UPDATES – November 18, 2021
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Three IS Fighters Killed In Taliban’s Operation In Kabul
Members of the Taliban movement conducted an operation against an Islamic State unit (IS, banned in Russia) in the north of Kabul in Afghanistan, killing at least three fighters, a source in the Kabul police told Sputnik on Thursday.
The area is now under the control of the Taliban security forces, according to the source.
On Wednesday, a Sputnik source reported that two explosions had occurred in Kabul. The first explosion thundered in the Dasht-e Archi area, claiming the lives of four people and injuring two more, according to locals. The second explosion occurred in the western part of Kabul, killing five civilians with seven others injured. The IS terrorist group later claimed responsibility for the two blasts.
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Russia Evacuates CSTO Citizens From Afghanistan At Putin’s Order – Kremlin
The Russian Defense Ministry is evacuating citizens of Russian and Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) countries at orders of President Vladimir Putin, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.
Earlier in the day, three Russian Il-76 military transport aircraft arrived in Afghanistan on Thursday to evacuate 380 people.
“There are not only citizens of Russia, but also citizens from some CSTO countries, from other countries. This is the evacuation of those citizens who have wished (to leave Afghanistan), who need to leave the territory of Afghanistan, taking into account the fact there is very difficult situation there,” Peskov told reporters.
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Economic crisis hits orphanages in Afghanistan
Thousands of children staying in orphanages had to be sent to their relatives’ homes due to the economic crisis that deepened with the Taliban’s takeover of power in Afghanistan, Anadolu News Agency reports.
According to the information gathered from officials, there are 68 orphanages, including private orphanages, but 26 of them closed due to the economic situation of the country.
Speaking to the Anadolu Agency, managers of the orphanage said some active orphanages might close if financial problems are not resolved.
It is learned that 9,319 children were staying in orphanages before the Taliban, but 3,566 of them, which makes 4 out of 10 children, were sent to their relatives’ homes due to the economic crisis.
Mucibi Rahman Hotak,, the manager of the orphanage in the capital, Kabul, said they cannot meet the daily needs of children such as food, clothes and medical supplies.
“We need everything from food to winter materials such as coal and clothes to keep them warm, and stationery products for their education,” he added.
Feyzan Ahmed Kaker, the director of Afghanistan orphanages, said there are some problems that remained from the previous government but the essential problem is food for children.
“If opportunities are provided and the economic situation improves, children sent to their relatives can apply to orphanages again,” he added.
Stating that, even now, some children are applying but they cannot accept them due to the impossibility and limited activity of orphanages in some provinces.
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Second Blast In Kabul Kills Five People – Source
Another blast hit the western part of Kabul on Wednesday and killed five people, a source told Sputnik.
“There was a second explosion … five civilians were killed and seven were injured,” the source said, adding that gunshots were heard after the blast.
Earlier in the day, the first explosion killed four people in Kabul, according to eyewitnesses.
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UN Security Council to hold meeting on Afghanistan
The United Nation’s Security Council (UNSC) is expected to hold a meeting on the situation in Afghanistan on Wednesday, the United Nations Assistance Mission (UNAMA) said in a tweet Tuesday.
“The situation in Afghanistan will be addressed by the Security Council tomorrow, Wednesday, starting 15:00 in New York (00:30 Thursday Kabul local),” tweeted UNAMA.
UNAMA added that Deborah Lyons, UN Secretary General Special Representative for Afghanistan will address the meeting.
No further details were given.
Last week, the United Nations announced that it had quietly extended a lifeline to Afghanistan’s health system after providing $15 million to avoid the collapse of the entire sector.
By the time the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) took control of the country in mid-August, most healthcare workers had not been paid and essential supplies such as medicine and food were scarce.
But the UN Development Programme (UNDP), under an agreement with the Global Fund, had managed to work a way to inject money into the system and salaries were paid to over 23,000 health workers, in nearly 2,200 health facilities in 31 provinces.
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Afghan militia commander, Dostum’s aide arrested in Iran
Iran’s Ministry of Interior Affairs announced that Nizamuddin Qaisari a former militia commander and aide of Abdul Rashid Dostum accused for fabricating documents arrested.
Head of the residents and refugees of Iran’s Interior Ministry Mehdi Mahmoodi said that Qaisari had come to Iran illegally and was making fake documents for Afghans.
Mahmoodi said that Nizamuddin Qaisari had three different offices in Tehran and Karaj city where he would fabricate documents for Afghan refugees.
Qaisari would reportedly charge people large amounts of money for providing them with fabricating documents.
Nizamuddin Qaisari was arrested days after the Taliban took over Afghanistan on August 15 who was then released and went to Iran.
Qaisari was one of the notorious commanders in the northern Balkh province of Afghanistan where he was leading anti-government people uprising.
Previous Afghan government had conducted several operations to arrest him but had failed.
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Processing of passports suspended due to ‘technical problem’
Alam Gul Haqqani, head of the General Directorate of Passports, said late Monday in a video message that processing of passports at the office in Kabul has been suspended until further notice.
He attributed the decision to a technical problem – specifically with the biometric system.
Haqqani, head of the passport department, said the process would resume in Kabul once the problem was resolved.
He also said that the distribution of passports had started in provinces other than Kabul, and that this would continue.
The distribution process started last week in Balkh, Herat, Kandahar, Kunduz, Nangarhar, Khost and Paktia provinces.
Meanwhile, Interior Ministry spokesman Saeed Khosti said the ministry had arrested 60 people on charges of forging documents, including passports.
Khosti wrote on Twitter: “The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has arrested 60 fake passport makers, commissioners, and fake notice makers in the name of the Islamic Emirate. Among them are employees of the passport department.”
After the fall of the previous government, the distribution of passports was suspended for almost two months.
According to officials from the passport department, about 100,000 passports have been issued in the last 40 days.
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U.S and Russia Discussed Common Interests in Afghanistan
According to reports, the U.S special envoy for Afghanistan Thomas West met with his Russian counterpart Zamir Kabulov in Moscow and discussed important issues, including Afghanistan.
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MAN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY TRAFFICKING 130 WOMEN IN AFGHANISTAN
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Malaysia is assisting Afghanistan in various fields
The Deputy Prime Minister, Maulvi Prime Minister, met with the officials of Muslim Care Malaysia Foundation.
According to Bakhtar News Agency, During the meeting, representatives of the Malaysian Aid Foundation pledged cooperation and support to Afghanistan in the fields of agriculture, irrigation and livestock.
They said that the people of Afghanistan are poor and need cooperation and they are ready to cooperate with the people in various fields especially in agriculture and livestock sector.
Meanwhile, the Technical Deputy Minister of Agriculture said that Malaysia is an Islamic country and the Islamic Emirate expects it to support Afghan farmers and herdsmen.
He added that the advent of the Islamic Emirate has paved the way for the implementation of all kinds of development activities in the country. He said that he hoped that the people would be helped to solve their economic problems.
The Deputy Minister said that much of Afghanistan’s agriculture, irrigation and livestock sector needed to be rehabilitated and more cooperation was needed in these areas.
In the end, the team presented a certificate of appreciation and a medal to the Technical Deputy Minister of Agriculture.
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Central bank to auction off $10 million in bid to stabilize AFN
Afghanistan’s Central Bank (Da Afghanistan Bank) announced Monday that it would auction off around $10 million this week, in a bid to help bring some stability to the Afghan currency.
Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB) called on commercial banks, money exchangers, and companies that provide money services to attend the auction on Tuesday.
The development comes a day after the Afghani lost significant value against the US dollar, dropping to its weakest since 2003 when new Afghani banknotes were printed.
On Monday, the AFN had strengthened slightly as one US dollar cost 92.95 AFN compared to 95 AFN on Sunday.
“Unfortunately, one US dollar cost 95 AFN yesterday. But today it reached 92 AFN again. This is an issue on the markets. The shortage of US dollars in Afghan markets is the main reason for the sharp drop in value,” said Abdul Rahman Zirak, a spokesman for Afghan’s biggest currency market Sarai Shahzada.
Zirak added that US dollars are being smuggled to neighboring countries which has also led to a shortage of dollars in Afghanistan.
“Unfortunately, nowadays millions of dollars are being smuggled to Pakistan and Iran so that they could sell at a higher price for greater profit. For instance, people sell dollars at a higher price and buy Pakistani rupees at a lower price and then transfer them to Afghanistan,” Zirak noted.
Afghanistan has for years been heavily reliant on the US dollar which is widely used in the country.
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TWO WOUNDED IN KABUL EXPLOSION AS TALIBAN LAUNCH OPERATION AGAINST ISIS-K
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Trade with Iran ‘back to normal’, value totals $1 billion
The head of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce announced that the value of imports from Iran from the beginning of the year till now has totaled $1 billion, IRNA reported.
Yunes Momand also said that Afghanistan’s exports to Iran totaled $800 million. Goods exported from Afghanistan included precious stones, dried fruits, animal skins, apricots, and other fresh fruits.
Iran’s exports included electrical appliances, raw materials, petroleum and foodstuff.
IRNA reported that Afghan Chamber of Commerce officials said that trade transactions between the two countries had returned to normal following the temporary stoppage after the fall of the previous government.
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Explosion In Afghan Capital, Casualties Unclear: Report
An explosion, apparently caused by an improvised bomb, hit an area of western Kabul on Monday causing an unknown number of casualties, local residents said.
“I was busy with a customer when a boom shook the store,” said Ahmad Murtaza, a shopkeeper in the Kote Sangi area. “I saw people were taking victims from the blast site, I don’t know whether they were dead or injured.”
Tolo News television quoted an unnamed security official confirming that the blast had taken place but saying there were no casualties.
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Two Suspects In Explosion In Mosque In Eastern Afghanistan Detained
Two suspects in an explosion in a mosque in Afghanistan’s eastern province of Nangarhar have been detained, the regional governor’s office said on Friday.
“The two perpetrators of the blast at a mosque in …
Nangarhar province have been detained,” the office said in a statement.
The investigation into the blast continues, the authorities added.
An eyewitness told Sputnik earlier in the day that a blast hit a Nangarhar mosque during the Friday prayer, injuring 16 people. An unnamed hospital official told Agence France-Presse that three people were killed in the incident and 15 others injured.
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Troika Plus Nations To Continue Humanitarian Assistance To Afghanistan
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin Friday said that the participating countries of Trika Plus meeting expressed willingness to continue the humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and strengthening anti-terrorism and security cooperation with the country.
“China, Russia, Pakistan and US held the Troika Plus meeting in Islamabad to exchange the views on situation in Afghanistan,” he said during his regular briefing.
Yue Xiaoyong, Chinese Envoy for Afghan affairs, led the delegation to the meeting, he added.
The spokesperson said that China elaborated the position on policies on Afghanistan and stressed that Afghanistan was at a crucial stage from chaos to order and facing challenges on political, economic and humanitarian fronts.
“All parties will continue to have dialogue with the Afghanistan in a constructive manner on the basis of respecting its sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence,” he added.
Wang Wenbin remarked that the Chinese side was ready to work with all parties and help to steadily improve the situation.
In a joint statement issued after the meeting, four parties called to respect territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Afghanistan and willing to continue practical engagement with Afghanistan and urge the international community for the provision of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.
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Qatar to act as US diplomatic representative in Afghanistan
The United States and Qatar have agreed that Qatar will represent the diplomatic interests of the US in Afghanistan, the first official representation for the US withdrew in August.
Qatar Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed a pair of “strategic” agreements on Friday providing that Qatar will assume the role of “protecting power” for US interests in Afghanistan.
“Qatar is a crucial partner in promoting regional stability,” Secretary Blinken said in remarks with Al Thani at the State Department in Washington.
Qatar will facilitate formal communication between Washington and the Taliban government in Afghanistan, which the US has not recognised.
“Qatar will establish a US interests section within its embassy in Afghanistan to provide certain consular services and monitor the condition security of US diplomatic facilities in Afghanistan,” Blinken said.
“The second agreement, formalises our partnership with Qatar to facilitate the travel of Afghans with US Special Immigrant Visas.”
Qatar will work to ensure international humanitarian assistance reaches the people in Afghanistan, Al Thani said.
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Three People Killed In Mosque Blast In Afghanistan’s East
Three people were killed and 15 others injured in the mosque blast in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province on Friday, an unnamed hospital official told Agence France-Presse.
“So far three killed, 15 wounded,” the doctor said.
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TALIBAN HAS ALL-INCLUSIVE GOVERNMENT IN AFGHANISTAN -FM MUTTAQI
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Kabul Airport is Functional But Intl Flights Scarce, Expensive
Officials at Afghanistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (ACAA) said that although the airport is operational to allow for international flights in the country, due to the political challenges the flights have not become normal.
All international commercial flights were canceled following the August 15th political change and recently only airplanes from Pakistan and Iran made a few flights to Kabul. Also, some charter flights fly into Kabul for evacuation purposes. Except for these, commercial flights have not resumed normal activity.
Meanwhile, a number of residents in the country who want to go abroad called on the ACAA to normalize flights and also reduce the price of the tickets.
According to the travel agencies, due to the lack of international flights and the increased demands for tickets, the prices of tickets has risen.
In the meantime, some economists said international flights should resume, stating that flights have a positive impact on the economy of the country.
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IEA appoints new chairman for Afghanistan Cricket Board
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan [IEA], on Wednesday, appointed former all-rounder Mirwais Ashraf as acting chairman of the Afghanistan Cricket Board [ACB], replacing Azizullah Fazli, who was in charge for just two months.
According to reports the decision was made after demands by national players while meeting IEA officials in Abu Dhabi during the ongoing Twenty20 World Cup.
“The prime minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has appointed Mirwais Ashraf as acting chairman of the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB),” said an IEA statement.
Soon after his appointment, Ashraf traveled to UAE to participate in ICC joint meeting, ACB said.
“ACB CEO Naseeb Khan awaits him in the UAE already to jointly represent Afghanistan in the meeting, respond to any questions and share Afghanistan’s cricket’s updates,” read the statement.
Mirwais Ashraf played 46 one-day internationals and 25 Twenty20 internationals, his last in 2016.
Afghanistan bowed out of the Twenty20 World Cup Super12 stage after winning only two of their five Group 2 matches, losing to Pakistan, India and New Zealand.
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Afghanistan’s Chief Of Staff Plans To Recruit 150,000 New Soldiers
The Taliban intends to recruit 150,000 people for the new Afghan army, the Taliban-appointed chief of staff of the Afghan armed forces, Qari Fasihuddin, said on Wednesday.
“We will start by recruiting 150,000 fighters for the new Afghan army,” Fasihuddin said in an interview with Al-Jazeera, noting that the army is currently being gathered.
Fasihuddin also stressed that the movement seeks to recruit military who served under the previous authorities of Afghanistan.
“Priority will be given to those who have not been involved in corruption,” the chief of staff of the Afghan armed forces added.
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Taliban set up military tribunal to enforce Shariah law in Afghanistan
The interim Taliban announced on Wednesday the establishment of a military tribunal to enforce Islamic law in Afghanistan.
The tribunal has been formed on the command of supreme leader Hebatullah Akhundzada to enforce “sharia system, divine decrees, and social reform,” Enamullah Samangani, the group’s deputy spokesman, said in a statement.
Obaidullah Nezami has been appointed as the tribunal’s chairman, with Seyed Aghaz and Zahed Akhundzadeh serving as deputies, the statement added.
According to Samangani, the military tribunal will have the authority to interpret Shariah rulings, issue decrees relevant to Islamic civil laws and jurisprudence in high-level cases, and also register complaints, lawsuits, and petitions against Taliban officials and members of the police, army, and intelligence units.
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Over 600 IS terrorists arrested by Taliban in past 3 months
The Taliban have arrested over 600 Islamic State (IS) terrorists in the past three months.
Citing Afghan intelligence service spokesman appointed by the Taliban, Ariana News broadcaster said that the security situation in the country is improving, reported Sputnik.
The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in mid-August and since then IS has ramped up attacks across the country.
IS have carried out several assaults in recent weeks, including a twin bombing of a military hospital in Kabul last week, which left at least 19 people dead, reported Sputnik.
The terror group claimed a massive suicide bombing in Kandahar, besides orchestrating targeted killings in Nangarhar and Parwan provinces and another major suicide bombing in a Shia community mosque in the northern Kunduz province, killing more than 100 people.
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Jake Sullivan: We Are Not Releasing the Frozen Afghanistan Money until Formation of a Broad-based Government in the Country
US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, said they are not releasing frozen Afghanistan assets until the formation of a broad-based government in the country.
Jake Sullivan called on the Taliban to accept the international community conditions in forming an inclusive government.
Without the government, Sullivan said, US aid to Afghans would not continue as before.
On the other hand, the Islamic Emirate said their government is a broad-based government, and they cannot accept the orders of foreigners.
The Islamic Emirate considers these talks of the foreign countries, including the US, interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan.
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We believe in solving problems through dialogue: Mujahid
The Islamic Emirate has welcomed the US move, saying it is preparing for talks with the Taliban.
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Pakistan Increases Food Exports to Afghanistan
According to reports, Pakistan’s Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has said that the cabinet headed by prime minister Imran Khan has decided to increase food exports to Afghanistan to reduce hunger and poverty in the country.
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Russia: Withdrawal of Diplomatic Missions from Kabul Was a Mistake
Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan Dmitry Zhirnov said they have known that the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is collapsing without any resistance, and they considered continuing their mission in Afghanistan.
He added withdrawal of diplomatic missions from Afghanistan was a mistake that should not have been made.
He further added that it would have been better, if everyone continued their work for the humanitarian service and diplomatic mission in Afghanistan.
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Flights from Kandahar to UAE Begins Next Week
Governmental officials in Kandahar said through the efforts of Civil Aviation and Transport Ministry officials, Ariana Afghan Airlines obtained permission to fly from Kandahar to Dubai and from Dubai to Kandahar.
Officials said flights between the countries to begin next Saturday.
The airline had earlier announced the launch of flights between Kabul and the United Arab Emirates.
According to officials, there will be a flight from Kandahar to Dubai every Sunday and a flight from Dubai to Kandahar on the next day.
Flights from many countries were suspended to Afghanistan after the Taliban took over the country on 15 August.
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US Preparing For New Round Of Talks With Taliban, No Date Set Yet – Special Envoy
The United States is preparing for a new round of negotiations with the Taliban (under UN sanctions over terrorist activities), but no date has been set yet, special representative for Afghanistan Thomas West said on Monday
“We are preparing for the next round of inter-agency US engagement with the Taliban. I don’t have a date to share with you at this stage,” he told a briefing.
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Russian Security Council Chief To Take Part In Talks On Afghanistan In India On Wednesday
Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev will pay a visit to India on Wednesday to take part in a multilateral meeting on Afghanistan, the Russian Security Council said.
“In New Delhi, Nikolai Patrushev will take part in a multilateral meeting of security councils’ secretaries on the situation in Afghanistan,” the Russian Security Council said in a statement on Tuesday.
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US Not Taking Steps To Reopen Embassy In Kabul ‘At This Time’ – Special Representative
The United States is not taking the step to reopen its embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, at the present time, US Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West told reporters on Monday.
“When it comes to reopening our embassy in Kabul, I have to tell you that we are not seriously taking this step at this time,” West said during a press briefing.
The United States would first like to see “a record of responsible conduct” by the Taliban, West added.
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With Taliban’s support, polio campaign kicks off in Afghanistan: WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF kicked off a polio vaccination campaign in Afghanistan on Monday, the first nationwide campaign to fight the disease in three years.
Naikwali Shah Momim, WHO’s Emergency Operations Coordinator for the polio program, told Reuters the campaign had started in various parts of the country but there were several hurdles around a shortage of trained staff.
Aimed at reaching over 3 million children, the campaign has received the interim Taliban government’s backing, which would allow teams to reach out to children in previously inaccessible parts of the country, the WHO said.
“The urgency with which the Taliban leadership wants the polio campaign to proceed demonstrates a joint commitment to maintain the health system and restart essential immunizations to avert further outbreaks of preventable diseases,” said Ahmed al-Mandhari, WHO regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, in a statement.
However, Momim said more training was needed for teams in remote areas, so the program would initially start in Kabul.
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Taliban Discuss Afghanistan Situation With UN Food Programme Chief – Spokesman
Second Deputy Prime Minister of Taliban Abdul Salam Hanafi met in Kabul with the Chief of the United Nations World food Programme (WFP), David Beasley, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said.
The head of the WFP said that 23 million people in Afghanistan, out of its over 37 million population are in dire states, and the UN is working on developing mechanisms to help prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.
Hanafi noted that Afghanistan was ready to cooperate with a number of UN agencies, whose assistance was needed in the areas of humanitarian aid, reconstruction and education.
On November 4, WFP started distributing cash to poor families in Afghanistan. The organization provides 3,500 Afghan Afghanis (about $38) per month to low-income families in a bid to help the population through the ongoing economic crisis, as well as tackle poverty in the country. Over 4,000 families will be eligible for WFP payments in the next four months.
Ever since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in early September, the country has been witnessing the worsening of its economic and humanitarian situations.
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Taliban appoint members as 44 governors, police chiefs around Afghanistan
The Taliban appointed 44 of its members to key roles including provincial governors and police chiefs on Sunday, a key step in shoring up its governance as the country grapples with growing security and economic problems.
It is first large-scale round of appointments announced since the cabinet was formed in September.
The Taliban released the list of its members’ new roles, including Qari Baryal to serve as governor of Kabul and Wali Jan Hamza as the city’s police chief.
The previous commander in charge of Kabul’s security, Mawlawi Hamdullah Mukhlis, was killed this month in an attack on Afghanistan’s largest military hospital in downtown Kabul.
The Taliban took over the country on Aug. 15 but have faced an uphill battle in their promise to restore order and security after decades of war. Islamic State have carried out a spate of attacks around the country, while the economy has been plunged into crisis.
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Afghanistan’s Jalalabad Prohibits Rickshaw Runners To Carry Armed Passengers
The authorities of the Nangarhar province in Afghanistan prohibited rickshaw pullers from giving rides to armed people in the provincial capital of Jalalabad, the regional government said Sunday.
“Rickshaw runners will be forbidden from carrying armed people, and offenders will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” the governor’s office said in a statement.
The Taliban were also ordered to desist from carrying guns in rickshaws. The governor called on citizens to inform security services on any armed people in rickshaws.
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UNICEF Working To Directly Fund Afghan Teachers
Jeannette Vogelaar, Regional Education Advisor for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), UNICEF said they are working on a system that would pay Afghan teachers directly.
UNICEF is implementing the plan at a time when the international community has banned the transfer of money to the Islamic Emirate since the Taliban came to power.
According to Jeannette Vogelaar, all Afghan public school teachers would be included in the new system.
The Afghan Ministry of Finance has also announced that it will soon pay the salaries of five ministries, including the Ministry of Education.
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Khalilzad: The US War Strategy against the Taliban Was a Failure from the Beginning
US Foreign Ministry Special Representative for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, said the US war against the Taliban had a $ 40 billion annual cost, and its result was zero.
According to Khalilzad, the US war strategy against the Taliban has failed from the beginning.
Middle East Journal quoting Khalilzad said the ISIS group has regional roots, and the entire region is responsible for fighting the group.
Khalilzad referring to the current Afghanistan crisis said countries of the Persian Gulf have a significant role in managing the situation in Afghanistan, and Washington should work with the Persian Gulf countries.
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UN In Touch With Taliban To Ensure Foreign Currencies Ban Has No Impact On Aid – Spokesman
The United Nations is in touch with the Taliban to ensure that the recent ban on the use of foreign currencies will not disrupt its humanitarian operations in Afghanistan, UN spokesman Farhan Haq said on Wednesday.
“We are in touch with the de-facto authorities and we’re working to maintain our operations on the ground and make sure that we can keep up the humanitarian efforts on the ground,” Haq said during a press briefing. “What we’re trying to do is make sure that it does not have any impact on our operations.”
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Merkel, Qatari Leader Discuss Afghanistan, Contacts With Taliban
Outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed with Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani the situation in Afghanistan and contacts with the Taliban, the German cabinet said on Wednesday.
“During the phone call, Chancellor Merkel and Emir Al Thani spoke about the situation in Afghanistan and contacts with the Taliban. In addition, the Chancellor and the Emir touched upon the situation in the region and economic cooperation between Germany and Qatar,” the government said in a statement.
The Taliban came to power in Afghanistan in mid-August, causing the US-backed government to collapse. The group then set up a new all-male non-inclusive government, led by Mohammad Hasan Akhund, who served as the foreign minister during the previous Taliban rule and has been under UN sanctions since 2001.
The Taliban is yet to be recognized as the official Afghan government, but many countries maintain working relations with the movement’s representatives to ensure humanitarian aid delivery and to continue anti-terrorist efforts in Afghanistan.
The European Union will make the decision on the international recognition based on the Taliban’s actions and their compliance with certain criteria. In September, the EU set out five conditions, which include respect for human rights, particularly women’s rights, the rule of law and freedom of the media, the formation of an inclusive and representative transitional government, and prevention of the country turning into a hotspot for terrorists. In addition, the movement has to let all those willing to leave Afghanistan do so without obstacles.
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Taliban Will Be Challenged In Governing Afghanistan, US Joint Chiefs Chairman Says
The Taliban will be challenged in governing Afghanistan, US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley said on Wednesday.
“My estimate is that the Taliban are going to be challenged whether they could govern adequately (in Afghanistan),” Milley told the Aspen Security Forum.
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Daesh claims responsibility for Kabul military hospital attack
The Daesh/ISIS terrorist group has claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s deadly assault on Afghanistan’s biggest military hospital in the capital Kabul.
A statement in Arabic posted on the terror group’s propaganda site Amaq claimed more than 40 people were killed or injured in the bomb and gun attack on the Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan military hospital, located near the US Embassy in Kabul’s diplomatic enclave.
The figure was refuted by the Taliban, who said seven people – three women, a child, and three Taliban personnel – were killed and five others wounded.
Five Daesh/ISIS terrorists were shot dead at the hospital’s gate and in the courtyard before they could enter the facility, Zabiullah Mujahid, the deputy information minister in the interim Taliban government, said in a statement.
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Acting Minister of Information and Culture Stressed on Strengthen Relations Between Afghanistan and Iran
Mullah Khairullah Khairkhah, Acting Minister of Information and Culture, met with Bahador Aminian, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Kabul.
At the beginning, the Acting Minister of Information and Culture referred to the development and strengthening of cultural relations between the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran and called the Islamic Republic of Iran a good neighbor.
Then Bahador Aminian, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Kabul, spoke and mentioned about the need to sign a memorandum of understanding on media cooperation, cooperation in the field of radio and television and news agencies, scholarships in journalism and other fields, development of tourism industry in Afghanistan, revival of heritage Cultural and tourist attractions, cooperation in the field of museum management and preservation of antiquities and awarding scholarships to students in the fields of archeology and museum management, cooperation in helping public libraries in Afghanistan and awarding scholarships in the field of librarianship.
The Acting Minister of Information and Culture then expressed his appreciation for the comprehensive cooperation of the Islamic Republic of Iran in various fields and the awarding of scholarships to Afghan students.
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Senior Taliban commander killed in response to IS group attack on Kabul hospital
A Taliban military commander was killed when his men responded to an Islamic State suicide bomb and gun attack on a hospital in the Afghan capital, officials said Wednesday.
At least 19 people were killed in Tuesday’s attack on Kabul’s main military hospital, according to a health ministry official who did not want to be named.
Hamdullah Mokhlis, a member of the hardline Haqqani network and an officer in the Badri Corps special forces, is the most senior figure to have been killed since the Taliban seized Kabul.
“When he got the information that Sardar Daud Khan Hospital was under attack, Maulvi Hamdullah (Mokhlis), the commander of the Kabul corps, immediately rushed to the scene,” the Taliban media official said.
“We tried to stop him but he laughed. Later we found out that he was martyred in the face-to-face fight at the hospital,” he added.
The attack began with a suicide bomber detonating his explosives near the facility’s entrance before gunmen broke into the hospital grounds.
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Pakistan reopens Chaman border crossing to Afghanistan
One of the main crossings between Afghanistan and Pakistan has reopened after being closed for almost a month, officials said on Tuesday, offering hope for an end to a standoff that has caused heavy losses to traders and left thousands stranded.
The Chaman crossing is a major transit point for truckers moving fruit exports from around the southern Afghan city of Kandahar and its closure for the past 27 days has come at a high cost for farmers unable to get their produce to market.
“The Afghan transit trade and other trade and economic activities continue,” a senior Pakistan border official said.
The reopening should come as a relief to the Taliban government in Kabul, which desperately needs the customs revenues from the border posts. Its cash-strapped economy has few other legitimate sources of foreign revenue.
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Turkish organisations distribute aid to Afghan families
Two Turkish humanitarian agencies distributed food aid to some 1,260 families in Afghanistan over the last few days, Anadolu News Agency reports.
The Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay) and Fetih Humanitarian Relief Foundation distributed food aid to the underprivileged in various cities and provinces of Afghanistan.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Mahfuzullah Yoldas, one of the officials working for Kizilay in the war-torn country, said 350 families in Bamyan province, 300 in Kapisa province, 50 in Kabul and 300 in Ghazni received the aid packages.
The food aid distributed by Turkish Red Crescent amounted to 2,000 food packages, he said, adding that as many as 4,000 families will receive food packages next week.
Thousands of families have been displaced due to conflict in Afghanistan, where the Taliban took power in August and declared the war over. They have now formed an interim government headed by Hassan Akhund.
Unrest displaced nearly 700,000 people in Afghanistan this year, according to the UN Refugee Agency.
Meanwhile, the Fetih Humanitarian Relief Foundation distributed aid packages to 260 families in Wardak province and Jalalabad city.
“We had distributed food parcels to 725 families in Kabul. As a continuation of this, we delivered food parcels to 150 orphans in Maidan Wardak and 110 families in Jalalabad city,” Yilmaz Bulat, the head of the foundation, told Anadolu Agency.
“In many parts of Afghanistan, people do not even have bread. Aid should be increased before winter arrives … food and winter clothing should be sent to this region immediately.”
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Moscow May Send Humanitarian Assistance To Afghanistan This Week – Source
Moscow could send a new batch of humanitarian assistance, including medications and food, to Afghanistan already this week, a diplomatic source told Sputnik on Monday.
“It may be sent,” the source said.
To enable the delivery, different agencies, including Russia’s ministry of emergency situations, should reach an agreement, the source specified.
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IEA’s reclusive supreme leader makes rare public appearance
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s (IEA) reclusive supreme leader, Haibatullah Akhundzada, made a rare public appearance in the southern city of Kandahar, IEA sources said on Sunday, belying widespread rumours of his death.
Akhundzada, known as the leader of the faithful or Amir ul Momineen, had not been seen in public even after the IEA’s August takeover of the country, giving rise to the speculation, Reuters reported.
A senior IEA leader who was present with Akhundzada during the appearance told Reuters the supreme leader had visited Jamia Darul Aloom Hakimia, a religious school in Kandahar on Saturday.
As the IEA unveiled its interim government in September after U.S.-led forces withdrew, the mysterious Akhundzada retained the role he has held since 2016 of supreme leader, the ultimate authority over the group’s political, religious and military affairs.
Though some officials say that Akhundzada has made unpublicised public appearances before, this was the first confirmed appearance of a man who has long kept a low public profile.
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Afghanistan ships 45 tons of pine nuts to China as air corridor resumes
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) officials said Sunday that 45 tons of pine nuts were exported to China, via an air corridor, for the first time since they took power in August.
Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi, deputy prime minister of the IEA, said at an inauguration ceremony that this is a positive step towards boosting Afghanistan’s economy.
He said that exporting pine nuts this year could generate as much as $1 billion in revenue for the country.
The acting minister of commerce, Nooridin Azizi said Sunday’s shipment was the first of many.
“We exported 10 tons last year, but now this has increased to 45 tons. More than $1 billion (in revenue) will come to our country,” he said.
Kabul’s pine nut sellers meanwhile said they hope that this new development will have a positive impact on business for them.
They said that when borders closed and exports ceased, they were forced to drastically lower their prices in order to sell the nuts.
“Last year the price of 7kg of pine nuts was 40,000 AFN; now it has dropped to 7,500 AFN. Prices dropped, because the borders are closed to export it,” said Abdul Wakal, one pine nut seller.
“Our pine nuts were sent to international bazaars, but now borders are closed our pine nuts are not exported to the world,” said Tala Mohammad, another seller.
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Mujahid: Turkmenistan Promised Aid to Afghanistan
A spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Zabihullah Mujahid, said despite working on TAPI and railroad projects, Turkmenistan promised Afghanistan to cooperate in the economic and security fronts.
Mujahid said Turkmenistan promised to build railways from Turkmenistan to Herat and Turkmenistan to Jouzjan provinces.
According to Mujahid, work will soon be started on a 500 Volt power line from Turkmenistan to Herat.
He added that Turkmenistan also promised political cooperation with Afghanistan and pressed for the independence of Afghanistan.
Turkmen delegation expressed hopes for other countries not to interfere in the internal affairs of Afghanistan.
Turkmenistan promised to continue its humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.
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“If Unrecognition Continues, Could Become World’s Problem”: Taliban To US
The Taliban called on the United States and other countries on Saturday to recognise their government in Afghanistan, saying that a failure to do so and the continued freezing of Afghan funds abroad would lead to problems not only for the country but for the world.
No country has formally recognised the Taliban government since the insurgents took over the country in August, while billions of dollars in Afghan assets and funds abroad have also been frozen, even as the country faces severe economic and humanitarian crises.
“Our message to America is, if unrecognition continues, Afghan problems continue, it is the problem of the region and could turn into a problem for the world,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told journalists at a news conference on Saturday.
He said the reason the Taliban and the United States went to war last time was also because the two did not have formal diplomatic ties.
Those issues which caused the war, they could have been solved through negotiation, they could have been solved through political compromise too,” Mujahid said.
He added that recognition was the right of the Afghan people.
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UN: Money Transfer to Afghanistan Urgently Need Political Solution
United Nations said it cannot transfer enough cash to Afghanistan to assist millions of people who need humanitarian aid.
A senior UN official told Reuters News Agency with the condition of anonymity that political solutions are needed to prevent Afghanistan’s economic collapse.
UN said they are considering a few ways to leave sanctions on Afghanistan due to which foreign government and administrations will unfreeze Afghanistan’s money.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres asked the International Monetary Fund to reach an agreement on the mechanism and easing laws to transfer money to Afghanistan.
Despite $ 9.5 billion in frozen Afghanistan assets in the United States, IMF also froze $ 440 million of Afghanistan money.
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Khalilzad: Unfreeze Afghanistan Assets
US Secretary of State’s Former Special Representative for Afghanistan Peace, Zalmai Khalilzad, called for unfreezing and avoiding any possible crisis in Afghanistan.
Khalilzad said the US mission in Afghanistan is still not completed, and many responsibilities remain there.
Khalilzad urged the Taliban to accept the condition of the International Community and should not allow the war to continue in Afghanistan and cause another disaster.
Khalilzad also called for assistance to Afghanistan.
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Afghanistan to G20: Fulfill Your Promises
Sohail Shaheen, the Islamic Emirate nominee for the permanent representative of Afghanistan to the United Nations, said cold winter is coming and the international community is urgently needed to fulfill its promise of $ 1.2 billion in aid to Afghanistan.
G20 foreign ministers last meeting announced $ 1.2 billion in aid to Afghanistan, but the United Nations said they do not receive all of the assistance, and they only received a third of this money so far.
Sohail Shaheen said the international community should implement the development projects promised with Afghanistan in the 2020 Geneva conference.
Shaheen also called for unfreezing Afghanistan’s frozen assets and wrote that the international community should help unfreeze Afghan money.
On the other hand, the foreign ministry of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan also called freezing Afghan money an immoral act and a violation of all the international rules and values.
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UK Evacuated 29 Gays from Afghanistan
Foreign Minister of United Kingdom, Liz Truss, said the UK evacuated 29 gays with the help of gay rights foundations from Afghanistan.
Truss said the UK played a significant role in evacuating these people and will continue to evacuate Afghans whose lives are in danger.
This gay group of Afghans includes students and civil society activists.
UK foreign ministry statement added that gays are among the Afghan population who can face more discrimination under the Taliban rule Afghanistan.
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US, India Urge Taliban To Ensure Afghanistan Never Used To Shelter Terrorists – Statement
US and Indian officials after a counterterrorism dialogue session urged the Taliban (terror group banned in Russia) to ensure that Afghanistan is never used to threaten other countries or protect terrorists.
The statement was made upon conclusion of the eighteenth meeting of the US-India Counter Terrorism Joint Working Group and the fourth session of the US-India Designations Dialogue which took place in Washington, DC on October 26-27.
“In line with UNSC Resolution 2593 (2021), both sides called on the Taliban to ensure Afghan territory is never again used to threaten or attack any country, shelter or train terrorists, or plan or finance terrorist attacks,” the officials said in a joint statement on Thursday.
“Both sides committed to continuing close consultations on developments in Afghanistan and potential terrorist threats emanating from there.”
The two delegations were led by, respectively, Indian External Affairs Counter Terrorism Secretary Mahaveer Singhvi and State Department Acting Counterterrorism Coordinator John Godfrey.
The officials also said, in the same joint statement, that both India and the United Stated strongly denounced any use of terrorist proxies and cross-border terrorism in all its forms.
The two sides discussed preventing the ability of international terrorists to travel and agreed to boost terrorist threat information sharing, according to the statement.
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US To Provide Additional $144Mln In Humanitarian Aid To Afghanistan – White House
The United States has allocated another $144 million in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, bringing the total of Washington’s assistance to the country to $474 million this year, National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne said on Thursday.
“The United States is providing nearly $144 million in new humanitarian assistance to the people affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan,” Horne said in a statement. “This brings total US humanitarian aid for Afghanistan and for Afghan refugees in the region to nearly $474 million in 2021, the largest amount of assistance from any nation.”
The funds will flow through independent humanitarian organizations that provide support directly to Afghans as well as refugees in neighboring countries, she explained.
“Our partners provide lifesaving protection, shelter, livelihoods support, essential health care, winterization assistance, emergency food aid, water, sanitation, and hygiene services in response to the growing humanitarian needs exacerbated by healthcare shortages, drought, malnutrition, and the impending winter,” Horne added.
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TALIBAN FOUNDER MULLAH OMAR’S SON MAKES FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE
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Hekmatyar Urges India To Resolve Issue Of Kashmiri Muslims Through UN Resolution
Former Prime Minister of Afghanistan, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar on Tuesday urged India to address the issue of Kashmiri Muslims in accordance with the United Nations Resolution.
The bloodshed and massive human rights violations were being reported in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), should be stopped, he said in an interview with a state television channel.
India should honor the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, he said adding that the matter of Kashmiri Muslims should be resolved under the UN Resolutions.
“No one could prolong hegemony in IIOJK through bloodshed and violations,” he said. Commenting on Ex Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, he said India had been supporting the former leader of Afghanistan.
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Afghan Authorities Yet To Allow Entry Of Humanitarian Aid From Uzbekistan – UNHCR
The Afghan authorities have not yet permitted the import of humanitarian assistance from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), located in the southern Uzbek city of Termez, a UNHCR spokesperson told Sputnik on Wednesday.
In mid-October, the Uzbek logistics center Termez Cargo Center received 96 tonnes of humanitarian aid in a form of essential items from the UNHCR for Afghanistan. The package is expected to be transported to the crisis-hit Central Asian state through the Termez-Hairatan border, situated not far from the cargo center.
“The cargo is still in Termez. The date of its delivery will depend on the receipt of import permits from the Afghan side, and this issue is being resolved by the UNHCR office in Kabul,” the spokesperson said.
Fresh UNHCR humanitarian supplies will be transported to Afghanistan via Termez since this route has been determined jointly with the Uzbek side as an additional transport corridor for the delivery of aid to the country.
In mid-October, Nodirbek Jalilov, the director of the cargo center, told Sputnik that about 40 railroad cars of food had arrived in Termez for Afghanistan via the UN World Food Program. This food was then transported to the Termez-Hairatan border using trucks.
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Biden, G20 Leaders May Discuss Aid To Afghans Without Taliban Involvement – White House
US President Joe Biden at the upcoming G20 Rome Summit will be able to discuss with other world leaders how to get aid to the Afghan people without recognizing the Taliban-run government White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday.
“The President will obviously be able to consult with others to see how we can effectively get aid to the people of Afghanistan without recognizing or maneuvering that funding at its core through the government,” Sullivan told a press briefing.
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Japan To Assist Afghanistan, Its Neighbors With Additional $65Mln Of Aid – Top Diplomat
Japan will allocate an additional aid package of $65 million to Afghanistan and neighboring countries impacted by the migration crisis, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Tuesday.
He listed a number of obstacles faced by Afghanistan since the Kabul seizure by the Taliban in mid-August, including lack of essential products, growing numbers of internally displaced people, as well as concerns of strong flows of refugees to regional neighbors.
“Based on these circumstances and in response to the United Nations’ emergency appeal as of today the government of Japan has decided to assist Afghanistan and neighboring countries and has decided to offer a total of $65 million of emergency grant aid through international organizations,” the minister told a press conference.
The total assistance of Japan to Afghanistan will reach around $200 million by the end of the year, he added.
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PM Imran Khan Saudi Crown Prince Discuss Latest Developments In Afghanistan
Imran Khan, Saudi Crown Prince Discuss Climate Change, Bilateral Relations, Latest Developments In Afghanistan.
The two leaders agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across all the fields.
On the latest developments in Afghanistan, the prime minister stressed the importance of active and constructive engagement of the international community to help alleviate the sufferings of the Afghan people.
He expressed concern about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and hoped that the international community would take urgent steps to prevent a humanitarian crisis and economic collapse in Afghanistan.
The two leaders agreed to closely coordinate efforts to address these challenges.
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Taliban Say Will Welcome Possible Reopening Of EU’s Mission In Afghanistan
The Taliban will welcome the reopening of an EU mission in Afghanistan, should Brussels decide to do so, and guarantee its security, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, an interim Afghan foreign ministry spokesman, said on Monday.
On Sunday, the Financial Times newspaper reported, citing sources, that Brussels was considering reopening its diplomatic representation in Afghanistan within a month in a bid to broaden its limited engagement with the new Afghan authorities.
The European Union later said that the issue was still being worked out.
“Resumption of EU mission in Afghanistan is a sound & positive step which we welcome. Just as security of other embassies in Kabul is guaranteed, the security of the EU embassy & personnel will also be guaranteed,” the spokesman tweeted.
The EU, along with a number of countries and international organizations, evacuated its diplomatic mission from Afghanistan after the Taliban gained control of Kabul in mid-August.
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Russia Urges West To Engage With Taliban
Russia on Monday urged Western countries to engage with the Taliban and for the European Union to re-open its embassy in Afghanistan, warning that the country was at risk of descending further into drug trafficking and terrorism.
The call came after Moscow last week hosted members of the Islamist regime for international talks, and the Taliban agreed to work with Russia, China and Iran on regional security.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, the Russian presidential envoy to Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, said the European Union would be right to re-open its mission in the country.
“European partners should not have left Afghanistan,” he said, adding it was “high time” for European diplomats to return.
He called on the West to engage with the Taliban to prevent Afghanistan from sliding into chaos and warned that attempts to cut aid would be “absolutely counter-productive”.
In an effort to survive, Kabulov warned, people in Afghanistan could resort to drug trafficking, terrorism and arms smuggling, pointing to “huge amount of weapons” left behind by NATO troops.
“If the West wants this, then they are on the right track,” he said.
Kabulov also reiterated Russia’s calls to unlock funding for the country.
Billions of Dollars in Afghan reserves have been frozen in the West to keep cash away from the Taliban after it captured Afghanistan in mid-August.
“This is absolutely outrageous,” said Kabulov. “Who are they punishing: the Afghan authorities or people? The money should be returned to the Afghan people.”Afghanistan’s economy is in a parlous state with international aid cut off, food prices rising and unemployment spiking.
Kabulov said Russia was preparing to send more humanitarian aid to Afghanistan “in the coming days” but did not provide further details.
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FOOD-FOR-WORK, TALIBAN UNVEILS SCHEME TO TACKLE HUNGER AND UNEMPLOYMENT
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Taliban Not Participating In Ministerial Meeting Of Nations Bordering Afghanistan- Reports
The Taliban will not take part in a meeting involving foreign ministers of the countries neighboring Afghanistan, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman and the Afghan deputy culture and information minister, said, as cited by the national Ariana news broadcaster.
At the same time, Mujahid reportedly called the summit “good” for Afghanistan.
On Wednesday, Khairullah Khairkhwa, the acting minister of culture and information of the Afghan interim government, told Sputnik that the Taliban had not decided yet whether to participate in the summit or not.
The meeting will take place next Wednesday in Iran’s capital of Tehran, according to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh.
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ISIS Claims Attack On Power Lines That Plunged Kabul Into Darkness
The Islamic State terrorist group’s Afghan branch on Friday said it was behind an explosion that brought down electricity lines and plunged Kabul into darkness.
The power cut on Thursday was a further blow to Taliban efforts to stabilise Afghanistan two months after they seized control.
In a statement published on its Telegram channels, Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) said “the soldiers of the caliphate detonated a bomb on an electricity pylon in Kabul” to damage the electricity sector.
The explosion hit a high-voltage line supplying imported power to Kabul and some other provinces.
Afghanistan is largely reliant on electricity imported from its northern neighbours Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, making cross-country power lines a prime target for insurgents.
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UN Will Further Promote, Defend Women’s Rights In Afghanistan – Secretary-General
The United Nations will continue its activities in Afghanistan to further promote and defend women’s rights in Afghanistan, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.
“In Afghanistan, the @UN is staying and delivering, and will continue to promote and defend the rights of women and girls.
We will not stop until girls can go back to school, and women can return to their jobs and participate in public life,” Guterres wrote on his Twitter page on late Friday.
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Tashkent Not Concerned Over Taliban Ideology Export, Believes It Can Evolve
The Uzbek authorities have no concerns regarding the spreading of the Taliban ideology in the country, as they believe it may change over time due to the radical movement’s contacts with the international community, Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov said.
“Today we do not see any threat of export of the Taliban ideology. Finally, their ideology consists in liberating their homeland from the foreign military. It will take them very much time to start exporting some ideology,” Kamilov told reporters, asked about the threat of Taliban ideology export to Uzbekistan and Central Asia.
The minister expressed the belief that the new Afghan authorities focus on being recognized by the global community.
“We hope that during this period the movement itself will evolve, and the more it is involved in regional affairs and international affairs on the basis of international law, the more it will want to become part of the recognized international community, and the very ideology of the movement and its leaders will change,” Kamilov said.
The foreign minister emphasized that Uzbekistan’s national priorities and ideology are so strong that it is impossible to “bring some Taliban ideology here.”