US special envoy for Afghan women, Rina Amiri, emphasised that the Taliban’s restrictive decrees on women and girls in Afghanistan are costing the nation more than USD 1 billion annually, reported Khaama Press. She further said that the detrimental impact of the Taliban’s edicts is not only curtailing women’s access to education and employment but also exacerbating Afghanistan’s dependency on foreign aid. She highlighted the […]
Taliban terms Pakistan’s treatment of Afghan refugees as “cruel”
Afghanistan’s Taliban-appointed acting Defense Minister Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid has criticized the Pakistan caretaker government’s treatment of Afghan refugees. He said the decision to expel Afghans was taken unilaterally and Pakistan should consider the consequences of such actions, TOLO News reported. TOLO News is an Afghan news channel broadcasting from Kabul. Mujahid in an audio […]
Taliban urges for removal of officials from UN blacklist
The Taliban has once again urged the United Nations (UN) to remove the names of its members from the blacklist, arguing that instead of putting pressure on Afghanistan’s de facto authorities, the international community should engage with them, reported TOLOnews. After the Security Council failed to reach an agreement on whether to extend the travel […]
“Like Taliban and al-Qaeda…” Sanjay Raut on ED-CBI raids against oppostion
A day after nine political party leaders wrote a joint letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging “blatant misuse” of central agencies against the opposition, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut likening raids against them by probe bodies with those by the al-Qaeda and Taliban “who use weapons to attack their […]
Taliban criticizes Prince Harry for remarks over Afghan killings, call it “war crimes”
Taliban has openly criticized Prince Harry’s claims of killing at least 25 of its people during his two military deployments in Afghanistan which he made revealed in his recently released biography, Khaama Press reported on Saturday. The memoir, which was first published in Spain, described Harry’s two deployments in Afghanistan. […]
UNSC to hold meeting to discuss Taliban’s ban on female NGO workers: Report
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will hold a closed-door meeting next week to discuss the Taliban’s decision to ban women from working in NGOs in Afghanistan, Tolo News reported. Japan and the United Arab Emirates have requested a closed-door meeting of the United Nations Security Council on January 13 […]
Taliban threat dominates China’s policy towards Afghanistan: Report
Concerned over the potential spillover of militants from Kabul into the country’s western Xinjiang, China has stepped in and engaged with the new Taliban government, promising trade and investment, Afghan Diaspora Network reported. More than a year after the United States and NATO pulled out of the Central Asian country, […]
State Antony Blinken calls on Taliban to reverse ban on women working in NGOs
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called on the Taliban to reverse their decision of banning women employees of NGOs from the workplace. Taking to his official Twitter handle, Blinken stressed that millions of Afghans depend on humanitarian assistance for their survival. “I join allies and partners in […]
Taliban open to Indian investment including in urban infrastructure: Report
The Taliban is open to Indian efforts to restart people-centric development projects, including urban infrastructure, reported Khaama Press. Taliban’s Head of Political Office, Suhail Shaheen said Afghanistan is open to Indian investment, including urban infrastructure, and assured of a peaceful working environment for Indian companies. He emphasised that the “security […]
Islamic countries, US, condemn Taliban’s decision to disallow women’s right to education
Islamic countries — Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey — and the US on Wednesday expressed concern and condemned the Taliban for disallowing women’s right to education. Qatar expressed deep concern and disappointment with the Afghan caretaker government’s decision to suspend girls’ and women’s studies in Afghan universities until further notice. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stresses that these negative practices […]
Taliban defends public execution, terms criticism as ‘interference’ in Afghanistan’s internal affairs
Following criticism over the public execution of a man, the Taliban on Thursday defended its actions. The Taliban on Thursday termed the international criticism over its public execution “reprehensible” and “interference” in Afghanistan’s internal matters, Voice of America (VOA) News reported. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid in a statement said that their action was criticised […]
Afghanistan: Taliban ban Voice of America, RFE/RL for one-sided broadcasts
The Taliban on Thursday banned the FM radio broadcasts streaming from Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Afghanistan stations, saying that they are stopped due to non-compliance with journalistic principles and one-sided broadcasts. Taking to Twitter, Abdul Haq Hammad, who oversees broadcasting for the Ministry of Information and Culture […]
UN ask Taliban to end gender-based violence in Afghanistan
The UN mission in Afghanistan has called on the Taliban to take immediate steps to end violence against women and the broader deterioration of women’s rights as a vital part of efforts to establish a meaningful and sustainable peace. The call came as the world marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the […]
Taliban urges Afghan refugees to refrain from protesting in Iran and Pakistan
Abdul Rahman Rashid, the Taliban’s Deputy Minister of Refugees, urged Afghan refugees to avoid taking part in demonstrations held in Iran and Pakistan. The Taliban representative said in a video message that was released on November 23 that “the demonstrations are their (Iran and Pakistan’s) domestic affairs, their people are demonstrating, do not ruin your […]
J-K: Srinagar Police search multiple locations for journalists threatened by the Taliban
Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday morning conducted searches in multiple locations in various places in three districts in the Union Territory as part of its investigation into a case registered with the State Investigative Agency in connection with ‘online journalists threat’ case. Today’s searches is subsequent to the leads received from […]