LAST 24 HOURS
AFGHAN WRITER FOUND DEAD IN GERMANY – Mohammad Dawood Siawash’s body was found after being reported missing for three days in Germany. German authorities have begun an investigation but it is not clear yet what may have caused his death. Siawash’s family believe he was murdered and many others among the Afghan diaspora in Germany have called on the authorities to look for potential Taliban sympathizers living in the country.
ISLAMABAD HIGH COURT WEIGHS IN ON TREATMENT OF AFGHAN REFUGEES – The court has asked the government to develop a system for Afghan refugees to voluntarily report upon arrival to the country. The High Court also issued an order prohibiting the detention of any refugee who has registered with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. In a twenty-one-page ruling, the High Court reiterated that Pakistan’s constitution grants the right of asylum. A very important point in the ruling concerns the ability of the Ministry of the Interior to issue exit permits which will enable travel to a country that has granted asylum. Many refugees have been forced to pay exorbitant fines when departing Pakistan.
AFGHAN EMBASSY IN ISLAMABAD SAYS IT IS READY TO BEGIN ISSUING PASSPORTS – The Consul General for the Embassy announced yesterday that the Embassy now had everything in place to begin issuing passports. Those who want to apply are encouraged to visit the online application portal and then wait for their appointment to visit the Embassy.
IRAN APPROVES NEW HIJAB LEGISLATION, PAVES WAY FOR IMPRISONMENT AND/OR INCREASED FINES – The bill has been debated for several months but was finally passed yesterday in Tehran. The new law will be implemented for a 3-year period in order to evaluate its feasibility. As previously reported, the law will increase fines, allow for imprisonment, ban travel, exclude from education, and a host of other penalties. The law also contains a provision aimed at those leading protests against the regime by allowing for a 5-10-year prison sentence for anyone encouraging groups to violate the dress code. Legal opinions have already lambasted the new laws as unconstitutional but the overwhelming support for it in Parlament means it will be unlikely to be challenged.
GERMAN OPPOSITION PARTIES PLAN TO CALL FOR HALT TO AFGHAN ADMISSIONS PROGRAM – The two largest opposition parties are expected to call for a halt to the current admission program and scale back the acceptance of Afghan refugees to ‘only those who have worked for the German government’. It is not clear if the parties have enough support to actually cancel the program which had established the goal of accepting 1,000 refugees per month.
NEXT 24 HOURS
RUMORS THE TALIBAN MAY BE TARGETING HAZARAS IN BAMYAN PROVINCE – Several photos and reports appeared on social media over the last twenty-four hours that showed what looks like deep trenches that have been excavated along roadways and around the town. The reports say the barriers were made to block Hazaras from entering or leaving the villages. This information has not yet been confirmed but seems to be a fairly extreme method of impeding travel and may suggest that further action is planned. There has been no explanation for the actions or what may have caused local Taliban leaders to take such drastic measures.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
Reports from Iran say that the regime has halted all memorial ceremonies for those killed during the protests last year by family members and friends. Families were reportedly warned by authorities not to visit gravesites or they would face arrest.
The wife of the Iranian President rankled many after saying that ‘Iranian women already enjoy their rights’.
The Iranian president spoke with the FIFA President at the UN General Assembly and warned that other states should not be allowed to let politics affect the sport.
PAKISTAN
A plan to hold elections in late January was announced by the Electoral Commission. Some are skeptical that all preparations will be completed in time.
The acting Prime Minister met with his Uzbek counterpart to discuss the situation in Afghanistan while in New York for the UN General Assembly meeting.
Sources in Islamabad indicated that Asif Durrani, the representative for Afghanistan affairs was to be in Kabul today for discussions with the Taliban regime.
SPOTLIGHT PERSPECTIVE
When the Taliban Returned: One Woman’s Story of Survival
By The Nation
On the morning of August 15, 2021, like on any other weekday of the previous year, I arrived at the presidential palace in Kabul, where I worked as a legal adviser to the vice president on human rights and women’s issues. But the palace looked different. Men who normally came to work in suits were wearing traditional Afghan garb, as if they were preparing to blend in the crowd should the Taliban suddenly show up. Indeed, news had spread that morning that the Taliban had arrived at the gates of the capital city and were advancing at a rapid pace.
AFGHAN NEWS
Sharp rise in maternal and infant mortality rates in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati - Khaama Press
Dr Sahar said that the forced departure of many female healthcare professionals after the return of the Taliban has created a “gap in the healthcare system” of the…
Girls in Afghanistan slam US envoy for putting drugs before their right to education
By AMU TV
Girls and women deprived of an education and work in Afghanistan have criticized a top US diplomat, who met with a Taliban delegation in Doha this week, saying that education and…
Thousands of Afghans Returned Via Spin Boldak Over Past Month: Officials
By Ataullah Omar - TOLO News
Thousands of Afghan refugees have returned via Spin Boldak crossing over the last month as since Pakistan's increasing repressive measures against Afghans, local…
REGIONAL NEWS
Militants using Afghanistan’s soil to attack Pakistan is Islamabad’s ‘biggest concern’
By Fidel Rahmati - Khaama Press
“For Pakistan, the biggest concern right now is the enhanced terrorist threat from TTP and ISK (Daesh), and their ability to use Afghan soil to launch attacks against…
Verified refugees shouldn’t be jailed: IHC
By Fiaz Mehmood - The Express Tribune
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has asked the federal government to establish a mechanism in accordance with Article 31 of the Refugee Convention…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Kabul whistleblower says evacuation was 'biggest foreign policy failure of our time'
By Soraya Ebrahimi - The National News
A woman dismissed by the Foreign Office after whistle-blowing on the government’s much-criticised response to the fall of Kabul has claimed she…
Thomas West: ‘We Need to Keep Women, Girls’ Issues Front and Center
By Fatema Adeeb - TOLO News
US Special Envoy Thomas West on the sidelines of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, said that the restrictions imposed on Afghan women and…
THE DAILY WTF
Kabul police rescue woman imprisoned in room for 25 years
By Ariana News
A woman who was imprisoned in a dark room for 25 years in the Afghan capital has been rescued by police, the Interior Ministry…
“We must give the authorities credit for intervening in this horrible situation. Well done!” TAD Staff
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 78.95 AFN (as of 22 SEP 2023)