Former US Ambassador Ryan Crocker asserts that the upcoming international meeting on Afghanistan in Doha won’t grant legitimacy to the Taliban’s government.

Crocker told Voice of America that the United Nations, as the meeting’s host, should clarify that the Taliban regime doesn’t deserve recognition and shouldn’t be considered a legitimate government.

Criticizing the Biden administration, Crocker accuses it of neglecting Afghanistan and disregarding the bans on women’s education and work.

He alleges that the Taliban hasn’t undergone intellectual or political changes, maintaining ties with Al-Qaeda and posing a threat to Afghanistan, the region, and the world.

Stressing the need for continued diplomatic efforts, Crocker suggests that the US should thwart potential threats in the region.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the White House’s National Security Council affirmed that the Taliban government must fulfil its commitments before receiving recognition.

John Kirby clarified that the United States hasn’t made any efforts to normalize relations with the Taliban, reiterating the unchanged US policy towards the group.

Despite the upcoming Doha meeting, where the Taliban’s status might be discussed, Washington asserts no moves have been made to normalize or recognize the Taliban, highlighting concerns over their governance and policies.

The meeting in Doha, set to commence next Sunday, aims to gather special representatives from various countries to discuss Afghanistan’s future.

Crocker’s remarks underscore ongoing international skepticism regarding the legitimacy and intentions of the Taliban government in Afghanistan.

The World Food Program has announced that it has provided food items and cash assistance to nearly 19 million people in Afghanistan over the past year.

According to a report released on Tuesday, February 13^th, these aids were aimed at strengthening local communities, preventing malnutrition, and improving student learning.

Previously, the World Food Program had also reported assisting over half a million women in Afghanistan last calendar year to promote their self-sufficiency.

However, the World Food Program and several other international relief agencies have consistently warned of budget shortages and increasing levels of need in Afghanistan.

The organization’s report indicates that 41 million people in Afghanistan are facing severe hunger at an alarmingly high emergency level.

It’s worth mentioning that the return of thousands of Afghan migrants from countries like Iran and Pakistan, along with the destructive earthquake in Herat, has further exacerbated the humanitarian needs in the country.

These circumstances have heightened the urgency for humanitarian assistance to the people in Afghanistan.

Efforts to address these urgent humanitarian needs are crucial to prevent further suffering in Afghanistan.

The United Nations Development Program in Tajikistan has announced that the Japanese government, through its International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will finance the “Border Management” project between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

According to Central Asia’s Times newspaper on Friday, February 9^th, this project was launched in early 2015 and will continue until 2025.

Reports indicate that preventing drug trafficking from Afghanistan to Tajikistan and facilitating cross-border trade are among the objectives of this project.

It is worth mentioning that since the start of this project, both sides have established a new border inspection post in “Langar” and equipped the old inspection posts in “Khamroghi and Shogun.”

Earlier, in 2018, Japan allocated around $4.6 million to improve infrastructure at the border with Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Tajikistan’s Drug Control Agency claims that there is no sign of a decrease in drug trafficking from Afghanistan to Tajikistan in the past two years, and trafficking of various drugs from heroin and opium to methamphetamines continues unabated.

Despite the ongoing efforts and investments in border management projects, the persistence of drug trafficking remains a significant challenge in the region.

The collaboration between Japan and Tajikistan underscores the importance of international cooperation in addressing cross-border challenges such as drug trafficking and trade facilitation.

After the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan and significant political changes, many media outlets in the city of Kabul have been shut down due to economic problems. Journalists, especially female journalists, are facing unemployment, insufficient resources, and meagre income. Many have been forced to leave their jobs, while others struggle with severe economic challenges.

Female journalists state that after the upheavals and the loss of financial support for their media outlets, they were compelled to either leave their duties or continue working with reduced income. The high workload combined with low pay or irregular payment has demotivated them, ultimately leading many journalists to quit their jobs.

Zahra, Hasna, and Latifa, among the female journalists, have been unemployed due to the poor economic conditions of their media outlets over the past year. They express distress both economically and mentally, with no improvement in job opportunities.

Zahra says, “Finding a job in the current situation is the hardest task, and people’s economic situation is also dire. Since I lost my job, my living conditions have deteriorated, and I can’t meet life’s necessities.”

Hasna also reveals that she was the sole breadwinner of her household and is now struggling with serious economic challenges. She told the Khaama press, “I used to be the breadwinner of my family, but since I became unemployed, problems have been increasing day by day. We are eight in the family, and my father, being old, cannot work.”

Similarly, due to economic challenges, Latifa had to quit her job as a journalist and is now grappling with uncertainty about managing her living expenses.

She told Khaama Press, “The media outlet I worked for couldn’t afford to pay its employees, so I had to leave my job. I’ve been desperately looking for work but to no avail. Our family is facing economic problems, and with each change in our lifestyle, things get more difficult, and we’re bewildered about what to do.”

These unemployed female journalists appeal to the authorities of the Taliban and relief agencies to pay serious attention to the situation of women and create job opportunities for female journalists.

Sara and Rabia are among the women who, due to the poor economic situation of their media outlet, have been forced to choose between three options: accepting a meagre income, working without pay, or resigning from their duties.

Sara says, “For a year and two months, I’ve worked in a media outlet without receiving any salary or compensation. The distance from my home to work is considerable. I work diligently from early morning until late at night, yet the office doesn’t even provide transportation fare. This situation will force me to quit my job.”

Similarly, Rabia preferred staying unemployed at home over the overwhelming workload with no compensation. She told Khaama press, “For several months, we haven’t received any pay or compensation. Our family is economically weak. If this situation persists, I might be forced to resign. The workload is immense, but the income is minimal.”

Meanwhile, authorities in some media outlets affected by the recent political changes in the country state that budget constraints and economic disparities have led to the dismissal of many employees.

Jafar Panahi, the managing director and owner of Afghan News Agency, says, “Media outlets have undoubtedly been affected by the events of the past two years. Today, the biggest challenge is economic. The lack of attention from the global community has created numerous problems for media outlets. If there’s no plan to fund media outlets, their capacities will diminish, and the voice of the people will not be properly represented.”

Esmatullah Halem, the official at Radio Chinarr in Kabul, says that with the minimal revenue they generate from commercial advertisements, they cannot support many journalists in their outlets.

He told the press, “We don’t receive any assistance or funding from foreign countries, and all our revenue comes from commercial advertisements and sponsored programs, which we have currently lost. Therefore, we need to reduce our staff.”

Simultaneously, the Nei organization, a supporter of independent media in Afghanistan, states that currently, more than 431 journalists and media personnel are employed in Kabul, whereas during the previous government, there were nearly 5,000 female journalists and employees across Afghanistan.

Zarif Karimi, an official from the Nei organization, said, “Currently, in Kabul, we have approximately 431 female journalists and media personnel. The majority of female journalists work in television channels such as Ariana, Tolo, Tolo News, Lemar, Tamadon, Radio Azadi, Salaam Watandar, Radio Kilid, and others. Radio Bigem and Salaam Watandar are entirely managed by women and have around 35 to 40 female employees and journalists.”

Karimi added that some women in certain media outlets are also working without pay. According to him, “In TV channels such as Rah-e-Farda and some agencies, other female journalists are working without any compensation. In Tamadon TV, Noor TV, and Shamshad TV, women work for the lowest wages.”

The challenging economic situation of media outlets and the decrease in employees’ salaries or non-payment of salaries have not only demotivated journalists but also negatively impacted the quality of media work.