More airlines fly over Afghanistan in last week as Middle East tensions rise

October 11, 2024

By Joanna Plucinska and Mohammad Yunus Yawar

Reuters

UL, Oct 8 (Reuters) – Airlines have diverted more flights over Afghanistan over the past week to avoid Iranian airspace, data shows, adding to journey times and fuel costs in the latest disruption for routes between Asia and Europe as tensions in the Middle East escalate.
Flights over Afghanistan were already growing in recent months, but expectations of an Israeli response to an Iranian ballistic missile attack on Israel last week have furthered that trend, data from flight tracker FlightRadar24 shows.
EASA last week issued a warning for airlines to avoid Iranian airspace.
FlightRadar24 showed 132 overflights of Afghanistan on Sept. 29. On Oct. 2, the day after Iran attacked Israel, the number of Afghan overflights rose to 176.
On Oct. 6, the daily number had steadily risen to 222.
Taliban officials said the number of overflights were even higher in recent days than the FlightRadar24 data showed.
“Specifically, over the past five or six days, there have been about 350 transit flights in 24 hours, compared to around 100 transit flights (a year ago) previously,” said Imamudden Ahmadi, the spokesperson for the Taliban-run Ministry of Transportation and Aviation.
FlightRadar24 on Tuesday showed British Airways (ICAG.L), opens new tab and Singapore Airlines (SIAL.SI), opens new tab flights using Afghanistan’s airspace.
Airlines flying over Afghanistan: SQ326 flight path
Airlines flying over Afghanistan: SQ326 flight path
The data did not show a breakdown of which airlines were using Afghan airspace more in the last week. British Airways and Singapore Airlines did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Many airlines had started routing through Iran and the Middle East after Russian and Ukrainian skies were closed to most Western carriers when the Ukraine war began in 2022.
The new rerouting shows the difficult calculus airlines are forced to make as the safety of the airspace across the Middle East becomes more precarious and fears of a regional war rise a year after the start of the Israel-Hamas war.
“What was already a very limited set of route options is now down to the last few choices that there are – hence Afghanistan seeing more traffic,” said Mark Zee, the founder of flight-risk information sharing organization OPSGROUP.
Air traffic control for carriers flying over Afghanistan has not been available since the Taliban took over three years ago – leaving airlines to rely on guidelines from regulators.
“I expect that this avoidance of Iran, and possibly Iraq, will continue for several weeks at least, until either Israel makes a move, or the situation calms,” Zee said.
More airlines fly over Afghanistan in last week as Middle East tensions rise
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US envoy says Afghan women and girls face devastating mental health crisis

October 11, 2024
Khaama Press

U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan’s Women, Girls, and Human Rights, Rina Amiri, said on Friday that Afghans, especially women and girls, are facing a devastating mental health crisis due to the Taliban’s extremist policies.

“As we commemorate World Mental Health Day, I want to draw attention to the devastating mental health crisis faced by Afghans, especially women & girls, due to the Taliban’s alarming & extreme policies,” Amiri said.

“We must all be resolute in supporting them in the struggle for their rights,” she added.

Over the past three years, the Taliban has imposed widespread restrictions on the private and public lives of Afghan citizens, especially women.

Previously, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported that the Taliban’s enforcement of the “Amr bil Ma’roof” law has significantly increased mental health pressures on Afghan women.

The UN agency further stated that the restrictions under this law have left many Afghan women feeling hopeless, depressed, and angry.

The continued impact of the Taliban’s harsh policies is worsening the mental health situation in Afghanistan, particularly among women who bear the brunt of these oppressive restrictions.

Global support and action are critical to addressing the mental health crisis in Afghanistan, with a focus on protecting the rights and well-being of women and girls in Afghanistan.

US envoy says Afghan women and girls face devastating mental health crisis
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Karzai calls on Taliban to reopen schools and universities for girls

October 11, 2024
Khaama Press

On International Day of the Girl, Hamid Karzai stated that girls, like boys, play a vital role in the advancement of society, and their exclusion from social life and education causes irreparable harm. He urged the Taliban to reopen schools and universities for girls.

Karzai emphasized on Friday that “we must do everything we can to educate our children and for the good and well-being of our country.”

Karin Decker, the Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan, stressed that Afghanistan’s future is bleak without girls’ participation in society.

On October 11, International Day of the Girl, Decker reaffirmed the U.S. mission’s commitment to supporting Afghan girls’ education.

Many international organizations reiterated the importance of girls’ education on October 11, calling for the removal of restrictions on Afghan women.

Rosa Otunbayeva of UNAMA highlighted that it has been 1,120 days since the Taliban banned education for girls, emphasizing their suffering.

The collective calls for action on International Day of the Girl underscore the urgent need to prioritize education and opportunities for Afghan girls, as their empowerment is essential for Afghanistan’s future development and stability.

Karzai calls on Taliban to reopen schools and universities for girls
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Iran Deports Over 270,000 Afghan Migrants in Six Months

October 11, 2024

TOLOnews

TV Network

11 Oct 2024

Meanwhile, some migrant rights activists say that the host government must treat Afghan migrants better.

Hossein Sharafati, Director General of Foreign Nationals and Migrants of Khorasan Razavi, Iran, says that over 270,000 illegal Afghan migrants have been deported from Iran in the past six months.

In an interview with Iranian media, Sharafati said that none of the Afghan migrants, whether legal or illegal, have the right to reside or work in certain cities of the country.

The Director General of Foreign Nationals and Migrants of Khorasan Razavi said: “None of the Afghan nationals, whether authorized or unauthorized, have the right to reside or work in the seven border cities of the province, and identifying these individuals has become a priority for relevant authorities.”

At the same time, some Afghan migrants residing in Iran say they are facing numerous challenges, such as forced deportation and being denied the right to work in the country.

They have called on the caretaker government to address their challenges.

Mohammad Akbar Soltani, an Afghan migrant in Iran, said: “In a shop, a company, or a store, migrants are not allowed to work. The Afghan passport has no value.”

Meanwhile, some migrant rights activists say that the host government must treat Afghan migrants better.

Alireza Karimi, a migrant rights activist, said: “Iran, as a host to a large number of Afghan migrants, is obligated to treat them in a humane and just manner in accordance with international laws.”

Sharafati also mentioned that 75% of Afghan migrants in Iran reside and work, while the remaining 25% have chosen to go to European and Asian countries.

Iran Deports Over 270,000 Afghan Migrants in Six Months
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Russia Emphasizes Importance of Continuing Talks with Islamic Emirate

October 11, 2024
Mohammad Bashir Soltani
Tolo News
11 Oct 2024

Meanwhile, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Tajikistan sees peaceful talks aimed at forming an inclusive government in Afghanistan as beneficial for the country.

Grigory Karasin, the head of the International Affairs Committee of the Russian Federation Council, called the continuation of talks with Afghanistan’s interim government important.

In a meeting on Central Asia regional security held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, this Russian official added that the interim government now holds power in Afghanistan, and dialogue with it is essential to maintain peace and stability in Central Asia.

TASS news agency quoted Karasin as saying: “It appears important to continue dialogue with the Taliban movement in power [in Afghanistan] in order to maintain peace and stability in Central Asia.”

“The countries of the region should have good relations with Afghanistan in all areas and cooperate with this country; this will be beneficial for the region and other countries,” said Sayed Akbar Sial Wardak, a political analyst.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Tajikistan sees peaceful talks aimed at forming an inclusive government in Afghanistan as beneficial for the country.

Sodik Imom, Deputy Foreign Minister of Tajikistan, said: “That is why our countries agree that peaceful dialogue aimed at forming an inclusive government with the participation of representatives of all political and ethnic forces of Afghanistan is an important guarantee for this country’s transition to peaceful development.”

“Afghanistan is an important part of the region, and if the region wants peace and to implement large economic projects, it needs, it requires Afghanistan. Without Afghanistan’s cooperation, these projects cannot be realized,” said Hewad Zazai, another political analyst.

Although the Islamic Emirate has not commented on the remarks of Tajikistan’s Deputy Foreign Minister, it expressed appreciation for the statement of the head of the International Affairs Committee of the Russian Federation Council regarding the continuation of talks with the interim government.

Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, said: “We welcome the positive stance of the head of the International Affairs Committee of the Russian Federation Council. It is indeed a fact that dialogue between the Islamic Emirate and regional countries is important for regional stability and the expansion of relations.”

Russia is one of the countries that has hosted several regional meetings on Afghan issues in the past three years, and in the sixth Moscow Consultative Format meeting, the country’s foreign minister also stressed pragmatic talks with the interim government.

Russia Emphasizes Importance of Continuing Talks with Islamic Emirate
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‘The situation is very difficult for Afghan women’

October 10, 2024
Zoie O’Brien & Shivani Chaudhari
BBC News, Suffolk
9 Oct 2024
Almas Ipswich Feriba Almas wearing a black hijab and a green blazer. She is looking into the camera and not smiling
Feriba Almas had to flee Afghanistan because she was receiving death threats from the Taliban

An Afghan police officer who fled to the UK after she received death threats from the Taliban said that attending a community group had helped her connect with other women in the area.

Almas Ipswich is a free support group for Afghan women and children which has been running for the past five weeks in Wellington Family Hub in Ipswich.

Feriba Almas, 25, left Afghanistan because of her job in 2022. She said: “I find this group really important. I feel at home in the Almas group because lots of women come together.”

The word Almas means diamond in Persian and the group considered it an appropriate name because the gemstone is formed under pressure.

Almas Ipswich A group of women sitting around a table. Some women are wearing hijabs and there is tea and food on the table
Afghanistan women have been coming together to share their memories of home at a workshop in Ipswich

The community group was co-founded by Rona Panjsheri, from Afghanistan, and the British artist Hannah Aria. It has been funded by Suffolk Archives to run for six weeks.

Ms Almas said: “In my culture, people didn’t like women going into the police.”

Yet as a little girl, Ms Almas said: “When I grow up I will be a police officer, I wanted to help people.”

She added that women in Afghanistan “don’t have any life, we are safe here and we can go to school and college, but they don’t have a choice and the situation is very difficult for women”.

She said while she was living in England she wanted to finish her education and become a police officer in the UK.

Almas Ispwich Rona Panjsheri has her hair in a ponytail and is smiling at the camera. She is wearing turquoise drop earrings and glasses on her head. In the background are other women sitting around a table.
Rona Panjsheri said it was important for women to have spaces where they could talk to and integrate with others

Ms Panjsheri, who settled in the UK in 2013, said the aim of the workshop was to help Afghan women integrate more with each other.

“Lots of women don’t want to come out and they feel very isolated, especially Afghan women,” she said.

“I believe love doesn’t need language, we need to be more integrated… we have lots of things in common.

“I feel very proud when I see Afghan women laughing together.

“Afghanistan is a country full of tribes and ethnic groups, so we wanted to be together and understand each other.”

One workshop had asked the attendees to bring an item that reminded them of home, to encourage the women to share their stories. Ms Panjsheri said: “In Afghanistan, we never share stories.

“If we talk more about the situation of women, we can be together and help each other.”

Almas Ipswich Hannah Aria has blonde hair and wearing a black top, she is smiling at the camera. In the background a few women are sat together talking.
Hannah Aria is a co-founder of the group and said it was a beautiful way to meet new people

Ms Aria said the women had gone to the park together and taken part in painting workshops since receiving funding.

Ms Aria said: “Language wasn’t a barrier, it was just beautiful, it was just people.

“These women are such incredible role models, we have got so many talents in the group and it is great to meet so many people in the group.”

‘The situation is very difficult for Afghan women’
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Turkey to Begin Restoration of Mawlana Jalaluddin Balkhi-Rumi’s Father’s Sanctuary in Balkh Soon

October 10, 2024
By Fidel Rahmati
Khaama Press
10 October 2024

The Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture has announced that the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) will soon begin the restoration of the monastery of Mawlana Jalaluddin Balkhi-Rumi’s father.

The ministry also shared that Akın Erdoğan, the head of TIKA, has promised support in equipping the National Archives, art schools, and public libraries.

On Thursday, October 10, the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture, through its social media platform X, stated that Akın Erdoğan, in a meeting with Atiqullah Azizi, the Taliban’s Deputy Minister for Culture and Arts, confirmed the imminent commencement of surveys, restoration, and preservation of the school and sanctuary of Mawlana Jalaluddin Balkhi-Rumi’s father in Balkh province.

In late March, the Taliban’s Department of Information and Culture in Balkh announced that the restoration of the monastery of Maulana Jalaluddin Mohammad Balkhi’s father would be carried out with the collaboration and funding of the Turkish Development Foundation. This sanctuary, located west of Mazar-i-Sharif, is over 900 years old.

Zabihullah Noorani, the Taliban’s head of Information and Culture in Balkh, mentioned that the monastery would be restored on a 30-jerib (approximately 15-hectare) area of land.

Some historians consider the Bahauddin Monastery to be Rumi’s birthplace. Due to its historical significance, the monastery annually attracts hundreds of domestic and international tourists.

While the Taliban has announced the restoration of this historical site, UNESCO previously expressed concerns over the protection of Afghanistan’s cultural heritage after the Taliban’s takeover, making it one of their major worries.

Due to the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan and over four decades of conflict, the preservation of cultural monuments has faced immense challenges. Many historical sites have suffered damage, and restoring them has become a complex task amid ongoing security concerns.

As the political and humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, the focus on protecting Afghanistan’s rich cultural heritage remains uncertain. The risk of losing these monuments to both neglect and violence underscores the importance of international support and collaboration.

Turkey to Begin Restoration of Mawlana Jalaluddin Balkhi-Rumi’s Father’s Sanctuary in Balkh Soon
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UNAMA Chief: Taliban pledges to open prisons for UN monitoring

October 10, 2024

By Fidel  Rahmati

Khaama Press

 

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) announced that the Taliban’s prison administration has committed to opening prison doors for UNAMA observers.

Rosa Otunbayeva, head of UNAMA, welcomed this “sustained commitment” for access to Afghanistan prisons.

In a statement released on Thursday, October 10, Otunbayeva expressed her support for the Taliban’s commitment to ensure that human rights teams have access to prisons across the country, including women’s prisons.

So far, the Taliban has not responded to UNAMA’s statement.

Over the past three years, multiple reports have surfaced of torture and deaths in Taliban prisons, and the UN has been unable to monitor these facilities.

This is the first time the UN has announced that it has secured a promise from the Taliban to allow human rights groups to monitor prison conditions.

Otunbayeva stressed that all prisoners have basic rights that must be fully respected and ensured.

UNAMA also reported that Otunbayeva held discussions with the head of the Taliban’s prison administration.

Following her visit with several female prisoners, Otunbayeva emphasized the need for more efforts to support prisoners’ rights and explore alternatives to incarceration.

UNAMA highlighted the increasing number of prisoners in the Pul-e-Charkhi prison, with the Taliban’s prison administration reporting between 10,000 to 11,000 prisoners across the country, including 1,000 women and nearly 900 minors.

UNAMA stated that prison monitoring is a vital part of its mandate, given by the United Nations Security Council. The organization also expressed concern about the lack of legal services for prisoners, especially women.

The report comes amid ongoing allegations of torture and human rights violations in Taliban prisons, particularly against former military personnel and activists.

UNAMA Chief: Taliban pledges to open prisons for UN monitoring
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$1 billion gas exploration deal for Afghanistan’s Jawjzan signed with Uzbek company

October 10, 2024
Khaama Press

The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum of Afghanistan has signed a contract with a Uzbek company to explore and extract natural gas in the Totimaidan gas field in northern Afghanistan.

This ten-year contract, valued at approximately $1 billion, was signed by Afghanistan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, and a representative from the Uzbek company.

According to the agreement, the company will invest $100 million in the first year, with the remaining $900 million spread over the next nine years.

In the project’s first two years, the extracted gas will be used to generate 100 megawatts of gas-powered electricity.

The Totimaidan gas field, located in Jawzjan province, covers an area of roughly 7,000 square kilometres and holds significant gas reserves.

Once extraction begins, the project is expected to meet Afghanistan’s domestic gas needs and create thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities.

However, concerns have been raised about the contract’s transparency, given Afghanistan’s current lack of a formal constitution and established regulatory frameworks following the collapse of the republic government.

Additionally, amid the dire humanitarian crisis and ongoing questions about Taliban government spending, ensuring that the benefits of such contracts serve national interests remains a critical issue.

$1 billion gas exploration deal for Afghanistan’s Jawjzan signed with Uzbek company
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Islamic Emirate Ambassador Presents Credentials to Uzbekistan’s FM

October 10, 2024
Hadia Ziaei
Tolo News
10 Oct 2024

The two parties also discussed economic progress during the meeting.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate has announced that Abdul Ghaffar Bahr, the Islamic Emirate’s ambassador to Uzbekistan, has presented his credentials to Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister.

According to the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during his meeting with Abdul Ghaffar Bahr, Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister emphasized the strengthening of relations between Kabul and Tashkent. Bahr also urged Uzbekistan to invest in Afghanistan.

The two parties also discussed economic progress during the meeting.

Hamdullah Fitrat, the deputy spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, speaking about the presentation of the ambassador’s credentials to Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister, stated: “He mentioned that Uzbekistan and Afghanistan share common interests, and significant economic progress has been made between the two countries over the past three years. Appointing an ambassador will further improve communication.”

The Islamic Emirate’s ambassador in Tashkent described stability in Afghanistan as a good opportunity for investment, stressing the importance of seizing this opportunity.

“The more representatives of the Islamic Emirate meet with foreign ministers and officials of other countries, the more the voice of the Afghan people and the Islamic Emirate will be heard,” Saleem Paigir, a political analyst, told TOLOnews.

“Afghanistan will only rise when it builds strong trade relations with neighboring countries,” said Ismail Zadran, another political analyst.

The officials of the Islamic Emirate have repeatedly stated that 38 embassies and consulates of the caretaker government are active in various countries. However, no country has yet recognized the Islamic Emirate.

Islamic Emirate Ambassador Presents Credentials to Uzbekistan’s FM
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