levies that he was about to proceed with the ritual without objections from these quarters In Saifuddins version of events he was asked by both parties to the dispute to resolve it in a traditional tribal manner The Levies police have denied involvement rejecting claims that the rival cases were brought to them or that their permission was sought in organising the ritual Moreover the Assistant Commissioner of Sanjawi also took the view that the district administration were not informed of the jirga which decided upon this ordeal for the two men the report said While no action has yet been taken against the jirga the District Commissioner of Ziarat has ordered an investigation into whether or not the police had colluded in the ritual Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at Sanjeevsiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/balochistan-accused-made-to-face-trial-by-fire-182459.html Fri, 24 Dec 2021 10:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/un-relief-chief-welcomes-humanitarian-exception-in-af-sanctions-regime-182337.html United Nations Dec 23 UN UndersecretaryGeneral for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths has welcomed the adoption of a Security Council resolution that allows a humanitarian exception in the UN sanctions regime applicable in Afghanistan The Security Council resolution exempts humanitarian assistance and other activities that support basic human needs in Afghanistan from the asset freeze against designated leaders of the Taliban and associated entities Xinhua news agency reported This milestone decision will enable urgently needed humanitarian action to save lives and livelihoods in Afghanistan It is evidence of how seriously member states take the shocking levels of need and suffering in the country said Griffiths in a statement Some 160 national and international humanitarian organisations are providing critical food and health assistance in Afghanistan as well as education water and sanitation and support to agriculture There is an urgent need to ramp up this work Humanitarian operations in Afghanistan are set to be the largest anywhere in the world in 2022 reaching some 22 million people he said This humanitarian exception will allow organisations to implement the work we have planned and it will give legal assurances to the financial institutions and commercial actors we rely on to engage with humanitarian operators he said The road ahead in Afghanistan is neither easy nor straightforward The impact of our assistance also depends on the cooperation of the de facto authorities in the country and on the flexibility of the funding we receive We must all do everything we can to preserve the life dignity and future of all Afghans he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/un-relief-chief-welcomes-humanitarian-exception-in-af-sanctions-regime-182337.html Thu, 23 Dec 2021 20:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/harvard-professor-convicted-for-hiding-ties-with-china-182116.html New Delhi Dec 22 A Harvard University professor has been convicted of hiding ties to a Chinarun recruitment programme BBC reported Charles Lieber was found guilty of making false statements to authorities filing false tax returns and failing to report a Chinese bank account His sentencing date is yet to be decided The 62yearold was charged in 2020 as part of a US campaign to counter economic espionage from China the report said However some critics say this campaign harms academic research Prosecutors in Boston said Lieber knowingly hid his involvement in Chinas Thousand Talents Plan which aims to attract foreign research specialists It has been flagged by the US as a security concern in the past the report said Lieber a former head of Harvards department of chemistry and chemical biology had in 2011 joined Chinas Wuhan University of Technology as a scientist He was given a monthly salary of 50000 in addition to living expenses of up to 158000 for this role The filings say he was also given more than 15 m to establish a research lab at the university and in return was expected to work for the university applying for patents and publishing articles in its name Participation in the programme is not a crime However prosecutors said Lieber had lied to authorities about his participation his affiliation with the university in Wuhan and failed to declare income earned in China the report said He had previously been awarded 15 m in grants from the US National Institute of Health and the US Department of Defence Recipients of these grants have to disclose any conflicts of interest including financial support from foreign governments or organisations the report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/harvard-professor-convicted-for-hiding-ties-with-china-182116.html Thu, 23 Dec 2021 00:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-police-bust-kidnappers-gang-rescue-hostage-182156.html Farah Dec 22 Police in Afghanistans western Farah province have busted a gang of kidnappers and secured the release of a hostage a statement of the provincial police released here on Wednesday said The security personnel of Islamic Emirate during operations launched last night arrested five kidnappers and rescued a hostage from their clutches Xinhua reported citing the statement All the kidnappers have been taken into custody for investigation Police in Farahs neighbouring Herat province arrested 147 suspects on the charge of involvement in a variety of crimes ranging from robbery theft to drug smuggling over the past month The Talibanled administration has vowed to crack down on criminals in an effort to ensure law and order in the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-police-bust-kidnappers-gang-rescue-hostage-182156.html Thu, 23 Dec 2021 05:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/ex-policeman-killed-in-afghanistans-takhar-province-182182.html Taluqan Dec 22 Unidentified armed men killed a former policeman in Bangi district of northern Afghanistans Takhar province on Tuesday local official Noor Mohammad said on Wednesday The official said the murder took place on Tuesday night and an investigation has been launched to determine what was behind the killing Xinhua news agency reported A villager on condition of anonymity identified the victim as Mohammad Akram and said the reason for his murder could be personal enmity In another incident on Tuesday night armed men stabbed to death a 30yearold man in Chardara district of the neighbouring Kunduz province said Kunduzs administration official Matihullah Rohani IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/ex-policeman-killed-in-afghanistans-takhar-province-182182.html Thu, 23 Dec 2021 09:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/china-reports-rumours-of-313bn-bank-notes-printed-without-authorisation-182201.html New Delhi Dec 22 Chinas central bank on Wednesday denied reports that a director of China Banknote Printing and Minting Corp was being investigated because he was suspected of printing banknotes with the same code number worth 2 trillion yuan 313 billion without authorisation Officials from the Currency Gold and Silver Bureau of the Peoples Bank of China PBC said that the printing and issuing of renminbi has strict working procedures and technical standards and the PBC has been carrying out relevant work in accordance with laws and regulations Global Times reported The bank strongly condemned the rumourmongering and has reported the case to the public security organ Chen Yaoming board director and member of the Party committee at the China Banknote Printing and Minting Corp CBPM is being investigated on suspicion of serious violation of discipline and law after turning himself in to the authorities an official statement said earlier this month Global Times reported He became the deputy general manager of the company in 2001 and director in 2021 Under the direct leadership of the Peoples Bank of China the company provides banknote printing minting banknote paper making and other services Currently the CBPM has 23 large and mediumsized enterprises including one statelevel technical centre IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/china-reports-rumours-of-313bn-bank-notes-printed-without-authorisation-182201.html Thu, 23 Dec 2021 10:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/apparel-sales-in-afghanistan-crash-after-taliban-takeover-182256.html New Delhi Dec 22 After the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan sales of clothes in general and womens clothes in particular have faced a sharp fall Raha Press reported Clothes sellers in Herat province said compared to last year womens clothes sales have reduced by 70 per cent One such businessman Faramarz Mohammadi said Afghanistans future is dark and people are not in the mood to buy clothes the report said On such a day last year I earned 10 to 15 thousand Afs on a daily basis but now I can hardly make 1 Afs on most of the days Mohammadi said According to him Afghans are fleeing from their country due to increasing poverty and economic collapse People sell their house furniture to escape rather than buying clothes Asif Heidari a shopkeeper in Leilami street in Herat said as per the report When people sell their house furniture it means economic collapse and the Afghan people will die from starvation unless the world community recognizes the new rulers in Kabul Heidari said According to him tens and hundreds of Afghan youths flee the country due to poverty every day but they are forcibly returned back since they tried illegal ways to neighbouring countries Afghan youths are disgraced due to lack of income and the killing poverty he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/apparel-sales-in-afghanistan-crash-after-taliban-takeover-182256.html Thu, 23 Dec 2021 13:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/chinese-social-media-slams-intel-for-stance-on-uyghur-region-182267.html New Delhi Dec 22 Chinese state media has slammed US tech company Intel following the latters recent statement requiring all its supply chain not to source goods or services or use labour from Northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Analysts said that Intels discriminative stance against Xinjiang coming at a time when the US government intensified crackdown on Chinese technology companies is a calibrated cunning move that aims to please the US government while the move will only cause limited harm to its business Global Times reported But some analysts warned that Intels discrimination against Chinas Xinjiang region will backfire among Chinese customers and end users and taint its international image adding that the move will eventually take a toll on Intels sales in China its largest source of business revenue the report said Chinese netizens tsunami of anger was reflected in the comments left on Intels Chinese Weibo account with majority of them demanding Intel should apologise and clarify its statement about Xinjiang According to a policy statement released by Intel earlier this month the company said that multiple governments have imposed restrictions on products sourced from the Xinjiang region Therefore Intel is required to ensure our supply chain does not use any labour or source goods or services from the Xinjiang region while stressing that the company prohibits the use of any human trafficked labour such as forced debtbonded prison indentured or slave labour China has remained Intels top revenue generator since 2015 according to its annual financial statements the report said In 2020 Intel generated 2026 billion from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong market in total Analysts said that Intels competitors such as Qualcomm have done a better job in forging closer ties with Chinese market players the report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/chinese-social-media-slams-intel-for-stance-on-uyghur-region-182267.html Thu, 23 Dec 2021 14:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/freight-train-service-launched-to-boost-trade-between-pak-iran-and-turkey-182062.html New Delhi Dec 22 A freight train service was inaugurated in Islamabad with an aim to boost trade between Pakistan Iran and Turkey Dawn reported Pakistan Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati along with Pak Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Adviser to the Pak Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood inaugurated the IslamabadTehranIstanbul ITI freight train at Margalla railway station Ambassadors of Turkey Iran Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan were also present on the occasion The freight train service will play a vital role in improving the economies and lives of citizens of ECO member states by maximising economic efficiency and reducing the cost of doing business the report said Pak Railways Minister Swati highlighted the importance of ITI freight trains and said this service would open doors for business and connectivity in the region The passenger train service will also start soon he said adding We have opened our trade routes and it is a great opportunity for importers and exporters Pak Foreign Minister Qureshi appreciated the resumption of ITI freight train and said the service would play an important role in regional connectivity and promoting economic activity in the region Turkish Ambassador Mustafa Yurdakul expressed the hope that the train service would not stop at Istanbul only but go all the way to Europe which would benefit all regional countries as the economies bounced back in the postCovid era the report said ITI freight train will be operated regularly on Tuesday of every week The freight train had nine wagons initially said a senior railway official As per present arrangement to start the train and the schedule agreed jointly by Turkey Iran and Pakistan the running time between DrenceKapikoy Istanbul and ZahidanTabraiz Iran will be 90 hours each From Zahidan to Islamabad the train would take 1355 hours IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/freight-train-service-launched-to-boost-trade-between-pak-iran-and-turkey-182062.html Wed, 22 Dec 2021 19:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pak-military-sources-say-zardari-should-name-person-who-contacted-him-182089.html New Delhi Dec 22 Asif Ali Zardari should name the person who had contacted him on behalf of the Pakistan establishment and sought his help for a future setup a senior Pakistan defence source said The News reported The source lamented that every now and then statements are made and hints are given about deals with Pak establishment which is both unfortunate and irresponsible If Zardari is truthful he should name the person who had contacted him and sought his help the source said The source holding an important position said that the defence officials do not want to get engaged in any unnecessary debate with such politicians who are issuing weird statements without any solid basis the report said The source said there is a general trend of blaming the military establishment for every matter Often people talk about deals with the establishment but never name those who are approaching them or with whom they are making the deals PPP CoChairman and former Pak president Asif Ali Zardari said Monday that he had to think of the future as those who had formulas were asking for help He did not name the military establishment but it was clear from his indirect reference given in his speech Without naming anyone the former president said he had told certain quarters no talks possible till the government was sent packing the report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pak-military-sources-say-zardari-should-name-person-who-contacted-him-182089.html Wed, 22 Dec 2021 21:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-women-were-studying-in-varsities-before-creation-of-pakistan-181899.html New Delhi Dec 20 Afghans former politicians Taliban activists and social media activists took to social media and condemned Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khans recent comments over the culture of Afghans Khaama Press reported Imran Khan on Sunday at the OICs session in Islamabad said that not allowing women to get an education has been part of the culture of the Afghan people and the world should respect that Former President Hamid Karzai said that the statements of Imran Khan are inflammatory and disrespectful and asked Khan to stop interfering in Afghanistans internal affairs Afghanistans former envoy to Norway Shukria Barakzai also said that comments show his lack of knowledge of Afghanistans history the report said Leader of Pashtoon Tahafuz Movement PTM Manzoor Pashteen in a Twitter post also condemned and said that Imran Khans comments are false and negative Pashteen said that Pashoons never denied education to girls nor denied their rights Stop this colonialism he wrote In the meantime a large number of social media activists posted photos and video clips of ancient Afghanistan where women would go to universities and schools and they were part of the cabinets in different governments Some said that Kabul University was founded in 1932 while Pakistan emerged in 1947 Furthermore Taliban activists on social media also reacted to Imran Khans statements and added that his comments are a humiliation to the Afghan people and the Islamic system the report said Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is yet to comment on the remarks of Imran Khan IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-women-were-studying-in-varsities-before-creation-of-pakistan-181899.html Wed, 22 Dec 2021 06:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/maryam-nawaz-can-be-a-model-says-leading-pak-photographer-181780.html New Delhi Dec 20 Pak Opposition leader and PMLN Vice President Maryam Nawaz remained the focus of attention during her son Junaid Safdar wedding festivities as the internet was flooded with her pictures and videos over the past couple of days The News reported Pictures of the events went viral on social media and people just cant seem to get enough of the various looks the grooms mother displayed over the course of the celebrations The News reported Along with many on social media the official photographer for the event was equally impressed by Maryam Nawaz Irfan Ahson who was the man behind the camera for the festivities shared his experience of covering Junaid Safdars wedding functions in an interview with Samaa TV Her personality you know is very understated so you know the camera loves her I am a photographer but she can be a model he told the TV channel If I get a chance I will take a picture of Maryam Nawaz and would gift it to her Irfan Ahson took Imran Khans official photos at the PM Office after he was sworn in on August 2018 IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/maryam-nawaz-can-be-a-model-says-leading-pak-photographer-181780.html Tue, 21 Dec 2021 17:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/china-buying-influence-to-manipulate-facebook-and-twitter-181854.html New Delhi Dec 20 A new set of documents show how Chinese officials tap private businesses to generate content on demand draw followers track critics That operation increasingly plays out on international platforms like Twitter and Facebook which the Chinese government blocks at home New York Times reported The documents which were part of a request for bids from contractors offer a rare glimpse into how Chinas vast bureaucracy works to spread propaganda and sculpt opinion on global social media the report said In May Shanghai police posted a notice online seeking bids from private contractors for what is known among Chinese officialdom as public opinion management Officials have relied on tech contractors to help them keep up with domestic social media and actively shape public opinion via censorship and the dissemination of fake posts at home Only recently have officials and the opinion management industry turned their attention beyond China New York Times reported Shanghai police is looking to create hundreds of fake accounts on Twitter Facebook and other major social media platforms The police department emphasizes that the task is time sensitive suggesting that it wants to be ready to unleash the accounts quickly to steer discussion the report said Botlike networks of accounts such as those that the Shanghai police wants to buy have driven an online surge in proChina traffic over the past two years Sometimes the social media posts from those networks bolster official government accounts with likes or reposts Other times they attack social media users who are critical of government policies the report said Bot networks that have been linked to Chinas government stand out for their lack of engagement with other accounts disinformation experts say Though they can be used to troll others and boost the number of likes on official government posts most of those automated accounts have little influence individually since they have few followers it added The authorities used a phrase common among Chinas internet police that refers to tracking down the actual person behind a social media account touching the ground With growing frequency the countrys internet police has hunted down and threatened internet users who voice their opinions At first its agents focused on local social media platforms In 2018 they began a new campaign to detain users of Twitter inside China account owners who had found ways around the governments blocks and force them to delete their accounts the report said Now the campaign has extended to Chinese citizens who live outside of China The document spells out how the Shanghai police wants to discover the identities of people behind certain accounts and to trace their users connections to the mainland Its officers can then threaten family members in China or detain the account holders when they return to the country in order to compel online critics to delete posts or even entire accounts New York Times reported Three weeks after the Shanghai police departments request became public a company called Shanghai Cloud Link won the bid the documents show In its pitch the company listed itself as having just 20 employees According to the LinkedIn page of its founder Wei Guolin the company works with multinational firms and provides services in digital government and smart cities Wei did not respond to a request for comment The Shanghai Pudong Public Security Bureau did not respond to a faxed request for comment Work like what Shanghai Cloud Link pitched is likely just the tip of the iceberg Local governments and police across China have put out similar requests for services to influence overseas social media but often in vague terms Occasionally specifics are revealed In 2017 for instance the police in Inner Mongolia purchased software that allowed government trolls to post directly to multiple social media sites inside and outside of China according to documents reviewed by The New York Times the report said In another case a contractor had downloaded hundreds of access credentials for Facebooks public feed allowing it to collect data about who commented on which posts and when Facebook did not immediately comment the report said In previous Chinese information campaigns botlike accounts have been used to add an unrealistic number of likes and retweets to government and state media posts The contrived flurry of traffic can make the posts more likely to be shown by recommendation algorithms on many social media sites and search engines New York Times reported In recent weeks a similar pattern emerged from a network of botlike accounts amplifying evidence that was issued by statemedia journalists purporting to show that tennis player Peng Shuai was safe freely eating dinner in Beijing and attending a youth tennis tournament the report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/china-buying-influence-to-manipulate-facebook-and-twitter-181854.html Tue, 21 Dec 2021 23:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/morocco-urged-to-cancel-extradition-of-uyghur-to-china-181601.html New Delhi Dec 20 An online petition has been launched asking Morocco to cancel the extradition order of Idres Hasan an Uyghur man to China and immediately release him The petition said at the current moment millions of Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims including many family members of Uyghurs across the global diaspora are currently locked up in Chinese concentration camps tortured killed and sentenced to long term imprisonment Harm of Chinese persecution is not limited to the people inside East Turkistan Uyghurs around the world are facing persecution by the countries who had close economic and diplomatic relationship with China as China labelling every Uyghur Muslims as a terrorist Hasan a 34yearold computer software programmer and father of three young children was arrested on July 23 while travelling from Turkey to Morocco and taken to prison near to the Tiflet town On December 15 activists learned that Morocco decided to deport him to China This deportation means a death penalty and is against every single international law the petition said He has valid Turkish residency permit Moroccos decision of deporting Idris is supporting shameless crime of Chinas current genocide in East Turkistan IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/morocco-urged-to-cancel-extradition-of-uyghur-to-china-181601.html Tue, 21 Dec 2021 00:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/un-backed-investigator-into-yemen-war-crimes-targeted-by-nso-spyware-181628.html New Delhi Dec 20 The mobile phone of a UNbacked investigator who was examining possible war crimes in Yemen was targeted with spyware made by Israels NSO Group the Guardian reported citing a new forensic analysis of the device Kamel Jendoubi a Tunisian who served as the chairman of the now defunct Group of Eminent Experts in Yemen GEE a panel mandated by the UN to investigate possible war crimes was targeted in August 2019 according to an analysis of his mobile phone by experts at Amnesty International and the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto the report said The targeting is claimed to have occurred just weeks before Jendoubi and his panel of experts released a damning which concluded that the Saudiled coalition in the Yemen war had committed serious violations of international humanitarian law that could lead to criminal responsibility for war crimes Jendoubis mobile number also appears on a leaked database at the heart of the Pegasus Project an investigation into NSO by the Guardian and other media outlets which was coordinated by Forbidden Stories the French nonprofit media group The leaked list contained numbers of individuals who were believed to have been selected as potential surveillance targets by NSOs government clients the report added IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/un-backed-investigator-into-yemen-war-crimes-targeted-by-nso-spyware-181628.html Tue, 21 Dec 2021 04:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pakistan-turkey-malaysia-launching-joint-tv-channel-181650.html New Delhi Dec 20 Pakistan Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain says a joint television channel would be set up to promote media links between Islamabad Turkey and Malaysia Radio Pakistan reported Talking to the media in Islamabad he said focal persons have been named for media sharing and the joint media network will be formed The Minister said issues of extremism need to be tackled in Pakistan Malaysia and other Muslim countries He suggested that under the OIC platform a unit of scholars should be named to provide guidance on religious issues Earlier this year Pakistan and Turkey had announced that the two they are collectively bringing a period drama on the life of Salahuddin Ayyubi Geo News reported A warrior and founder of the Ayyubid Dynasty Salahuddin also known as Saladin is one of the most celebrated Muslim rules around the world The series will jointly be produced by Pakistans Ansari Shah Films and Emre Konuk owner of Turkeys Akli Films After the official announcement Turkish producer Emre Konuk turned to his Twitter dubbed the agreement prolific on a blessed Friday night IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pakistan-turkey-malaysia-launching-joint-tv-channel-181650.html Tue, 21 Dec 2021 07:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/islamic-bloc-not-willing-to-channel-afghan-assistance-through-taliban-181522.html New Delhi Dec 20 The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation OIC has set up a humanitarian fund to be operated by the Islamic Development Bank IDB to help avert the humanitarian and economic crises in Afghanistan The Express Tribune reported Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi admitted that another reason the fund was set up was because some of the member countries were not willing to channel assistance through the Taliban government the report said The announcement of the fund was part of the measures the 57member Islamic bloc agreed upon after the 17th Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of OIC hosted by Pakistan However it is unclear if the decisions made by the OIC will make an immediate impact on the ground in Afghanistan which is in dire need of humanitarian assistance the report said The humanitarian fund would channel financial assistance to be provided by member states to Afghanistan The reason the trust fund has been set up is to establish a channel through which assistance could be provided to the people of Afghanistan Currently because of the sanctions imposed by the US and other Western countries there are no formal banking channels or financial system operating in Afghanistan the report added In the absence of formal banking channels the countries interested in helping the people of Afghanistan are finding it difficult to do so Qureshi who held a joint news conference along with OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha said the establishment of a trust fund would help address that problem However no pledges or donations were made yet to the newly created fund as Qureshi said the fund was just announced and hopefully member countries would start contributing to it soon IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/islamic-bloc-not-willing-to-channel-afghan-assistance-through-taliban-181522.html Mon, 20 Dec 2021 15:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pakistan-mustnt-interfere-in-afghan-affairs-hamid-karzai-181445.html Kabul Dec 20 Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said that Islamabad must not interfere in Kabuls internal affairs a statement which came in response to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khans remark about the ongoing political situation in the wartorn nation as well as the threat posed by the Islamic State terror group the media reported On Sunday while addressing the 17th Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation OIC in Islamabad Khan had said that if the Talibanled government in Afghanistan doesnt have the capability to fight terrorism the IS will become a threat He also said that unless immediate action is taken Afghanistan is heading for chaos In response Karzai said these allegations were not true adding that the IS from the beginning has been threatening Afghanistan from Pakistan not the other way around TOLO News reported These remarks are not true and are obvious propaganda against Afghanistan the former leader said in a statement In fact from the beginning Afghanistan has been facing Daeshs threat from Pakistan Also reacting to Khans claim that poverty was widespread in Afghanistan even before the former governments collapse due to years of corruption Karzai said the Pakistan government must stop interfering in Afghanistans affairs and stop talking on behalf of Kabul at international gatherings He also said such remarks insult the people of Afghanistan IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/pakistan-mustnt-interfere-in-afghan-affairs-hamid-karzai-181445.html Mon, 20 Dec 2021 10:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-markets-mired-with-high-prices-despite-rise-of-currency-value-181472.html Kabul Dec 20 Despite the US dollar depreciating against the afghani Afghanistans national currency the prices of essential items like food and fuel still remained high The US dollar depreciated to 98 afghanis on Sunday from 130 afghanis days ago reports Xinhua news agency I face a lot of problems at home but when I visit local bazaars I face much bigger problems including the high price of basic goods and foodstuff The price of essential goods is doubled in comparison with a month ago Sayyed Mohammad a resident from northern Jawzjan province told Xinhua He said the prices of goods skyrocketed following a sharp decline of afghani value early this week The rate of foreign currencies has dropped in recent days but the price of food gas and fuel as well as car rent did not drop so far Since the takeover of Afghanistan in August and the formation of the Talibanled caretaker government in September the country has faced economic problems Basic services in Afghanistan are collapsing while food and other lifesaving aid are about to run out The situation worsened following the freezing of over 9 billion of Da Afghanistan Bank DAB the countrys central bank assets by the US as well as a halt of funds by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund IMF We are facing a major economic crisis and the reason behind the crisis is the freeze of Afghanistans assets by the United States I came to Kabul to withdraw my savings from a private bank after I failed to get money in my hometown however I failed to collect money despite wasting time and waiting for days Mohammad said If the US does not return our assets Afghans will face a humanitarian catastrophe soon he said The Taliban caretaker government has repeatedly called upon the US to unfreeze assets with aid agencies warning of acute food shortages for more than 22 million Afghans in the coming winter I have been trying to get my salary for two weeks after a government announcement There is uncertainty in banks around the country we cannot get our savings or salaries from our own accounts Mohammad Sharif a civil servant said The majority of some 400000 state employees have only received wages of two months since July The Taliban government has announced that civil servant can receive their salaries however problems and crises in the banks remained a hurdle for servants to get salary on time according to Sharif The government is facing a financial crisis amid a decline in revenue and it is still unable to pay the salaries of the several remaining months On one side business owners have increased the prices of their goods because the foreign currencies are rising quickly On the other side most Afghans have so little in their wallets to buy food and firewood as the winter is coming he said The recent crisis has forced many Afghans to flee the country but the Taliban officials have been trying to convince the people to stay promising them that the challenges will be solved in near future Unfortunately the Afghan citizens no longer have enough money to buy goods everyone is suffering a stifling economic crisis said Salim Khan a Kabul resident IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-markets-mired-with-high-prices-despite-rise-of-currency-value-181472.html Mon, 20 Dec 2021 12:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-girls-team-evacuation-to-uk-in-controversy-as-real-players-left-behind-in-kabul-181393.html New Delhi Dec 19 Afghan officials have claimed that real members of the Afghan girls football team were left behind in Kabul to make space for senior players friends Daily Mail reported It was reported that the teenagers the youth development squad and their families would now enjoy a new life in Britain partly thanks to US reality TV star Kim Kardashian who had paid for the flight The mercy mission has been soured by a bitter war of words with senior figures in Afghan football claiming that members of the squad were left behind to make way for friends of senior players the report said Much of the criticism has been levelled at former national team captain Khalida Popal who arranged places on the flight the report said Arezo Rahimi head of womens football at the Afghan Football Association said The majority of the people on Popals list are not players and their families at all Most players from the development team are still trapped in Afghanistan  they are living in fear and have no hope of getting out The BBC reported in October that the 35member squad aged 13 to 19 had escaped Kabul and on November 18 they arrived in the UK with their families upon arriving in Britain Popal said that around 25 players were on board adding that the definition of a youth squad in Afghanistan includes people as old as 23 However the list she prepared includes two basketball players and even a 32yearold footballer the Daily Mail reported Rahimi and three former players have analysed the flight list but could identify only 15 footballers among the 132 people on board A separate list produced by Rahimi shows that 28 eligible players aged between 11 and 18 are still in Afghanistan Shamila Kohestani a former captain of the Afghan womens national football team said These athletes have risked their lives to play a game they love and now their lives are at risk again But nobody is helping them while other people were evacuated who are not football players IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-girls-team-evacuation-to-uk-in-controversy-as-real-players-left-behind-in-kabul-181393.html Sun, 19 Dec 2021 23:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/uyghur-woman-recalls-torture-at-china-labour-camp-181395.html New Delhi Dec 19 An Uyghur woman who was arrested in northern Chinas Xinjiang region has recalled the physical torture she endured during her detention at a labour camp saying that she was gang raped and her my private parts were tortured with electricity the New York Post reported Youre left with marks on your body that make you not want to look at yourself the newspaper quoted Tursunay Ziyawudun as saying Her story is tragically not uncommon for members of the minority Uyghur community with Turkish roots in President XI Jinpings China the report said They gave me sterilisation pills said Ziyawudun I am pretty sure that is why I cannot have a baby now Since around 2016 the Uyghurs have been pulled off streets and sent to reeducation camps where reports have surfaced about people being tortured raped and even killed They are sent there under the auspices of learning a trade and having their patriotism reinforced the New York Post said In 2017 Ziyawudun was arrested forced by police officers to turn over her passport and taken to a prison camp about 30 minutes from her village There she was made to sing communist songs of patriotism and repeatedly told that her Muslim religion does not exist the report said After a month she developed stomach issues fainted and was released They sent me to the hospital Ziyawudun who came to the US as a political refugee in 2020 said If they hadnt I might have died The year after she was arrested she was summoned to a police station and told that she needed to complete her training She was sent back to the reeducation camp where her hair was shorn likely to be sold as a wig and her earrings were ripped out They pulled it so hard that my ears were bleeding Ziyawudun recalled I was being treating like an animal IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/uyghur-woman-recalls-torture-at-china-labour-camp-181395.html Sun, 19 Dec 2021 23:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/amrullah-saleh-colluded-with-envoy-in-tajikistan-to-withdraw-govt-money-181206.html By Sanjeev Sharma New Delhi Dec 18 Mohammad Zahir Aghbar Kabuls Ambassador to Tajikistan allegedly withdrew an amount 786000 from the bank in the Central Asian nation in collusion with Amrullah Saleh the former First Vice President of Afghanistan Nearly 786000 had been dispatched mistakenly to Afghanistans Embassy in Tajikistan according to officials while some sources claim the amount was intentionally sent and withdrawn from the embassy account Pajhwok News reported An employee of the Afghanistan embassy in Dushanbe who recently left his job and did not want to be named said the amount was transferred lately during previous government for coming three years salaries expenses health insurance and other requirement the report said He claimed It was not transferred mistakenly it was intentionally transferred and people like Amrullah Saleh finance officials of finance ministry and foreign ministry were involved Some sources claimed the amount was dispatched to meet the expenses of embassy and withdrawn by the envoy from the account in collaboration with Saleh the report said Zahir Aghbar said The Taliban regime and the Taliban letter are not official for us the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Acting President have been active The Afghan Embassy in Tajikistan has been acting in all cases under the direction of the Foreign Ministry and the Acting President and is accountable to them in all cases A letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs MoFA written to the Afghan embassy in Dushanbe on November 22 said The Ministry of Finance transferred an additional 785628 mistakenly in salaries this year The MoFA found this after assessing salary and other privileges of foreign diplomats this years the report said The embassy had been asked to return the amount to Da Afghanistan Bank since it was transferred mistakenly Afghan Finance Ministry spokesperson Ahmad Wali Haqmal acknowledged that few days before the fall of previous regime nearly 786000 had been transferred to Dushanbe mistakenly He said in the past similar mistake had happened and the money was either returned or compensated for the future expanses and issuance of salaries He added the amount sent to the embassy will be dealt with accordingly the report said Ahmad WaliHaqmal a spokesman for Ministry of Finance said This governments money transferred from official address today or tomorrow our embassy will be reopened so Aghbar should then pay the money wherever he is Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at Sanjeevsiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/amrullah-saleh-colluded-with-envoy-in-tajikistan-to-withdraw-govt-money-181206.html Sun, 19 Dec 2021 03:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/unsc-extends-mandate-of-team-monitoring-sanctions-against-taliban-linked-entities-181014.html United Nations Dec 18 The UN Security Council has decided to extend for 12 months the mandate of the team monitoring sanctions against individuals and entities associated with the Taliban as well as other individuals groups undertakings and entities associated with the Taliban in constituting a threat to the peace stability and security of Afghanistan Unanimously adopting Resolution 2611 the 15member council directed the monitoring team to gather information on instances of noncompliance with the measures imposed in Resolution 2255 and to facilitate upon request by member states capacitybuilding assistance Xinhua news agency reported It further directed the monitoring team to provide recommendations to the committee on actions taken to respond to noncompliance The council highlighted the importance of ensuring that the monitoring team receives the necessary support to effectively safely and in a timely manner fulfil its mandate The council also decided to actively review the implementation of the measures outlined in this resolution and to consider adjustments as necessary to support peace and stability in Afghanistan IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/unsc-extends-mandate-of-team-monitoring-sanctions-against-taliban-linked-entities-181014.html Sat, 18 Dec 2021 08:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/expenses-paid-for-imran-khans-household-are-out-of-the-books-180917.html New Delhi Dec 17 Retired Justice Wajihuddin Ahmed a former Pakistan TehreekeInsaf PTI member has insisted that his statement about Prime Minister Imran Khans political aides paying for his household expenses was based on truth saying if anyone wanted to file a defamation suit against him they must do so as the courts are open Dawn new reported He made these remarks while addressing reporters at the Muttahida Qaumi Movements MQM office in Karachis Bahadurabad where he had gone to meet the partys representatives for an unspecified reason Ahmed while speaking on a programme had claimed that the nowestranged PTI leader Jahangir Khan Tareen used to provide funds of up to 5 million PKR per month for Khans household expenses but offered no proof for the same This belief is entirely false that Imran Khan is a financially honest man Ahmed said His condition is such that he hasnt been running his household himself for years Ahmeds statement was denied by Tareen who tweeted that he never gave a penny for the household expenses of Banigala  the palatial hilltop residence of the Prime Minister When questioned about Tareens denial of his claim Ahmed said the sugar baron had no other option except to refuse to admit the fact These expenses are out of the books and are not accounted for Hence it was easy for him to deny it he claimed Ahmed who was flanked by MQMs Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui the former IT minister whose party is a crucial ally of the ruling PTI was asked by reporters about the governments decision to pursue legal proceedings against him for his statement Unfazed Ahmed replied that anyone could exercise their right to file a defamation suit the report said Pausing as the call to prayer began during his media talk Ahmed remarked that the Azaan is a testimony that an honest man is speaking IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/expenses-paid-for-imran-khans-household-are-out-of-the-books-180917.html Fri, 17 Dec 2021 19:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/humanitarian-aid-continues-during-afghanistan-liquidity-crisis-un-180506.html United Nations New York Dec 16 In an example of the cost of the Afghanistan liquidity crisis UN humanitarians said that 100 businesses closed in Jalalabad city Food shops and other commercial businesses in the city of an estimated 22 million people in Nangarhar province shuttered following currency devaluation and high food and commodity prices the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA added on Wednesday The World Food Programme WFP reports giving food to nearly 150000 people in Badakhshan Takhar Kandahar Helmand and Uruzgan provinces and cash assistance to nearly 6000 people in Badakhshan Kabul Panjshir and Kunduz provinces on Monday OCHA said So far this year 15 million people received food assistance with 7 million people assisted in November alone up from 4 million in September the office added The WFP also prepositioned food in strategic locations across the northeast and central highlands of Afghanistan where heavy winter snow can cut off communities from assistance OCHA said The UN Food and Agriculture Organization FAO said that as of November 30 it supported 223 million people in 2021 across 31 out of Afghanistans 34 provinces In November alone it assisted more than 800000 people The food agency added it provided wheat seeds across 30 provinces through the winter wheat campaign At the end of the month and the campaign FAO will have helped 13 million people enabling farmers to produce enough wheat to cover the cereal needs of 17 million people for one year Humanitarians warn needs are growing far greater than resources as prices soar Xinhua news agency reported Donors provided nearly 15 billion for this years two humanitarian appeals for Afghanistan OCHA said Included were 762 million or 126 per cent of the 606 million required for the Flash Appeal and 730 million or 84 per cent of the 869 million sought in the Humanitarian Response Plan HRP The office said that the HRP for 2022 seeks three times the funding required this year 44 billion to reach 22 million people with support IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/humanitarian-aid-continues-during-afghanistan-liquidity-crisis-un-180506.html Thu, 16 Dec 2021 05:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/putin-pledges-to-attend-beijing-winter-olympics-180643.html Moscow Dec 16 Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged to attend the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing making him the first major western leader to confirme his attendance at the games BBC reported His remarks came in a video call with Chinese President Xi Jinping who said he looked forward to a gettogether It comes as a growing number of countries have joined a diplomatic boycott of the games This is due to alleged human rights abuses in China which Beijing denies the BBC report added I would like to point out that we always support each other when it comes to international sports cooperation including our position against attempts to politicise sports and the Olympic Movement said Putin in comments carried by stateowned media outlet The Global Times China has been accused of genocide in its repression of the predominantly Muslim Uyghur minority in Xinjiang an allegation it has repeatedly rejected the BBC reported Chinas suppression of political freedoms in Hong Kong and concerns for Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai who was not seen in public for weeks after she accused a top government official of sexual assault in November are also among the diplomatic issues that have arisen the report said The US UK and Australia and Canada have said their highlevel officials will not be attending the winter games which will take place in February as a result IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/putin-pledges-to-attend-beijing-winter-olympics-180643.html Thu, 16 Dec 2021 18:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/chinese-ai-company-delays-ipo-after-us-blacklist-180222.html New Delhi Dec 13 Chinese AI company SenseTime is postponing its big stock market debut after once again getting caught up in tensions between the US and China CNN reported The Chinese artificial intelligence startup announced Monday that it would delay its widely anticipated initial public offering in Hong Kong where it had planned to raise up to 767 million It was set to start trading as soon as this week On Friday the US Treasury Department placed the firm on a list of Chinese militaryindustrial complex companies in which US President Joe Biden has banned Americans from investing the report said The US Treasury said that SenseTime was sanctioned because of the role its technology plays in enabling human rights abuses against the Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang accusations that SenseTime has strongly denied CNN reported The company said in a stock exchange filing Monday that it would postpone the listing to safeguard the interests of the potential investors of the company and allow them to consider the potential impact of the US move on any investments the report said Investors in Hong Kong who had already applied to take part in the IPO will receive refunds it added SenseTime said that it still remains committed to completing the global offering and the listing soon It noted Monday that it would release an updated prospectus for investors with a new expected timetable Fridays announcement isnt the first time SenseTime has run into trouble with Washington In 2019 the companys Beijing subsidiary was placed on a US entity list barring it from buying US products or importing American technology without a special license the report added At that time the US government also cited concerns about the western Chinese region of Xinjiang and links that facial recognition software firms like SenseTime had to the region While the use of such technology in policing and domestic security is widespread across China it is especially prevalent in Xinjiang where up to two million people from Uyghur and other ethnic Muslim minorities have allegedly been put into internment camps according to the US State Department the report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/chinese-ai-company-delays-ipo-after-us-blacklist-180222.html Wed, 15 Dec 2021 03:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-taliban-distance-themselves-from-ttp-180223.html By Hamza Ameer Kabul Dec 13 The Afghan Taliban who are now running the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan IEA have distanced themselves from the recent claims by the banned terror outfit in Pakistan which claimed to be a branch of the IEA The Afghan Taliban statements comes after the TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTP chief Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud claimed that the organisation is a branch of the IEA calling TTP being operated under what he called a larger umbrella of the IEA TehreekeTaliban Pakistan is a branch of Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan and is part of that umbrella on this land stated Noor Wali Mehsud in a video in which he is seen addressing the TTP fighters However the TTP claim was brushed aside by the IEA spokesperson who said that TTP is not part of it They are not as an organization part of IEA and we do not share the same objectives said Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid We advise TTP to focus on peace and stability in their country This is very important so they can prevent any chance for enemies to interfere in the region and in Pakistan And we request Pakistan to look into their demands for the better of the region and Pakistan Calling the issue of tackling TTP Pakistans internal matter Mujahid said that IEA has maintained it would not interfere in other countrys affairs We do not interfere in Pakistans affairs he added The IEA rejection to own up to TTP comes at a time when it acknowledged mediating talks and negotiations between Pakistan and the terror group which led to the monthlong ceasefire It was the mediation of the Afghan Taliban that facilitated and materialized the ceasefire during November which the TTP later declined to extend any further As per the agreement between TTP and the Pakistan government both sides accepted that the IEA would play the role of a mediator and that both sides would form a fivemember committees each which would discuss the future course of action and demands under the supervision of the IEA as the mediator The ceasefire agreement that stayed on from November 1 to 30 included consent to release of at least 102 imprisoned militants of the TTP who would be handed over to the TTP through the IEA But TTP claims that the Pakistan government failed to implement the decisions reached and opted to conduct raids detaining and killing TTP militants Under the circumstances it is not possible to extend the ceasefire read a statement issued by the TTP While the IEA has distanced itself from TTP it is a known fact that TTP has been an umbrella branch of the Afghan Taliban and has operated under the same in the country IEA decision to distance itself from TTP may be taken as a big blow to the TTP as Pakistan may launch a major offensive against the group On the other hand IEA facilitation of previous talks may continue to try and engage with both parties through back channels and help them silently in reaching another agreement without officially owning up to the group IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/afghan-taliban-distance-themselves-from-ttp-180223.html Wed, 15 Dec 2021 03:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-rebuild-bridges-roads-in-kandahar-180012.html Kabul Dec 13 Authorities of the Talibanled government in Afghanistan have started reconstruction work of bridges and roads in Kandahar provinces which were damaged during the war over the past two decades a local official said A total of 53 bridges and culverts out of 103 have been reconstructed while the rest are still being rebuilt Xinhua news agency quoted to the provincial head of public work Mullah Nematullah Saraji as saying The official noted that reconstruction work of roads connecting the city of Kandahar with Spin Boldak and Shorabak districts is ongoing and will be completed in the near future Health clinics and schools damaged during war in the past two decades will also be rebuilt in parts of the Kandahar province the official added IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/taliban-rebuild-bridges-roads-in-kandahar-180012.html Tue, 14 Dec 2021 08:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/ttp-intensifies-attacks-in-pakistan-180070.html By Hamza Ameer Peshawar Dec 13 The TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTP terror group has intensified its targeted attacks on security personnel across the country after ending a monthlong ceasefire agreement In the latest such incident unidentified gunmen shot dead a policeman who was guarding a polio vaccination team in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KP province on Sunday making it the second consecutive killing in two days On Saturday two men associated with the TTP shot dead a policeman who was guarding another polio vaccination team in the same area Two gunmen riding a motorbike opened fire on a policeman who was guarding a twomember female polio vaccination team in Sheikh Uttar area killing him on the spot said Sajjad Khan district police chief of Tank area Sundays attack was not claimed by any organisation but the militant group said they had carried out the earlier one The latest attacks come as the TTP refused to give any extension to the monthlong ceasefire agreed with the Pakistan government The group accused the Pakistani authorities of violating the terms of the agreement and rejected any possibility of extending the agreement any further In an audio statement Noor Ali Mehsud a senior leader of the TTP said that no progress was made in the fresh negotiations with government Mehsud was heard calling on his TTP fighters to restart their attacks as the ceasefire agreement term had ended and that it would not be extended any further TTP has had a rigid standing against the polio vaccination campaign in the country It claims that the vaccination campaigns are a western conspiracy to sterilise children It should be noted that late Al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Ladens hideout in Abbottabad KP was found through a similar polio vaccination campaign which was carried out by doctor Shakil Afridi The menace of terrorism has haunted Pakistan for decades now while polio has remained rampant Pakistan has been struggling to curb the spread of the virus making such polio vaccination drives pivotal to the cause The World Health Organization WHO made it mandatory for all people travelling from Pakistan to have polio vaccination certificate Pakistan government maintains that it would call on TTP to extend the ceasefire agreement insisting that it is ready to abide by the agreed terms of the agreement However the countrys leadership has also warned that any terror activity by the group will be dealt with accordingly IANS https://dailyworld.in/afghan-crisis/ttp-intensifies-attacks-in-pakistan-180070.html Tue, 14 Dec 2021 14:27:00 +0530