Latest Development in Afghanistan

[ghazi52]

,.,..,

At least 7 killed in blast in north Afghanistan​

Reuters | AFP
December 6, 2022

Relatives visit Afghan men receiving treatment at a hospital after they were wounded when a roadside bomb hit a bus carrying employees of a petroleum company in Mazar-i- Sharif on December 6, 2022. — AFP

A roadside bomb killed at least seven petroleum company employees aboard a bus in northern Afghanistan on Tuesday, police said.

“Today at around 7am a blast took place in [...] Balkh on a bus which belonged to Hairatan oil employees,” said Mohammad Asif Wazeri, police spokesman for northern province of Balkh, adding that at least six people were wounded.

He later said the explosion was caused by a bomb. “The bomb was placed in a cart by the roadside. It was detonated as the bus arrived.”

Balkh province is home to one of Afghanistan's main dry ports in the town of Hairatan, near the border with Uzbekistan, which has rail and road links to Central Asia.

It was not clear who the employees on the bus worked for.

 

[ghazi52]

.,..,

All-out measures at border crossing points in place to facilitate Afghans​

Despite limited resources, Pakistan is manning over 100 counters to ensure smooth inflow of 385,000 people a month

APP
December 09, 2022

Pakistan has five crossing points operational with Afghanistan. PHOTO: APP

ISLAMABAD: The authorities have taken all-out facilitative measures at all five Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing points to ensure the smooth processing of Afghan people, despite a heavy inflow of around 385,000 people a month.

Currently, Pakistan has five crossing points operational with Afghanistan, which include Chaman, Torkham, Kharlachi, Ghulam Khan and Angoor Ada.

Around 13,000 people move to and from Afghanistan through these crossing points that include pedestrians, patients, traders, tourists and transporters. In addition to hundreds of trade convoys, around 385,000 Afghan travel through the crossing points a month.

Despite limited resources and workforce, Pakistan is manning over 100 counters at the crossing points to ensure the smooth processing of a heavy inflow of cross-border movement.

No other bordering country has such an exodus at their border crossings, a security official commented.

Around 79 counters have been placed at Chaman and Torkham, the busiest crossing points.

Though Pakistan has an Integrated Border Management System (IBMS) in place at main crossings, which supports One Document Regime (valid visa/ passport).

However, to facilitate their Afghan brethren, Pakistan also allows a large number of Afghans especially patients, journalists, women and traders to cross the border on Tazkera (non-valid) documents, on humanitarian grounds.

The security official said that exclusive counters at crossing points have been operational for Afghan patients and women only.

Afghans entering Pakistan either on valid or invalid documents are allowed to extend or renew their status to stay in Pakistan.

Border crossing for Afghan people even without passports to earn a livelihood, visit a relative, address any medical emergency or get an education is an exclusive offer extended by Pakistan, which no other neighbour offers.

However, despite all the said facilitations, the Afghan and Indian media keeps maligning Pakistan by reporting incidents of perceived mistreatment of Afghans by Pakistani authorities at Pak-Afghan border crossing points, causing resentment among Afghan masses towards Pakistan.

The fact is that, as per official data, around 6,000 Afghan nationals are refused entry into Pakistan every month due to the obvious reasons of having insufficient documents or even no documents.

A few Afghans facing refusal falsely create a nuisance about mistreatment by Pakistani authorities at border crossing points, the official commented.

All-out measures at borders in place to facilitate Afghans | The Express Tribune

The authorities have taken all-out facilitative measures at all five Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing points to ensure the smooth processing of Afghan people

tribune.com.pk

 

[-blitzkrieg-]

Taliban hold military parade with US-made weapons in Kabul in show of strength

Reuters
November 14, 2021 -

A military helicopter is pictured during the Taliban military parade in Kabul, Afghanistan, on November 14, 2021. — Reuters


Taliban forces held a military parade in Kabul on Sunday using captured American-made armoured vehicles and Russian helicopters in a display that showed their ongoing transformation from an insurgent force to a regular standing army.

The Taliban operated as insurgent fighters for two decades but have used the large stock of weapons and equipment left behind when the former Western-backed government collapsed in August to overhaul their forces.

The parade was linked to the graduation of 250 freshly trained soldiers, defence ministry spokesman Enayatullah Khwarazmi said.

Members of Taliban sit on a military vehicle during a military parade in Kabul, Afghanistan, on November 14, 2021. — Reuters

The exercise involved dozens of US-made M117 armoured security vehicles driving slowly up and down a major Kabul road with MI-17 helicopters patrolling overhead. Many soldiers carried American made-M4 assault rifles.

Most of the weapons and equipment the Taliban forces are now using are those supplied by Washington to the American-backed government in Kabul in a bid to construct an Afghan national force capable of fighting the Taliban.

Those forces melted away with the fleeing of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani from Afghanistan — leaving the Taliban to take over major military assets.
Taliban officials have said that pilots, mechanics and other specialists from the former Afghan National Army would be integrated into a new force,

which has also started wearing conventional military uniforms in place of the traditional Afghan clothing normally worn by their fighters.

Members of Taliban sit on a military vehicle during amilitary parade in Kabul, Afghanistan, on November 14, 2021. — Reuters

According to a report late last year by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (Sigar), the US government transferred to the Afghan government more than $28 billion worth of defence articles and services, including weapons, ammunition, vehicles, night-vision devices, aircraft, and surveillance systems, from 2002 to 2017.

Some of the aircraft were flown into neighbouring Central Asian Countries by fleeing Afghan forces, but the Taliban have inherited other aircraft. It remains unclear how many are operational.

As the US troops departed, they destroyed more than 70 aircraft, dozens of armoured vehicles and disabled air defences before flying out of Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport following a chaotic evacuation operation.

Who is servicing those helis?

 

[ghazi52]

,..,.
December 10, 2022

ISLAMABAD: An inter-ministerial huddle on Friday noted with concern that many of the challenges confronting the country were being aggravated by smuggling, mostly on western borders and decided to take robust measures to stop the outflow of foreign currency and critical imported commodities.

The meeting presided over by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar was told that various reports suggest that not only foreign currency but wheat and urea were imported at huge subsidies at the cost of scarce foreign exchange flowing to Afghanistan.

The participants of the meeting were flabbergasted that the smuggling of urea, wheat and currency was happening despite the presence of a large workforce of civil and armed forces and customs and fencing of over 2,500km of borders at the cost of more than Rs50 billion. It was observed that while it was humanely difficult to monitor such a long border yet this could not be allowed to go on.

Mr Dar directed that all stakeholders should put their acts together in a coordinated manner beyond routine responsibilities in the nation’s interest while also keeping in mind the sensitivities across the border.

Finance minister stresses coordinated efforts in the national interest

“Everybody will have to play a role because no single institution could overcome the situation without the cooperation of others,” the finance minister said. The meeting felt it ironic that large dollar amounts were moving out purportedly in the name of coal being imported from Afghanistan in local currency.

“The meeting discussed and reviewed the economic situation and current mechanism of foreign currency, wheat and urea smuggling,” said a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance, adding that various measures were discussed in order to strengthen the anti-smuggling regime.

The measures were not specified in the statement. Still, an official said all the stakeholders particularly customs intelligence, frontier constabulary and intelligence agencies were asked by the finance minister to come up with their respective roadmaps on an urgent basis to address the menace, causing serious financial and foreign exchange loss to the kitty when it faced historic challenges.

The meeting was also attended by law minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Special Assistants to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Tariq Bajwa and Tariq Pasha, SBP governor, secretaries of finance and interior and DG Federal Investigation Agency and Customs and senior representatives of intelligence agencies.

 

[ghazi52]

.,.,

Islamic Emirate member Mutasim Agha Jan returns to Afghanistan​

by Ishaq

KABUL (TOLOnews): A famous member of the Islamic Emirate, Mutasim Agha Jan, who was working as finance minister during the first rule of the Islamic Emirate, has returned to Afghanistan.

Agha Jan returned with acting Minister of Defense Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, who was on an official visit to the UAE.

During the former government, Mutasim Afgha Jan was considered the head of the political committee of the Islamic Emirate. Agha Jan was also engaged in talks between the Islamic Emirate and the former republican government.

“I was a Taliban, I am a Taliban and I will be a Taliban,” he said.

Agha Jan worked as finance minister in the first round of the Islamic Emirate’s rule and was one of the senior members of the Quetta Shura of the Taliban’s leadership until 2010.

Agha Jan has been living in the UAE.

Aha Jan is from Kandahar province and was one of the close figures to the founder of the Islamic Emirate, Mullah Mohammad Omar Mujahid.

“May Allah give us brotherhood and intimacy to give our hands to each other and be supportive of each other instead of being enemies,” Agha Jan said.

“His return will strengthen unity among the Taliban. If he is provided with a professional mission or post, he has good capability and ability,” said Asif Nang, a political analyst.

“He (Agha Jan) has faced disputes and was forced to leave the front. He is still now an influential figure and the Taliban leaders respect him. I believe his return will benefit the Afghans, the Islamic Emirate and the country,” said Hassan Haqyar, a political analyst.

 

[MultaniGuy]

Good, that now the Afghan Taliban are back in power.

 

[ghazi52]

,.,.,.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1609212304448704513

 

[ghazi52]

,.,.,.

Pakistan, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan discuss trans-Afghan railway project​

The scheme will facilitate regional and bilateral trade, says ministry.

 

[Wolfhunter]

Latest development in the land of shit:

 

[ghazi52]

,.,.

Islamabad in quiet diplomacy with Kabul to neutralise TTP​

Afghan interim set-up adamant on pursuing talks with group

Kamran Yousaf
January 16, 2023

Pakistan's ambassador in Kabul had been summoned over the recent attacks in Khost and Kunar provinces and given a diplomatic demarche to deliver to Islamabad. PHOTO: TWITTER/@MoFA_Afg

Pakistan is quietly encouraging the Afghan Taliban government to neutralise the threat posed by the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) which in recent months stepped up terrorist attacks inside the country.

But what has emerged so far from those efforts is that the interim government in Kabul is still sticking to its earlier stance that the only way to resolve the TTP problem was through dialogue, according to official sources familiar with the development.

At the request of the Afghan Taliban, Pakistan pursued peace talks with the terror outfit. Initially, talks produced some results as the group agreed to a ceasefire in return for Pakistan allowing certain TTP members to return home. But talks collapsed after the process could not move forward.

Meanwhile, despite the announcement of a ceasefire, TTP continued to target security officials, ramping up their attacks in recent months. In the last three months alone, the TTP claimed responsibility for over 150 terrorist attacks.

The flurry of attacks compelled the country’s civil and military leadership to revisit the Afghan strategy. Earlier this month, the National Security Committee (NSC) held an extended meeting for two days to discuss the spike in terrorist attacks.

The civil and military leadership decided not to pursue talks with the TTP and conveyed the same to the Afghan Taliban.

Sources said that in line with the decision of NSC, the Afghan government was told that Kabul will have to neutralise the TTP threat as promised in the Doha agreement as well as bilateral meetings between the two countries. In order to avoid any deterioration in ties, Pakistan persuaded the Afghan Taliban behind closed doors.

The Afghan Taliban government, which relies heavily on Pakistan’s crucial support, was informed that the failure to address the TTP issue would only complicate the bilateral ties as well as for Islamabad to extend cooperation.

Sources, however, told The Express Tribune that the Afghan Taliban government was adamant that Pakistan must pursue talks with the TTP.

Islamabad was told that Kabul’s priority was to tackle groups like Daesh which are posing a direct threat to their rule. As far as the TTP is concerned, the issue can be best dealt with politically by Pakistan, according to Kabul.

Pakistan, however, has set certain red lines for any talks with the TTP. Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah earlier said that Pakistan could talk to the TTP if they surrendered and accept the writ of the state.

Sources said the Afghan Taliban in private meetings were willing to address Pakistan’s concerns but because of their close links with TTP, they would be reluctant to take any action against them. Hence, the Afghan government has kept urging Pakistan to pursue talks.


.................................

Islamabad in quiet diplomacy with Kabul to neutralise TTP | The Express Tribune​

Pakistan is quietly encouraging the Afghan Taliban government to neutralise the threat posed by TTP

tribune.com.pk

 

[FuturePAF]

,.,.

Islamabad in quiet diplomacy with Kabul to neutralise TTP​

Afghan interim set-up adamant on pursuing talks with group

Kamran Yousaf
January 16, 2023

Pakistan's ambassador in Kabul had been summoned over the recent attacks in Khost and Kunar provinces and given a diplomatic demarche to deliver to Islamabad. PHOTO: TWITTER/@MoFA_Afg

Pakistan is quietly encouraging the Afghan Taliban government to neutralise the threat posed by the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) which in recent months stepped up terrorist attacks inside the country.

But what has emerged so far from those efforts is that the interim government in Kabul is still sticking to its earlier stance that the only way to resolve the TTP problem was through dialogue, according to official sources familiar with the development.

At the request of the Afghan Taliban, Pakistan pursued peace talks with the terror outfit. Initially, talks produced some results as the group agreed to a ceasefire in return for Pakistan allowing certain TTP members to return home. But talks collapsed after the process could not move forward.

Meanwhile, despite the announcement of a ceasefire, TTP continued to target security officials, ramping up their attacks in recent months. In the last three months alone, the TTP claimed responsibility for over 150 terrorist attacks.

The flurry of attacks compelled the country’s civil and military leadership to revisit the Afghan strategy. Earlier this month, the National Security Committee (NSC) held an extended meeting for two days to discuss the spike in terrorist attacks.

The civil and military leadership decided not to pursue talks with the TTP and conveyed the same to the Afghan Taliban.

Sources said that in line with the decision of NSC, the Afghan government was told that Kabul will have to neutralise the TTP threat as promised in the Doha agreement as well as bilateral meetings between the two countries. In order to avoid any deterioration in ties, Pakistan persuaded the Afghan Taliban behind closed doors.

The Afghan Taliban government, which relies heavily on Pakistan’s crucial support, was informed that the failure to address the TTP issue would only complicate the bilateral ties as well as for Islamabad to extend cooperation.

Sources, however, told The Express Tribune that the Afghan Taliban government was adamant that Pakistan must pursue talks with the TTP.

Islamabad was told that Kabul’s priority was to tackle groups like Daesh which are posing a direct threat to their rule. As far as the TTP is concerned, the issue can be best dealt with politically by Pakistan, according to Kabul.

Pakistan, however, has set certain red lines for any talks with the TTP. Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah earlier said that Pakistan could talk to the TTP if they surrendered and accept the writ of the state.

Sources said the Afghan Taliban in private meetings were willing to address Pakistan’s concerns but because of their close links with TTP, they would be reluctant to take any action against them. Hence, the Afghan government has kept urging Pakistan to pursue talks.


.................................

Islamabad in quiet diplomacy with Kabul to neutralise TTP | The Express Tribune​

Pakistan is quietly encouraging the Afghan Taliban government to neutralise the threat posed by TTP

tribune.com.pk

A good step, but it can’t be a lull before another way of attacks. Pakistan needs a development plan (financing for jobs/industrial development) that, if not punished the areas where the miscreants are aided, supports the areas where militants are not supported.

 

[ghazi52]

,..,.,

At least 70 killed by Afghanistan cold snap: official​

AFP
January 18, 2023

A burqa-clad woman walks along a street during snow fall in Kabul on January. Photo: AFP

KABUL: At least 70 people have died in a wave of freezing temperatures sweeping Afghanistan, officials said Wednesday, as extreme weather compounds a humanitarian crisis in the poverty-stricken nation.

Since January 10, the mercury has plunged in Kabul and several other provinces, with the central region of Ghor recording the lowest reading of -33C (-27F) over the weekend.

“This winter is by far the coldest in recent years,” Mohammad Nasim Muradi, the head of Afghanistan’s meteorology office, told AFP.

In the countryside, homeless families were seen warding off the cold by huddling around campfires, whilst in the snowy capital domestic coal heaters were fired up by the more fortunate.

 

[ghazi52]

,..,

More than 160 Afghans die in bitterly cold weather​

Reuters
January 26, 2023

An Afghan girl carries empty water containers on a snow-covered street in Kabul, Afghanistan, January 26. — Reuters
More than 160 people have died from the cold in Afghanistan this month in the worst winter in more than a decade, authorities said on Thursday, as residents described being unable to afford fuel to heat homes in temperatures well below freezing.

“162 people have died due to cold weather since January 10 until now,” said Shafiullah Rahimi, a spokesperson for the Minister of Disaster Management. About 84 of the deaths had taken place in the last week.

The coldest winter in 15 years, which has seen temperatures dip as low as -34 degrees Celsius, has hit Afghanistan in the middle of a severe economic crisis.

Many aid groups have partially suspended operations in recent weeks due to a Taliban administration ruling that most female NGO workers could not work, leaving agencies unable to operate many programmes in the conservative country.
In a snowy field in the west of the Afghan capital, children rummaged through rubbish looking for plastic to burn to help their families, unable to afford wood or coal.

Nearby, 30-year-old shopkeeper Ashour Ali lives with his family in a concrete basement, where his five children shiver from cold.

“This year, the weather is extremely cold and we couldn’t buy coal for ourselves,” he said, adding the small amount he makes from his shop was no longer enough for fuel.

“The children wake up from the cold and cry at night until the morning. They are all sick. So far, we have not received any help and we do not have enough bread to eat most of the time.”
During a visit to Kabul this week, United Nations aid chief Martin Griffiths said the world body was seeking exemptions to the ban on most female aid workers that was coming at one of the most vulnerable times for many Afghans.

“The Afghan winter as everybody in Afghanistan knows is the big messenger of doom for so many families in Afghanistan as we go through these many years of humanitarian need we see some of the consequences in loss of life,” Griffiths told Reuters.

 

[ghazi52]

,.,.

Afghan female students not allowed to sit university entrance exam​

Western diplomats say Taliban would need to change course on its policies to have chance of formal int'l recognition

Reuters
January 28, 2023

Afghan female students walk near Kabul University in Kabul, Afghanistan, December 21, 2022. PHOTO: REUTERS

KABUL: The Taliban-run Ministry of Higher Education ordered private universities in Afghanistan not to allow female students to sit university entrance exams next month, underscoring its policy to restrict women from tertiary education.

A letter from the ministry was addressed to institutions in Afghanistan's northern provinces, including Kabul, where exams are due to take place from the end of February. The letter said those institutions that did not observe the rules would face legal action.

The Higher Education Ministry in December told universities not to allow female students "until further notice". Days later, the administration stopped most female NGO workers from working. Most girls' highschools have also been closed by authorities.

The restrictions on women's work and education have drawn condemnation internationally. Western diplomats have signalled the Taliban would need to change course on its policies towards women to have a chance of formal international recognition and an easing of its economic isolation.

The country is in the midst of an economic crisis, partly due to sanctions affecting its banking sector and a cut in development funding, with aid agencies warning tens of millions are in need of urgent aid.

However, a World Bank report this week also said the Taliban administration, which has said it is focussed on more economic self-sufficiency, had kept revenue collection strong last year and exports had lifted.

 

[ghazi52]

.,.,,.

Qatar sends envoy to Afghan capital to meet with Taliban​

KABUL: An envoy for Qatar’s foreign affairs minister visited the Afghan capital on Sunday and met with the Taliban