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Poverty Increases in Afghanistan: UNICEF

December 28, 2023
By TOLOnews
TV Network
28 Dec 2023
UNICEF in the report said that the economic crisis has increased the number of people in need of humanitarian aid in Afghanistan. 

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) recently published a report on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan from August 2021 till March 2023.

UNICEF in the report said that the economic crisis has increased the number of people in need of humanitarian aid in Afghanistan.

“This aid has not and will not have economic effectiveness in any way, because until the development projects are implemented and provide economic assistance to Afghanistan, we will not be able to reduce the poverty and unemployment in the country,” said Abdul Nasir Reshtia, an economic expert.

At the same time, the Ministry of Economy believes that the reason for the increase in poverty in the country is the imposition of various sanctions by the international community against the Islamic Emirate.

The deputy of this ministry told TOLOnews that aid organizations’ assistance is effective and urged the continuation of such aid.

“The sanctions imposed on the people of Afghanistan, the assets of the Afghanistan people that have been frozen, and the banking and commercial restrictions that have been imposed in violation of international law, are the main factors of the spread of poverty in Afghanistan,” said Abdul Latif Nazari, Deputy Minister of Economy

According to UNICEF numbers, In 2024, 23.3 Million people will need humanitarian aid including 12.6 million children.

Poverty Increases in Afghanistan: UNICEF
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Air Arabia Relaunches Flights To Kabul

December 27, 2023

BYALEXANDER MITCHELL

Simple Flying

26 December 2023

Services operated by Jazeera Airways will soon follow.

SUMMARY

  •  Air Arabia and Jazeera Airways are set to resume flights to Kabul, increasing the total number of international carriers operating at the airport to three.
  •  The Afghan Ministry of Transport is optimistic that more carriers will resume operations at airports across Afghanistan.
  •  The re-establishment of international service in Afghanistan is driven by leisure travel, not business travel. International legacy carriers have yet to plan service resumption.

Air Arabia, a low-cost carrier based in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, will resume flights to Kabul International Airport (KBL) from its hub at Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) on January 10. Services from non-Afghan airlines were suspended for two years, following a regime change in the Central Asian nation.

According to the Afghan Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, Kuwaiti low-cost carrier Jazeera Airways is set to begin international service to Kabul shortly after Air Arabia touches down in the nation. Recently, Dubai-based low-cost carrier FlyDubai became the first international carrier to begin flying to Afghanistan after flights from international airlines were suspended back in 2021.

Jazeera Airways Airbus A320 neo in flight

Ariana Afghan Airlines, the nation’s flag carrier, and Kam Air, the country’s largest privately owned airline, both provide service to several international destinations from KBL. Once Jazeera Airways and Air Arabia commence operations, the total number of international carriers operating at Kabul’s airport will be three, a far cry from the six that previously flew to the capital city.

An interesting resumption

The Ministry of Transport is also excited about the service resumption. In a statement reported by TOLOnews, ministry spokesman Imamuddin Ahmadi had the following words to share regarding the announcement:

“Air Arabia has also asked to start flights with Afghanistan from Kabul, their demand has also been accepted, and in the near future their flights will start. In the meantime, Jazeera Airways has also demanded to start direct flights from Afghanistan.”

Get all the latest aviation news on Simple Flying!

The minister then went on to add additional comments about the resumed routes, indicating that these flights would provide additional transportation options for the public. Furthermore, Ahmadi went on to add that healthy competition among carriers would ultimately lower prices and benefit the Afghan people.

Air Arabia A321
Photo: Air Arabia

The Ministry of Transport is optimistic that these flights could be a signal for more carriers to resume operations at airports across Afghanistan. The nation has multiple other airports that meet all the standards for international flight operations, such as Kandahar International Airport (KDH) and Mazar-i-Sharif International Airport (MZR), the latter of which already sees international service from Iranian carrier Mahan Air.

The bigger economic picture

The re-establishment of consistent international service demonstrates that the young Taliban regime has cleared a key economic hurdle in the Middle East. However, the specific carriers that have chosen to resume flight demonstrate that it is leisure travel, not business travel, that is driving interest in serving Afghanistan.

Turkish Airlines A330 in Kabul
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

Notably, legacy carriers such as Turkish Airlines, Emirates, and Air India, which all flew to Kabul before the Taliban takeover, have yet to plan service resumption. This demonstrates that, despite easing political relations between other Middle Eastern nations and the new Afghan regime, economic relationships have yet to fully return. Hopefully, things will change soon.

Air Arabia Relaunches Flights To Kabul
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Haqqani: Restrictions Imposed by Foreigners Causing Humanitarian Tragedy

December 27, 2023
By TOLOnews
TV Network
26 Dec 2023

“The acting interior minister hoped that such organization can present a real picture of the current situation of the country to others,” the spokesman noted.

The acting minister of Interior, Sirajuddin Haqqani, in a meeting with Tadamichi Yamamoto, the former head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), and the president of Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Atsushi Sunami, said that restrictions imposed by foreigners are causing the tragedy of humanitarian needs.

According to the statement, Sirajuddin Haqqani said: “The visit of experts from Sasakawa Peace Foundation was positive and we hope that these organizations will present a real picture of the country’s situation to others and that prolonged political issues can be resolved through dialogue, understanding and bilateral relations.”

The spokesman of interior ministry, Abdul Mateen Qani, said that during the meeting Haqqani noted that the basic human needs of Afghans should be evaluated separately from political issues.

“The acting interior minister hoped that such organization can present a real picture of the current situation of the country to others,” the spokesman noted.

The Ministry of Interior noted that Tadamichi Yamamoto emphasized in this meeting that in order to solve the problems of Afghanistan, it is necessary to hold various meetings between non-governmental organizations and officials of government institutions.

Abdul Mateen Qani noted that Atsushi Sunami also said that Afghanistan’s problems can be solved by considering different ways and that the existing gap between Afghanistan and the world will dissolve.

“I’m sure that the international community will be obliged to interact with the Islamic Emirate, recognize it, and remove their leaders’ name from the black list, due to the ongoing work in the construction and other sections,” said Gul Mohammaddin Mohammadi, a political analyst.

“Meetings among Islamic Emirate officials and the officials of UNAMA, other representatives of the UN, and elders and ambassadors of world countries, can help the Islamic Emirate to get rid of the current isolation,” said Mohammad Hassan Haqyar, another political analyst.

Meanwhile, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, in a meeting with Tadamichi Yamamoto, and Atsushi Sunami, requested Japan’s cooperation in the fields of education, agriculture, health and environmental protection.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote in a statement that the former head of UNAMA said that Japan is cooperating with humanitarian aid in building trust and relations between the current government and the international community.

Haqqani: Restrictions Imposed by Foreigners Causing Humanitarian Tragedy
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Deputy PM: Countries Should Learn From Our History

December 27, 2023
Nazir Shinwari
Tolo News
27 Dec 2023

According to Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, Afghans hate occupation and never allow any type of occupation.

The political deputy PM, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, said the world and neighbors should learn from Afghanistan’s history, during a meeting on December 27, the 44th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s invasion of the country.

According to Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, Afghans hate occupation and never allow any type of occupation.

The political deputy PM added that the Islamic Emirate wants to have good relations with the world within the framework of Islamic laws and wants to solve all the problems through dialogue.

“We call on the world countries and our neighbors to learn from our history, because Afghans have never accepted occupation in their history, and do not try this on us again,” he added.

“This is not only the responsibility of the government so that this country is not a threat to someone, it is the responsibility of the people too,” Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting interior minister said.

Referring to the 20-year presence of America in Afghanistan, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir said that the presence of Osama bin Laden was only a “pretext” for the attack on Afghanistan, and the “Islamic system” that came to power was unbearable to the world.

He noted that there is no threat from Afghan soil to any country of the world.

“If someone is concerned about the Afghan soil because they feel threatened by it, they should tell us. We have the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Interior, and intelligence. They should hold a meeting with them and share and present the problems that exist with evidence,” Kabir further stated.

Speaking at the event, the Acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi said that some are trying to destroy Afghanistan.

Muttaqi said that currently no one can occupy Afghanistan again.

“The enemies are still lurking and trying to come back to Afghanistan in any possible way,” the acting foreign minister said.

“Efforts are continuing to make Afghanistan insecure, an effort that failed in the face-to-face struggle; but even now, such efforts are continuing to disrupt the system,” said Mullah Khairullah, the acting minister of information and culture.

“We want good relations with all countries near and far,” said Deputy PM for Administrative Affairs, Abdul Salam Hanafi.

Even though the Islamic Emirate has always said Afghanistan’s territory will not be used against other countries, it has not yet been recognized by any country, despite having interactions with some nations.

Deputy PM: Countries Should Learn From Our History
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Pakistan Expelled Several Asylum Seekers Waiting For US Visas: Activists

December 27, 2023
TOLOnews
TV Network
27 Dec 2023

A group in Pakistan that defends the rights of Afghan immigrants told TOLOnews that about 140 immigrants who were awaiting visas from the US and other nations have been deported from Pakistan.

According to the group, these immigrants wanted to go to the US after getting visas, among them were some journalists.

“Around 140 Afghan immigrants who were supposed to be transferred to US or some other countries were detained by the Pakistani police, and more of them have been deported, and some of them are still held by the police,” Mohammad Zahir Bahawand, a member of the group, said.

“Immigrants are facing numerous problems, including economic challenges. After the political change, they have used whatever they had, and now they are living in a bad situation,” Abdul Sami Azizi, another member of the group, said.

Senior Islamic Emirate officials, in a meeting to mark the 44th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan, criticized the expulsion of Afghan immigrants from the countries, saying that the countries want to threaten the Islamic Emirate by expelling the immigrants.

“Immigrants have been forcibly expelled from our neighboring countries, against all international and accepted norms among neighbors and Islamic brotherhood,” stated Abdul Salam Hanafi, the Deputy PM for Administrative Affairs.

“Pakistan’s government expelled us in one month, while we gave fourteen months to the emperors (US, NATO),” Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting interior minister said.

Based on the statistics of the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation (MoRR), there are currently nearly five and a half million Afghan immigrants in Iran and nearly three and a half million immigrants in Pakistan.

Pakistan Expelled Several Asylum Seekers Waiting For US Visas: Activists
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Marking Soviet Invasion, Kabul Asks World to Not Interfere in Affairs

December 27, 2023
Fatema Adeeb
Tolo News
27 Dec 2023

Dec. 27 marks the 44th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan.

The Islamic Emirate asked the international community to interact with the current government and refrain from interfering in the country’s internal affairs, on the 44th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan.

Dec. 27 marks the 44th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan.

“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan asks all nations, both near and far away, to fulfill their obligations to Afghanistan in order to establish and guarantee better and stronger relations in line with Islamic principles,” said Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman for the Islamic Emirate.

On this day in 1979, nearly 100,000 members of the former Soviet forces invaded Afghanistan, and they stayed in Afghanistan for nearly ten years.
Some of the country’s residents call this day the start of Afghanistan’s troubles.

According to some reports, the war triggered by the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan left more than one million Afghans dead. More than 14,000 soldiers of the Soviet Union were killed.

“Afghans made sacrifices, they were forced to emigrate. The whole of Afghanistan became a ruin until all the forces of the Soviet Union left here,” said Tahir Khan Yarghal, a military analyst.

“The 6th of Jaddi was one of the darkest days in the history of Afghanistan. Unfortunately, on this day, up to 100,000 armed forces of the Soviet Union attacked Afghanistan. After ten years of battle, Afghans defeated them,” Moeen Gul Samkanai, another military analyst said.

Forty-three years after the Soviet invasion, some Afghans still have bitter memories from the war.

On February 15, 1989, Boris V. Gromov was the last soldier of the Soviet Union who left Afghanistan.

Marking Soviet Invasion, Kabul Asks World to Not Interfere in Affairs
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Afghan schoolgirls are finishing sixth grade in tears. Under Taliban rule, their education is over

December 27, 2023
BY MOHAMMAD HABIB RAHMANI
Associated Press
 December 25, 2023

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Bahara Rustam, 13, took her last class at Bibi Razia School in Kabul on Dec. 11 knowing it was the end of her education. Under Taliban rule, she is unlikely to step foot in a classroom again.

In September 2021, a month after U.S. and NATO troops withdrew from Afghanistan following two decades of war, the Taliban announced that girls were barred from studying beyond sixth grade.

They extended this education ban to universities in December 2022. The Taliban have defied global condemnation and warnings that the restrictions will make it almost impossible for them to gain recognition as the country’s legitimate rulers.

Last week, U.N. special envoy Roza Otunbayeva expressed concern that a generation of Afghan girls is falling behind with each day that passes.

Last week, an official in the Education Ministry said Afghan girls of all ages are allowed to study in religious schools known as madrassas, which have traditionally been boys-only. But Otunbayeva said it was unclear if there was a standardized curriculum that allowed modern subjects.

Bahara is holding onto her education and pores over textbooks at home. “Graduating (from sixth grade) means we are going to seventh grade,” she said. “But all of our classmates cried and we were very disappointed.”

There was no graduation ceremony for the girls at Bibi Razia School.

In another part of Kabul, 13-year old Setayesh Sahibzada wonders what the future holds for her. She is sad she can’t go to school anymore to achieve her dreams.

“I can’t stand on my own two feet,” she said. “I wanted to be a teacher. But now I can’t study, I can’t go to school.”

Analyst Muhammad Saleem Paigir warned that excluding women and girls from education will be disastrous for Afghanistan. “We understand that illiterate people can never be free and prosperous,” he said.

The Taliban have barred women from many public spaces and most jobs, all but confining women to their homes.

Afghan schoolgirls are finishing sixth grade in tears. Under Taliban rule, their education is over
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Nadim Criticizes Foreign Intervention in Afghanistan’s Affairs 0 COMM

December 23, 2023
By TOLOnews
TV Network
23 Dec 2023

However, some religious clerics criticized the misuse of the Islamic Emirate’s name by some people and urged the current government to prevent this.

The acting minister of higher education, Neda Mohammad Nadim, criticized what he called as the interference of countries in the internal affairs of Afghanistan.

Speaking at a madrasa (religious school) graduation ceremony in Kabul, Nadim pointed out that foreign countries use excuses and unfounded criticism to try and paint a negative picture of Afghanistan for the world.

The acting minister of higher education noted that foreign countries want to prevent the implementation of Sharia principles in the country under the name of human rights.

“Sometimes they criticize the hijab, sometimes they criticize stoning, and sometimes they criticize the expression of Islamic rites, and it is the responsibility of the scholars to be careful, and you [the scholars] confront all that is unjust, misguided,” Neda Mohammad Nadim further stated.

Meanwhile, the chief of staff of the Islamic Emirate, Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat, said at the ceremony that US tried to destroy madrassas (religious schools) in the country during its twenty years of presence in Afghanistan.

“Their [America’s] main and important goal was to fight against madrasas (religious schools), to destroy madrassas, and to insult and humiliate madrassas and students, under various titles,” Fitrat noted.

However, some religious clerics criticized the misuse of the Islamic Emirate’s name by some people and urged the current government to prevent this.

Nearly 140 students graduated from Imam Abu Hanifa Madrasa in the 29th graduating round.

Nadim Criticizes Foreign Intervention in Afghanistan’s Affairs 0 COMM
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Spokesman: Islamic Emirate Attachés Active in 16 Countries

December 23, 2023
Naweed Samadi
Tolo News
23 Dec 2023

Some analysts said that Afghanistan will benefit from the appointment of attachés in various sectors.

The Islamic Emirate said that in addition to the current government’s embassies’ operations in sixteen nations, their attachés are also active in the political, cultural, commercial, and immigrant sectors.

The spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, Zabihullah Mujahid, said that some attachés are from the previous government and some have been introduced by the Islamic Emirate.

“In some countries, attachés of the previous government are employed, while in other countries, newly appointed attachés have been sent; the majority of them are cultural, economic, commercial, and immigrant attachés who take care of things well,” Mujahid said.

In the meantime, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce said that they will soon introduce their new attachés to China and Kazakhstan.

“So far, we have been able to introduce seven attachés to the countries of Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, and Turkey, and soon new attachés will be introduced to China and Kazakhstan,” said Akhundzada Abdul Salam Javad, a spokesman of the ministry.

Some analysts said that Afghanistan will benefit from the appointment of attachés in various sectors.

“Anyone who is introduced must be an expert and should be introduced based on his/her expertise,” Mohammad Ajmal Zurmati, a political analyst told TOLOnews.

“In addition to being beneficial to our country, it can be very effective in establishing relations between Afghan citizens who live in other countries,” Mohammad Ferdous Behguzin, an economist said.

Earlier, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of the Islamic Emirate announced the appointment of trade attachés to Turkey.

Spokesman: Islamic Emirate Attachés Active in 16 Countries
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Kabul Residents Worried About Increase of Crime

December 23, 2023
TOLOnews
TV Network
23 Dec 2023

Qani said that they are trying to identify and arrest people who commit crimes, armed robberies, murders, and car thefts in the country.

Some Kabul residents are worried about the increase in crime in the capital.

Milad is one of the residents of Kabul City, whose car was stolen by armed robbers from the Taymani area of Kabul four months ago.

He said that even though he has contacted the security agencies many times during the period, there is no news about his car.

“I was working inside the house, it was around 6 to 6:30 in the evening, the car started, and the sound came inside the house. I went out and saw that someone was inside the car and the car moved, and robbers stole my car,” said Milad.

Some other residents of Kabul said that the level of criminal crimes, armed robberies, and car thefts has increased in recent months.

“Recently, there is crime, especially car theft, mobile phone theft…, they even kill a person for a mobile phone,” said Ahmad Naweed Nikzad, a resident of Kabul.

“Car theft must be stopped,” said Sheren Bik, a Kabul resident.

Abdul Matin Qani, the spokesman of the Ministry of Interior, spoke of the security in the country and said that in the last six months, around 800 people have been arrested for various crimes across the country.

“In the last six months, around 800 criminals have been caught in various crimes, and our police have communication connections in all provinces, and we do not let criminals escape and they get caught,” said Abdul Matin Qani.

Qani said that they are trying to identify and arrest people who commit crimes, armed robberies, murders, and car thefts in the country.

Kabul Residents Worried About Increase of Crime
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