TALIBAN GOVERNMENT
Afghanistan has been through everything. Now it wants to dust off its postal service and modernise
Afghanistan's postal service is undergoing a modernization plan, aiming to introduce mailboxes on every street and expand services like online shopping access. Challenges include higher fees for a population heavily reliant on humanitarian aid, as well as cultural and security considerations. The Afghan Post is working towards a more efficient and accessible service for all.
Iran holds runoff presidential vote pitting hard-line former negotiator against reformist lawmaker
Voters face a choice between the hard-line former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and Masoud Pezeshkian, a heart surgeon and longtime parliament member who has allied himself with moderates and reformists within Iran's Shiite theocracy.
As Iran faces a rare runoff presidential election, disenchanted voters are staying away
Iran will hold a runoff presidential election Friday, only its second since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, after only 39.9% of its voting public cast a ballot the previous week. Of over 24.5 million votes, more than 1 million ballots were later rejected - typically a sign of people feeling obligated to head to the polls but wanting to reject all the candidates.
A Taliban delegation attends a UN-led meeting in Qatar on Afghanistan, with women excluded
The Taliban were not invited to the first meeting, and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said they set unacceptable conditions for attending the second one in February, including demands that Afghan civil society members be excluded from the talks and that the Taliban be treated as the country's legitimate rulers. The Taliban seized power in August 2021 as U.S. and NATO forces were in the final weeks of their pullout from the country following two decades of war.
German government discusses deportations to Afghanistan via Uzbekistan
Earlier in June, Germany's interior minister Nancy Faeser said Germany was considering deporting Afghan migrants who posed a security threat back to Afghanistan, after a deadly stabbing of a police officer drew calls for a tougher line on migration. Such a move would be controversial as Germany does not deport people to countries where they are threatened with death.
Afghan Taliban govt says to attend next round of UN talks in Doha
Taliban authorities will attend the third round of United Nations-hosted talks on Afghanistan in the Qatari capital, a government spokesman said on Sunday, after snubbing an invitation to the previous round. A key element of the talks held in the Gulf state, which hosted the Taliban during years of peace talks with the United States, is a UN independent assessment on Afghanistan released late last year.
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President Xi & Pak PM Sharif discuss deepening strategic cooperation
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif discussed deepening strategic cooperation as Pakistan opts out of attending Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony with other SAARC leaders.
Chabahar Port to reduce Afghanistan’s dependence on Karachi: Kabul
The Taliban has welcomed India's 10-year management rights over Iran's Chabahar Port, viewing it as an alternative to Pakistan's Karachi Port. They support the port's expansion, which they believe will enhance economic stability and benefit Afghanistan. The Afghanistan-India trade in 2023 reached $773 million. The Afghanistan Chamber of Industries and Mines sees increased investment in Chabahar as beneficial for regional trade. A special zone for Afghan traders at Chabahar Port further facilitates export and import activities.
"Pakistan is roaming with begging bowl, enemies tremble due to our 'dhaakad' govt": PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 'dhaakad' government's strength, Pakistan's situation, changes in Jammu and Kashmir, and Haryana's patriotism. He also discussed self-reliance in defense, the return of Guru Granth Sahib, 'Veer Bal Diwas' celebration, Rafale aircraft, and the upcoming Haryana voting phase on May 25.
Flash floods due to unusually heavy seasonal rains kill at least 68 people in Afghanistan
Flash floods in Afghanistan kill 68, with 50 dead in Ghor and 18 in Farayab. Abdul Wahid Hamas reports significant financial losses in Ghor, including damage to Feroz Koh. Esmatullah Moradi confirms damages in Farayab. UN reports 2500 affected families in Ghor. WFP aids flood victims in Baghlan, inaccessible by trucks. Taliban urges support for affected communities.
Flash floods kill more than 300 people in northern Afghanistan after heavy rains, UN says
300 Afghans perish in Baghlan floods, with the World Food Agency offering aid. The Taliban government reports substantial deaths in northern Afghanistan. Human rights concerns raised by U.N. Special Rapporteur Bennett amid ongoing rescue efforts and evacuations.
Flash floods kill hundreds and injure many others in Afghanistan, Taliban says
Flash floods triggered by seasonal rains in Afghanistan have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people and caused injuries to a "significant number," according to a Taliban official on Saturday. The floods primarily affected the northern region of the country. The province of Baghlan suffered the most from the deluge on Friday, with preliminary reports from officials indicating at least 50 fatalities and widespread property damage across multiple districts.
From spring offensive to charm offensive: The Taliban are working to woo tourists to Afghanistan
Afghanistan's tourism industry, led by enthusiastic students and government support, aims to overcome obstacles and project a positive image internationally. Despite challenges, efforts are made to enhance tourism while navigating political and social restrictions.
Some Chinese workers planning to leave Pakistan over security reasons: analyst
Thousands of Chinese personnel are working in Pakistan on several projects being carried out under the aegis of the USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The recent terror attack has now caused significant alarm among them.
Afghanistan: Universities remain closed to girls after over 450 days
Afghanistan universities remain closed to girls, causing frustration among students. Khadijah and Narow emphasize the importance of girls' education. Zakiullah and Hamid Karzai stress the urgency of reopening educational institutions for societal advancement.
What we know about ISIS-K, the group that claimed responsibility for the Moscow attack
The Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan, ISIS-K, claimed responsibility for the deadly terrorist attack in Moscow. Founded in 2015 by disaffected Pakistani Taliban members, ISIS-K embraced a violent version of Islam. Despite losing half its fighters by 2021 due to U.S. airstrikes and Afghan raids, the group gained momentum after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. ISIS-K's suicide bombing at Kabul's airport in 2021 elevated its profile, posing a significant threat to the Taliban. The group has also targeted Iran and Europe in recent attacks.
Why is Pakistan attacking Afghanistan again?
Pakistan has carried out airstrikes inside Afghanistan, leading to heightened tensions between the two countries. The escalation began after Afghanistan accused Pakistan of killing eight of its citizens. The airstrikes targeted terrorists from the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, resulting in civilian casualties. The deteriorating ties between Pakistan and the Taliban can be traced back to the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan, which has emboldened the TTP. Pakistan's decision to deport thousands of Afghan immigrants has also strained relations. The situation remains tense, with both countries exchanging accusations and the international community monitoring closely for a peaceful resolution.
Taliban's decrees on Afghan women cost country over USD 1 billion annually
US special envoy for Afghan women, Rina Amiri, highlighted that the Taliban's restrictions on women in Afghanistan cost the nation over $1 billion annually, impacting education, employment, and exacerbating dependency on foreign aid. The Taliban defended their record on women's issues, but reports indicate regression in women's rights. The international community faces a complex dilemma of promoting gender equality while addressing humanitarian needs in Afghanistan.
Taliban set unacceptable conditions for attending a UN meeting, says UN secretary-general
At a U.N.-sponsored meeting in Qatar, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres revealed that the Taliban imposed unacceptable conditions for their participation, including the exclusion of Afghan civil society members and demands resembling official recognition as Afghanistan's legitimate rulers. Despite efforts to engage with the Taliban, they did not attend due to unmet demands.
Afghan province orders officials not to photograph living things
Images of humans and animals are generally avoided in Islamic art, extending for some Muslims to an aversion to any images of living things. A spokesperson for Kandahar's governor told AFP the letter was authentic.
Afghan women fear going out alone due to Taliban decrees on clothing and male guardians, UN says
Taliban have barred women from most areas of public life and stopped girls from going to school beyond the sixth grade as part of harsh measures they imposed after taking power in 2021. They are also restricting women's access to work, travel and health care if they are unmarried or don't have a male guardian, and arresting those who don't comply with the Taliban's interpretation of hijab, or Islamic headscarf.
Foreign aid drops sharply as Taliban abuses jeopardise the Afghan health system, group says
Human Rights Watch has reported that Afghanistan's public health system has been severely impacted by a sharp reduction in foreign assistance and serious Taliban abuses against women and girls, leaving the population increasingly vulnerable to severe malnutrition and illness. The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021 drove millions into poverty and hunger after foreign aid stopped almost overnight.
Twelve, including 10 security personnel, killed on polling day terror attacks in Pakistan
“Despite 51 cowardly terrorist attacks, mostly in KP and Balochistan, aimed at disrupting the electoral process, the soldiers remained resolute and effectively ensured peace and security across Pakistan. Twelve people (including 10 personnel of security forces and law enforcement agencies) died and 39 others have been injured in these attacks,” the army statement said.
Pakistan elections: Who's running, what's the mood and will anything change?
Pakistan elections: Forty-four political parties are vying for a share of the 266 seats that are up for grabs in the National Assembly, or the lower house of parliament, with an additional 70 seats reserved for women and minorities.
At least 10 killed in attack on police station in Pakistan
10 police personnel killed, 6 injured in a militant attack on a police station in northwest Pakistan. Attack occurred in Draban region of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. Militants used sniper fire and hand grenades. Attack's motive and perpetrators unknown. Recent violence includes killing of a national assembly candidate and political leader. Islamic State claimed responsibility for a bomb attack. Draban is a stronghold of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party. Party leader met Taliban supreme spiritual leader. Party calls for election delay. Attacks by militants surged since 2022.
Taliban-appointed prime minister meets with a top Pakistan politician in hopes of reducing tensions
Tensions also exist around Pakistan's ongoing expulsion of Afghans. Pakistan has deported more than half a million Afghans without valid papers in recent months as part of a crackdown on such foreigners. Pakistan has long hosted about 1.7 million Afghans, most of whom fled during the 1979-1989 Soviet occupation. More than half a million fled Afghanistan when the Taliban seized power.
Pakistan's strategy to target Afghan refugees as leverage against Taliban
The Pakistan government has decided to target Afghan refugees on its soil as a leverage to pressurize the Taliban regime. Pakistan hopes that its decision to deport Afghans would attract the attention of the international community, particularly the United States, back to the region. However, this move may not make Pakistan more secure as those who have joined the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ranks would have organized their documents for easy movement in the country.
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