The Week of June 24 - June 30
The Week of June 24 - June 30
Security and Conflict
NRF Commander Killed – Abdul Samad Hamza Kahgaday, a commander of the NRF in Nahrin, Baghlan, was killed at 4 AM on Friday, June 28, in a clash with the Taliban. Sources close to Kahgaday reported that he and five other front members were ambushed while hiding in a house in Kohneh Nahrin. His cousin, Khairullah, was also killed, and the Taliban set the house on fire and arrested several locals. NRF commanders blamed their military chief, Qadam Shah Shaheem, for the operation's failure due to inadequate reconnaissance and the premature release of a video on June 21. The battle resulted in casualties on both sides, including a Taliban intelligence member. The National Resistance Front of Afghanistan issued an official statement mourning the loss of Commander Abdul Samad Kohgadai, Commander Khairullah, and a companion, who were killed while resisting the Taliban. The NRF denounced what they described as enemy propaganda aimed at eroding trust among Afghans and urged unity and support in their continued fight for freedom and justice.
Clashes over Poppies in Badakhshan – On Wednesday, Taliban fighters clashed with residents in Khash district, Badakhshan, over poppy eradication, injuring four locals, one critically. Taliban forces from Badakhshan and Kunduz fled after the confrontation. This incident follows the Taliban's recent announcement of a poppy eradication campaign in Khash, Argo, and Keshm districts. Sources claim Taliban members seize and sell opium from locals. This incident is part of a recurring pattern of Taliban clashes with locals in Badakhshan over poppy cultivation.
Human Rights and Civil Liberties
Torture of Boy by Taliban Security Commander – Local sources in Faryab report that Qari Bilal, the Taliban security commander in Belcheragh district, tortured a 17-year-old boy named Zainuddin, allegedly for having a phone conversation with a girl, possibly Bilal's sister, whom Zainuddin planned to propose to on the fourth day of Eid al-Adha. Zainuddin, a freelance worker, was imprisoned and tortured with a wooden stick, and he has been in critical condition in the hospital for ten days. A video of the torture went viral, leading to public outrage. Taliban officials claim to have arrested six individuals involved.
Taliban Rape Two is Takhar – Local sources in Takhar report that two Taliban members, Mullah Sangar Gujar and Obaidullah, sexually assaulted a woman and a young girl in Warsaj district. Following the deployment of 500 Pashtun Taliban fighters, these acts of violence and harassment have intensified. Residents complain of Taliban's violent behavior and disrespect towards women and children. Similar incidents have been reported in other provinces, highlighting ongoing abuses by Taliban fighters.
Report on Human Trafficking of Afghan Girls and Women – The U.S. State Department's annual human trafficking report reveals that Afghan women and girls are being sold within Afghanistan and in India, Iran, and Pakistan. These victims are exploited for sexual trafficking and domestic slavery. The report cites severe economic conditions, security issues, political instability, and Taliban involvement as factors exacerbating this issue. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that human trafficking is a global problem that no country can solve alone.
Female Salaries cut and Suspended – Habibullah Agha, acting head of the Taliban's Ministry of Education, ordered the suspension of all female employees' salaries until further notice to allow time for changes in the salary system and clarify Hibatullah Akhundzada's decree, which recently mandated a monthly salary of five thousand Afghanis for all female employees from the previous government. Confusion persists among Taliban officials regarding the decree's application, affecting both working and non-working female employees, including doctors. Female medical experts, noting that the new salary is insufficient to cover living expenses, have started strikes in Kabul, including at Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital and other major medical centers.
Floggings – The Taliban's Supreme Court announced it flogged a woman in Herat, a woman in Parwan, and a man in Ghazni this week.
Internal Politics
Ongoing Kuchi Conflicts – Clashes in Badakhshan's Tagab district between armed nomads and local residents over grazing land resulted in two deaths and six injuries. Taliban security forces arrested four individuals involved. Similar conflicts have intensified under Taliban control, with recent attacks by nomads on Hazara-populated Nawur and Malistan districts in Ghazni, and Behsud district in Maidan Wardak. These attacks involved crop destruction, assaults on residents, and claims on private lands. Nomads, backed by the Taliban, demanded rent for land use. Residents report increased harassment and lack of support from Taliban authorities, leading to significant unrest and destruction in these regions.
Changes in Judiciary Appointments – The Taliban's Ministry of Justice confirmed the reassignment of 23 provincial Justice Directors across Afghanistan to improve service delivery and implement policies, according to the ministry's spokesman. It is important to note that the officials were moved between positions with no new individuals appointed.
Continued Rumors of Internal Conflict – Relations between Taliban leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada and Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi have reportedly soured, with Zabihullah Mujahid, the chief spokesperson, being chosen over Muttaqi for the third Doha meeting. Mujahid’s power and influence are growing, reflecting Mullah Hibatullah’s trust in him. Mujahid now handles significant diplomatic roles, indicating a potential shift in the Taliban's internal power dynamics and foreign relations strategy.
International Developments
Doha Meetings Begin – The draft agenda for the third Doha meeting, obtained by Afghanistan International, excludes human rights and meetings with women and civil society representatives. Instead, it focuses on Afghanistan's economic crisis, narcotics issues, and empowering the private sector, particularly women entrepreneurs. The two-day event, hosted by the UN Secretary-General, will feature speeches from the UN Deputy Secretary-General, the Qatari representative, and a Taliban representative.
UN Under Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo clarified that the meeting will not address recognizing the Taliban government, emphasizing that engaging with the Taliban does not imply recognition. The Taliban proposed discussions on releasing frozen funds, infrastructure support, banking normalization, WTO membership, and easing visa restrictions for traders. Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid will lead their delegation.
Unconfirmed reports suggest six representatives, including three women, will attend on the sidelines. However, three prominent women's rights activists have boycotted the meeting. Afghanistan's GDP has declined by 26%, and the poppy cultivation ban has led to a 92% drop in farmers' income. Representatives from 24 countries and five international organizations will attend.
Doha Opening Speech by the Taliban – In his opening speech at the Doha III meeting, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid emphasized Afghanistan's commitment to positive engagement despite sanctions, urging the international community to assist in lifting restrictions on financial and trade sectors, unfreezing currency reserves, and supporting alternative livelihoods for farmers. He highlighted how sanctions impede economic independence and development, and called for diplomatic resolutions to policy differences. Mujahid outlined Afghanistan's progress in reducing poppy cultivation, building economic infrastructure, and fostering regional connectivity projects like the TAPI gas pipeline. He stressed the importance of mutual respect and constructive dialogue for Afghanistan's future, emphasizing that international support is crucial to overcoming these challenges.
Vienna Conference – The fourth Vienna meeting began on Monday with attendees including Ahmad Massoud, Mohammad Mohaqiq, Rangin Dadfar Spanta, Fawzia Koofi, and Mohammad Alam Izadyar. The goal was to align anti-Taliban forces and address regional terrorism and oppression. Daud Naji criticized the UN's handling of Afghanistan's crisis, while Mohaqiq mentioned Sirajuddin Haqqani's openness to dialogue and noted that future Afghan peace talks should be more like those in Bonn or Vienna, rather than the ongoing Doha talks. Ahmad Massoud emphasized the need for legitimacy from the people's will, recounted his escape from Kabul, and rejected Taliban deals for Afghanistan's sake. On the second day, working committee sessions aimed to "establish harmony between political forces" in Afghanistan. Taliban Foreign Ministry official Zakir Jalali criticized the participants as a "vagrant group" with "no understanding of international politics" and dependent on external intervention, claiming they are "doomed to fail." The meeting, attended by a diverse group of anti-Taliban leaders and politicians, discussed Afghanistan's future.
Pre-Doha Meetings – Ahead of the third Doha meeting, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid met with special representatives from Russia, Uzbekistan, and China. Mujahid highlighted Russia's constructive stance, discussed economic projects with Uzbekistan, and held talks with China and India. He also met with Saudi Arabia's representative, emphasizing strong bilateral relations. Saudi Arabia plans to reopen its embassy in Kabul. Representatives from Russia, Uzbekistan, and China have not commented yet.
Opposition to Doha – In an open letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Doha meeting participants, over 44 Afghan organizations and 122 activists expressed "deep concern" about the exclusion of Afghan women and civil society from the discussions. They emphasized the importance of women's recognition in Afghanistan's future negotiations and highlighted the impact of the Taliban's "repressive policies" on women, including the ban on girls' education. The signatories urged the UN to revise the Doha meeting's agenda to include women's issues and civil society representatives, emphasizing their crucial role.
Meetings With Afghan Woman – A virtual meeting held on Tuesday emphasized the importance of addressing Afghan women's concerns. During the meeting with Under Secretary General Rosemary DiCarlo, Afghan women's rights activists and civil society representatives expressed their disappointment over the exclusion of women and civil society from the Doha Talks, which focus on the interests of the Taliban and the international community. They stressed that no single group, including the Taliban, represents all Afghans and urged the UN to allocate separate days for civil society, women, and political groups to ensure inclusivity. The exclusion has led to a legitimacy challenge for the Doha Talks, with many women proposing a boycott. Afghan women vowed to monitor the UN's meetings and hold accountable those who compromise their political participation rights.
Haqqani Allowed to Travel – The United Nations Security Council Committee approved a travel ban exemption for Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s interior minister, for a visit to Abu Dhabi from June 21-25, 2024. Haqqani, who is wanted by the U.S. with a $10 million bounty, attended meetings on regional security. Exemptions were also granted for three other Taliban leaders.
Purple Saturday Statement on US Cutting Aid to Taliban – The Purple Saturday Movement welcomed the US House's resolution to reduce aid to the Taliban and urged sanctions to support Afghans, especially women. They requested transparency on $2.8 billion in US aid to Afghanistan, claiming it aids the Taliban's oppressive regime. The movement also criticized the UN for extending travel exemptions for Taliban leader Sirajuddin Haqqani and called for serious action against him.
South African Investors in Kabul – On Monday, the Taliban announced that South African investors met with Abdul Ghani Baradar to express interest in Afghanistan's mining sector and promised to build a fully equipped hospital. The investors plan to use advanced technology for mineral extraction and processing, while South African health specialists pledged support for Afghanistan's healthcare.
Freedom of the Press
Watching Afghanistan International News Criminalized – The Taliban have declared watching Afghanistan International TV in public places a "crime," sending a letter to all mosques stating the channel's broadcasts oppose their policies and are non-Islamic. Afghanistan International TV, which has challenged the Taliban, is now Afghanistan's most-watched media outlet.
Regional Developments
Pakistan Human Rights Commissioner Asks UN Not to Engage With Taliban – The Pakistan Human Rights Commission has urged the UN to reconsider its engagement with the Taliban, citing concerns over gender apartheid in Afghanistan. Co-chairperson Munizae Jahangir emphasized supporting Afghanistan's democratic institutions rather than the "unelected" Taliban regime. She highlighted that Taliban policies have emboldened extremists in Pakistan to violate women's rights. The commission expressed worries about the UN's decision to engage with the Taliban in the third round of Doha meetings, calling for a review.
Turkmenistan to Host Meeting of Afghanistan’s Neighbors – Turkmenistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Ashgabat will host the fifth meeting of foreign ministers of Afghanistan's neighboring countries this year. Discussions between Turkmen and Chinese officials focused on preparations and emphasized support for Afghanistan's economic improvement.
Drug Arrests at Taybad Border – On Monday, Iranian border forces at Taybad arrested five Afghan citizens for smuggling 4.3 kilograms of opium and heroin, found concealed internally in 306 packets. Additionally, two traffickers were caught with one kilogram of opium and hashish hidden in their shoes. On Sunday, the Taybad Border Regiment fired at smugglers attempting to enter Iran. Although the smugglers escaped, 31.6 kilograms of crystal meth were discovered. Taybad, located 225 km southeast of Mashhad, frequently reports drug seizures. Iran's drug control head urged the UN to recognize Afghanistan's drug production as a serious threat. The Taliban's Ministry of Interior denied these claims, asserting there is no current drug threat from Afghanistan to neighboring countries.
Drug Seizure on Pakistan Border – Pakistan's border forces in Balochistan seized hundreds of drug packages, including methamphetamine and opium, worth over 340 million rupees, at the Afghanistan border. The operation in Nokundi also uncovered weapons and communication equipment. Neighboring countries remain concerned about ongoing drug trafficking from Afghanistan since the Taliban's rise to power.
Statement by Chinese Special Envoy – China's special envoy for Afghanistan, Yuxia Yong, avoided commenting on the ban on girls' education in Afghanistan, emphasizing respect for Afghan culture and non-interference in internal affairs. While attending a regional meeting in Tehran, he highlighted the need for Afghan representation in international discussions. China maintains diplomatic relations with the Taliban but has not officially recognized their government.
Russian Investors Arrive in Kabul – The Taliban's Ministry of Mines and Petroleum announced that Russian investors have shown interest in the Balkhab copper mine. The Taliban prioritize mining, with reports suggesting that Al-Qaeda is involved in mineral extraction. Citizens criticize the lack of transparency and the limited national benefit from these activities. China and Uzbekistan have also expressed interest in Afghanistan's mining sector. Recently, the Taliban sold 20,000 tons of Bamyan coal.
Miscellaneous
WFP Budget Crisis Puts Aid at Risk – The WFP warns that due to a "budget crisis," it can only assist one million people in Afghanistan by October, while 12 million need food aid. The WFP urgently seeks funding, as 23.7 million Afghans require humanitarian aid this year. Aid organizations prioritized 17 million people, needing $3.06 billion. By May 15, only 16% of this budget was secured. Last year, similar budget shortages hindered aid efforts in Afghanistan.
Concerns over the Abolishment of Development Councils – The Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN) has expressed concern over the Taliban's decision to abolish local development councils and replace them with councils of religious scholars for economic project coordination. Traditionally, Afghanistan relied on community-based councils for decision-making. Villagers reported that the Taliban had deactivated or marginalized these councils even before the official ban. In June, Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada dissolved these councils, affecting development programs by international organizations, including the World Bank. The AAN highlighted that future aid coordination with the newly established councils of religious scholars could complicate humanitarian aid delivery. They emphasized the need for thorough scrutiny and raised doubts about the long-term impact on village councils.This change is part of the larger process of Talibanization in Afghanistan. The councils existed prior to the republic and were part of traditional governance systems. Replacing these councils with individuals handpicked by the Taliban imposes a cult-like network over the grassroots power structure. This change will only serve to increase extremism, undermining moderating influences at the community level.
EU Sends Flood Aid – The European Union sent 98 tons of humanitarian aid, including medical supplies, to Afghanistan, focusing on malnourished children and flood victims. Since 2021, the EU has delivered 1,570 tons of aid through 36 flights. In June, the EU pledged 146 million euros to address Afghanistan's humanitarian crisis and support Afghan refugees in Iran and Pakistan.
Increase in Fee for Tazkera – It has been reported that the Taliban will charge 1,200 Afghani for electronic ID cards, a significant increase from the previous government's fee of 300 Afghani. This information has not been officially confirmed.
Tazkeras to Be Issued in UAE – The Taliban's Statistics and Information Department announced the opening of an electronic ID distribution center in the UAE. A task force was sent to Abu Dhabi for this purpose. Electronic ID distribution will soon begin in Iran and other countries. Despite distributing IDs in Afghanistan, no country has recognized the Taliban regime.
Reports on Drug Use in Afghanistan – The UNDP reports that Afghanistan has one of the highest opiate use rates globally, with around four million drug users. It has provided "opioid substitution therapy" to 1,600 addicts in five provinces. Despite Taliban claims of combating narcotics, drug trafficking remains a significant concern for neighboring Central Asian nations.
Flooding in Bamiyan – At least 19 people died and 17 went missing after floods hit Sighan, Shiber, and Yakavlang districts of Bamiyan province starting on Wednesday. Seven bodies have been recovered so far. Taliban officials in Bamiyan have not yet commented, but sources report significant financial damage to residents from the floods.
Landslide in Badakhshan – A landslide in Badakhshan province killed two people and injured six others. The Taliban-run Bakhtar News Agency reported damage to 16 houses, a school, and 5 kilometers of road in Yamgan district. Recent natural disasters have caused numerous deaths and extensive damage across several Afghan provinces, including Baghlan, Faryab, and Herat.
Congo Fever Deaths – The incidence of Congo fever has surged in Kunduz, with three deaths reported in the past month. The Kunduz Regional Infectious Diseases and COVID-19 Hospital reported an increase in cases due to rising temperatures, with 16 infections last month. Due to bed shortages, many patients are not admitted. The hospital, serving four northeastern provinces, needs capacity expansion from 50 to 100 beds.
NEXT WEEK
Security Advisory for Doha Conference Period – Doha talks begin today, Sunday, June 30. Resistance forces are likely to be particularly active during this time. Be cautious in travel and avoid Taliban checkpoints, especially in the evenings. Additional searches and checkpoints are expected over the next week.
Muharram and Ashura Warning – Shia areas of worship may be targeted by ISKP during Muharram and Ashura. Those in Shia predominant areas or attending Shia places of worship should exercise caution. Additional Taliban security and checkpoints are likely over the next 10-15 days.
Caution in Iran During Elections and Religious Holidays – Iranian runoff elections will be held on July 5. Those in Iran should be aware of the elections and associated security measures. Additionally, Muharram begins on July 7; large crowds are likely around mosques and shrines. Stay informed and take necessary precautions during this period.
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
Elections – In Iran's June 28 elections, voter turnout was 40% for the 14th presidential election. An armed attack on a vehicle transporting ballot boxes in Sistan and Baluchestan province resulted in two security personnel dead and five others injured. Since no candidate secured the required votes, the election will proceed to a second round with the top two candidates.
New Sanctions Announced – On Tuesday, June 27, 2023, the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned 50 individuals and entities forming a covert banking network supporting Iran’s Ministry of Defense and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This network hides revenue generated abroad, funding advanced weapons systems. Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo stated that these actions target Iran’s military money laundering. Previous sanctions included entities linked to cyberattacks on U.S. agencies.
Afghan Woman Murdered in Iran – Iranian media reported that the body of Nasrin, a 37-year-old Afghan migrant, was found in her Tehran home, murdered with multiple stab wounds. Her friend discovered the body after days of no contact. Nasrin, who divorced last year after marital issues, lived alone.
PAKISTAN
Pakistani Officials Arrested for Issuing Forged Passports – Pakistan's FIA Counter Terrorism Wing in Karachi arrested two Passport Department officials for issuing 294 forged Pakistani passports to foreigners. Superintendent Farid Shah issued 63 passports, and former Assistant Director Nusrat Ali issued 231 passports to Afghan citizens. Two cases have been registered against them.
Clash with Baloch Militants – On Monday night, armed assailants captured three Pakistani military positions, including a Frontier Corps camp and three other check posts, near the Iskalko gas field in Kalat. Clashes between Baloch militants and Pakistani security forces resumed this morning after commandos were paradropped into the area. Skirmishes reportedly erupted again on Tuesday in the Qalāt district.
Pakistan Open to Attacks On Afghanistan – Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warned that Pakistan would not hesitate to launch attacks on Afghan territory amid rising security tensions. He emphasized Pakistan's sovereignty and criticized Afghanistan for allegedly providing safe havens to terrorists. Asif rejected dialogue with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), citing a lack of common ground, and highlighted Pakistan's renewed military operation, Azm-e-Istehkam, against escalating violence. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have deteriorated, with border skirmishes and Pakistan accusing Afghan Taliban of harboring militants. In March, Pakistan conducted air strikes in Afghanistan in retaliation for attacks on its soldiers.
SPOTLIGHT ANALYSIS
OPINION
Security Through Human Rights – For Afghanistan, It’s Not ‘Either/Or’
Annie Pforzheimer and Asila Wardak
A belief that so-called hard security goals require tradeoffs with human rights imperatives underpinned some of the more egregious mistakes of U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, such as supporting a brutal commander in the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar or excluding women’s issues from the 2020 Doha Agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban.
We can’t make this mistake again and give up human rights at the negotiating table at the upcoming U.N. meeting in Doha from June 30-July 1.
In the name of “hard security,” U.S. intelligence agencies reportedly cooperate with the Taliban against the “common enemy” of the Islamic State, and look the other way when Sirajuddin Haqqani, a senior Taliban official and head of the U.S.-listed terror group Haqqani Network, sanctioned by the U.N. and the subject of a “rewards for justice” notice by the FBI for information about his location, meets with UAE leadership in Dubai before going on hajj in June.
AFGHAN NEWS
Are women being raped in Taliban jails?
Lynne O’Donnell
It has been almost three years since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan. In that time, women have become prisoners in their own homes and targets of violence if they venture outdoors alone.
Now, the United Nations is investigating reports of rape, gang rape, sex slavery and forced abortions of women held in Taliban jails.
The reports, first published in a respected Afghan media outlet, are the first detailed accounts of women being systematically abused for sex by Taliban operatives and commanders.
The reports have drawn the concern of the US State Department and the UN’s Special Rapporteur for Human Rights, Richard Bennett, who has launched an urgent probe.
Centre for Information Resilience
In September 2023, the Taliban announced that they had signed more than $6.5 billion in new mining deals. CIR’s Afghan Witness project delves into the sector dubbed the Taliban’s “cash cow”.
A new set of companies dominates Afghanistan’s mining sector under the Taliban, according to a report released today by CIR’s Afghan Witness project. The analysis reveals that the Taliban issued at least 205 mining contracts to over 150 companies since their takeover in August 2021 – a rate of more than one contract per week.
8 Am
The Taliban have set the salary for all female employees and teachers at 5,000 Afghanis, while significantly increasing the salaries of teachers in their Jihadi schools. According to an order from Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban supreme leader, a mullah in a Taliban Jihadi school who previously earned 20,000 Afghanis now receives 25,000 Afghanis, and a Taliban Sheikh-ul-Hadith earns between 30,000 to 40,000 Afghanis per month. Several female teachers in Kunduz province report that a teacher in a Taliban Jihadi school earns four times their salary and that the state budget also covers their family expenses.
REGIONAL NEWS
Iran heads to presidential run-off on July 5 amid record low turnout
The snap presidential election in Iran is heading into a run-off next week after reformist-backed Masoud Pezeshkian and hardliner Saeed Jalili (image left) emerged at the top but failed to secure a majority in a vote with a record-low turnout.
Only 40 percent of more than 61 million eligible Iranians voted, the Ministry of Interior said on Saturday, a new low in presidential elections since the country’s 1979 revolution.
Chinese telecom equipment meant for Pakistan army ends up in hands of terrorists in J-K
Business Today
Encounters with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir have led to the seizure of highly encrypted Chinese telecom gear "Ultra Set", an equipment used by the Pakistani army that has ended up in the hands of terror groups, officials said. This has also raised concerns over undetected infiltrations from across the Line of Control and terrorists potentially residing in the outskirts of cities and villages, they said.
The seizure of the mobile handsets used by foreign terrorists, primarily from Pakistan and its occupied Kashmir, indicate that terror groups are receiving training, weapons and ammunition from state actors in Pakistan, said the officials aware of the matter. These specialised handsets, exclusively customised by Chinese companies for the Pakistan army, were seized after a gunfight in the intervening night of July 17-18 last year in the Sindarah top area of Surankote in Jammu region's Poonch district and in April 26 this year after an encounter at the Check Mohalla Nowpora area of Sopore in north Kashmir's Baramulla district.
‘Azm-e-Istehkam’: Can new Pakistani military operation curb armed attacks?
Abid Hussain
Pakistan’s top leadership has approved the launch of a new military operation aimed at quelling a surge in violence.
Called Azm-e-Istehkam, meaning Resolve for Stability in Urdu, the operation was announced after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif led a review of the country’s “counterterrorism” operations over the weekend, especially the National Action Plan adopted in the aftermath of the December 2014 attack on Peshawar’s Army Public School. More than 140 people, predominantly students, were killed in the attack, which was claimed by the Pakistan Taliban, known by the acronym TTP.
Blow to TTP as two high-value commanders arrested
The International News
As Pakistan continues its efforts to curb the scourge of terrorism, Balochistan government Wednesday said that it has arrested two high-value commanders of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) namely Nasrullah alias "Maulvi Mansoor" and Idris alias "Irshad".
Speaking at a press conference in Quetta, Balochistan Home Minister Mir Zia Ullah Langau said: "We have apprehended an important terrorist network. Terrorists Nasrullah [...] and Idris have been arrested after a difficult operation."
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
When It Comes to Women’s Rights, Do Not Appease the Taliban
Richard Bennett
In May 2022, nine months after the Taliban retook power in Afghanistan, I visited a girls’ secondary school that was still open in the north in spite of a ban on education for girls above sixth grade. Communities in the area, which has a long history of valuing education, had refused to comply. I met with a group of 11th-grade math students who told me about their hopes for the future. “I don’t want to end up trapped at home and condemned to a domestic life,” one female student told me. “I want to finish school and become a teacher so that I can help my family and others.”
Starmer says people would not be sent back to Afghanistan under returns policy
Jessica Elgot
Keir Starmer has admitted for the first time that he would not return people to Afghanistan, after a bitter exchange in Wednesday night’s debate where Rishi Sunak mocked him for planning to “sit down with the ayatollahs” to negotiate return agreements.
Starmer has repeatedly said he plans to negotiate returns agreements with safe countries in order to clear the asylum backlog, which has worsened due to the government’s recent legislation which does not allow asylum seekers to be processed while it waits to start deportations to Rwanda.
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 70.99 AFN (as of 30 June 2024)
