US State Dept pressures Taliban to revoke discriminatory decrees against Afghan women

April 24, 2024
 Fidel Rahmati

The U.S. State Department asserts it’s pressuring the Taliban alongside allies and partners to rescind discriminatory laws against Afghan women and girls.

It states that any significant steps toward normalizing relations with the Taliban are contingent upon a profound change in their behaviour.

The State Department wrote in its annual report on the status of women in Afghanistan that the Taliban have effectively excluded women from the public sphere with their directives.

The report highlights widespread violations of women’s rights and sexual violence against them. In one section, it mentions that 16 women out of 90 imprisoned women in Jawzjan, Faryab, and Samangan became pregnant after being raped by Taliban members. According to the report, the Taliban have executed at least four women in Samangan after repeated assaults.

The U.S. State Department added that in response to the Taliban’s actions restricting women, in February 2023, it imposed restrictions on visa issuance for some current and former Taliban officials and individuals involved in suppressing and depriving Afghan women and girls of education and work opportunities in non-governmental organizations.

The department stated that on December 8th of last year, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on two Taliban members for their involvement in serious human rights violations, including restricting girls’ access to secondary education.

According to the department, Khalid Hanafi, the Taliban Minister of Virtue and Vice, was sanctioned for his involvement in serious human rights violations, including murder, kidnapping, lashing, and beating Afghan citizens, including women and girls.

The department mentioned that Mawlawi Faridudin Mahmood, the head of the Afghanistan Institute of Sciences, was sanctioned for his involvement in serious human rights violations related to regulating, publishing, and enforcing regulations to restrict access for all women and girls in Afghanistan solely based on their gender.

Khaama Press

24 April 2024

US State Dept pressures Taliban to revoke discriminatory decrees against Afghan women
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Iran, Pakistan Pledge Commitment to Afghan Stability in Joint Statement

April 24, 2024
TOLOnews
TV Network
24 April 2024
The Islamic Emirate has not yet commented on this matter, it has previously dismissed claims about the existence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan as baseless.

The presidents of Iran and the prime minister of Pakistan have called the presence of terrorist organizations in Afghanistan a serious threat to regional and global security.

In a joint statement, the President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi and the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif also emphasized a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, stating that greater participation of all Afghan factions in fundamental decision-making would strengthen peace and stability in the country.

The statement was published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan at the end of the Iranian president’s three-day visit to Pakistan.

The joint statement said: “Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the development of Afghanistan as a peaceful, united, sovereign and independent state, free from the threats of terrorism and drug trafficking. Noting that the existence of terrorist organizations in Afghanistan poses a serious threat to regional and global security, the two sides reaffirmed their willingness to enhance cooperation on counter-terrorism and security and to develop a united front against terrorism. The two sides also noted the relevance of coordinating regional and international efforts to ensure security and stability in the region, and emphasized the positive contribution of existing regional forums towards this end. While respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan, the two sides recognized that increasing participation of all strata of Afghans in basic decision-making will lead to the strengthening of peace and stability in this country.”

Although the Islamic Emirate has not yet commented on this matter, it has previously dismissed claims about the existence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan as baseless.

But what role do Iran and Pakistan play in ensuring security and stability in Afghanistan?

“Understanding between them and dialogue aimed at combating terrorism and bringing peace and stability to the region, especially assistance in this regard to Afghanistan, is in the interest of the region as well as the countries of Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan,” said Aziz Maarej, a former diplomat.

The early resumption of activities of the regional contact group and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation for coordination and efforts to maintain stability and develop economic relations in the region are other topics mentioned in this statement.

Iran, Pakistan Pledge Commitment to Afghan Stability in Joint Statement
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NEPA Criticizes Halt of Climate Change Projects

April 24, 2024
TOLOnews
TV Network
24 April 2024

The National Environmental Protection Agency, in a joint press conference with the Norwegian Afghanistan Committee on Wednesday, criticized the suspension of 32 climate change projects in the country.

According to the deputy head of the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA), Zainul Abideen Abid, environmental projects were halted following the return of the Islamic Emirate, and the world should resume these projects.

Abid said that the groundwork for investment and work in the implementation sector of clean energy production projects has been laid and investment should be made in this sector.

“In the climate change sector, 32 projects funded by international organizations have been halted. Our request is that these projects be started and implemented as soon as possible,” the deputy head of the National Environmental Protection Agency told TOLOnews.

Meanwhile, Terje Watterdal, the Country Director of the Norwegian Afghanistan Committee, emphasized at this press conference the comprehensive cooperation of the international community with the people of Afghanistan through the agencies of the United Nations.

The head of the Norwegian Afghanistan Committee said that 80% of the Afghan population obtains their needs through agriculture, which is also affected by climate change.

The head of the Norwegian Afghanistan Committee added: “When we are talking about collective action, Afghan ministries, universities, industry and the Afghan people must act. But we in the international community must support Afghanistan in their efforts.”

The head of the Norwegian Afghanistan Committee also emphasized the need for widespread participation of governmental organizations and Afghan civil society at the 29th UN Climate Change Conference or COP 29, which will be held in November this year in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.

NEPA Criticizes Halt of Climate Change Projects
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US State Dept releases report on extensive Human Rights violations in Afghanistan

April 24, 2024

The U.S. State Department has published its annual human rights report for 2023, which highlighted a notable decline in women’s rights. It pointed to new regulations limiting women’s access to education and jobs, leading to a situation where women became increasingly limited to domestic responsibilities.

The report highlighted a range of human rights issues, including killings, abuse, harsh prison conditions, unjust detentions, media and internet restrictions, and limits on political participation, corruption, and child recruitment.

The department emphasized that they do not recognize the Taliban as legitimate.

“This year’s report also captures human rights abuses against members of vulnerable communities. In Afghanistan, the Taliban have limited work opportunities for women, shuttered institutions found educating girls, and increasing floggings for women and men accused of, quote, ‘immoral behavior,’ end quote,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated.

In the report, the State Department criticized the Taliban’s authoritarianism, stating that they have declared a “so-called interim government consisting largely of Taliban fighters, mullahs, and close associates of the group, predominantly belonging to the Pashtun ethnicity.”

Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated in a statement on Tuesday regarding this report that the Taliban has “effectively removed Afghan women from the public sphere” with its directives.

According to the report, the ban on education and employment for women has worsened their situation, and they are now confined to the four walls of their homes.

The U.S. State Department said that the Taliban has shown no flexibility in its policies and that the group’s orders are in contradiction with Afghanistan’s commitments and international conventions.

The State Department’s report mentions political imprisonments, poor prison conditions, killings, torture, arbitrary detentions, and the lack of judicial independence.

The report states that the Taliban has used children in armed conflicts.

The U.S. State Department has given a negative assessment of the media situation in Afghanistan. The report states that the Taliban imposes increasing restrictions on freedom of speech every day. Additionally, journalists face Taliban violence and arbitrary detentions.

Meanwhile, the Taliban has obstructed peaceful gatherings and imposed restrictions on internet usage.

The U.S. State Department has stated that religious freedoms in Afghanistan are limited, and violence against ethnic and religious minorities has occurred.

The annual report also highlights the Taliban’s widespread disregard for the rule of law and the impunity of human rights violators, as the group has failed to reduce domestic violence, sexual violence, early and forced marriages.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s spokesperson, responded to the report by emphasizing that Afghan people’s rights are defined by Islamic laws.

He stated that cultural and human rights norms in the West differ from those in Afghanistan, cautioning against imposing Western values on other nations.

US State Dept releases report on extensive Human Rights violations in Afghanistan
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OIC urges lift on Afghan women’s education, employment restrictions

April 23, 2024

The media center announced the meeting between Tariq Ali Bakheet, the special representative of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Mawlavi Abdul Kabir, the political deputy of the Taliban Prime Minister. They stated that Mr. Bakheet called for the lifting of educational and employment restrictions on women.

According to the report, Mr. Bakheet praised women’s achievements in the economic sector during the meeting and called for removing restrictions on women’s education and employment.

The special representative of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation further added that some Islamic countries have concerns about Afghanistan that need to be discussed closely with the Taliban administration. However, the government media centre has not been reminded about these concerns.

According to the media center’s report, the representative of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation emphasized the value of education for Islamic countries and stated that these countries are ready to cooperate in women’s education.

Taliban claim that their leadership’s decree regarding “protecting” girls, banning forced marriages of girls, and addressing their inheritance is being implemented.

He also mentioned that female teachers and government employees receive their salaries at home while working in government offices.

More than two years have passed since the closure of girls’ schools and the suspension of education for women in Afghanistan, yet there is no sign of reopening educational institutions.

It is worth mentioning that the global community’s important demands for more interaction with the current regime include the reopening of educational institutions and the allowing of women to work in government and non-governmental organizations.

OIC urges lift on Afghan women’s education, employment restrictions
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Acting Defense Minister Pledges Swift Resolution to National Challenges

April 23, 2024
Nazir Shinwari
Tolo News
23 April 2024

According to the spokesperson of MOD, Mujahid in this meeting said that Afghanistan is the common home of all Afghans.

The acting Minister of Defense, in a meeting with the representatives and elders of the Union of Afghans Residing in Europe, stated that the existing challenges in the country will soon be resolved.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense (MOD), Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, said that Afghanistan is the common home of all Afghans and they should take part in the current opportunity to advance the country.

“The acting Minister of National Defense, welcoming the statements of these compatriots, referred to Afghanistan as the common home for all Afghans, stating that everyone should seize this opportunity to contribute to the prosperity and advancement of the homeland,” said Inayatullah Khwarazami, a spokesman for the MoD.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum stated that the acting minister, in meetings with some Afghan scientific and cultural figures residing in Europe, also mentioned that Afghans living abroad can confidently return to their country and contribute to its reconstruction and progress.

“The acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum, in a meeting with Afghans residing in Europe, discussed the implementation of projects and the country’s progress. Shahabuddin Delawar  pledged that all Afghans living abroad can return to their country with full confidence,” said Homayoun Afghan, spokesperson for the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum.

A number of Afghans residing in European countries who met with some officials of the Islamic Emirate discussed issues such as girls’ education, women’s employment, and the country’s advancements.

“Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, who holds a special place in the Islamic Emirate — we have asked him to pay attention to the rights of children and citizens for the protection of the system, national unity, and ultimately for a peaceful Afghanistan,” Hekmatullah Hekmat, president of the Union of Afghans Residing in European Countries told TOLOnews.

Representatives and elders of the Union of Afghans Residing in Europe who have recently visited Afghanistan have discussed various issues during their meetings with the Deputy Political Prime Minister and the Acting Ministers of Interior, Education, Hajj and Religious Affairs, and Vice and Virtue.

Acting Defense Minister Pledges Swift Resolution to National Challenges
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US State Dept: No Plans to Recognize the Islamic Emirate

April 23, 2024
Mitra Majeedy
Tolo News
23 April 2024

The Islamic Emirate called the claims in the annual report of the US State Department regarding the situation in Afghanistan, baseless.

The US Department of State in its annual report published on April 22 stated that Washington has no plans to recognize the “Taliban” in Afghanistan.

In this report, which addresses the state of human rights globally in 2023, the US Department of State also mentioned that the “Taliban” have neither reversed nor softened their decrees regarding work and education for women in Afghanistan.

The report claims that over 90% of the prisoners under the rule of the Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan are political prisoners and criticized issues such as arrests, torture, restrictions on media, and freedoms of movement.

“No decree or directive pertaining to women and girls’ education, or work, was reversed or softened. The Taliban did not purport to formally change existing laws as legislated by the Republic-era government; however, they promulgated edicts that contradicted those laws and were inconsistent with Afghanistan’s obligations under international conventions,” the report reads.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: “In Afghanistan, the Taliban have limited work opportunities for women, shuttered institutions found educating girls, and increasing floggings for women and men accused of, quote, “immoral behavior.”

The report criticized issues such as extrajudicial killings, torture and degradation of individuals, procedures of detention, treatment of prisoners including political prisoners, confiscation of individual properties, freedom of speech and media, restrictions on internet usage, and restrictions on individuals’ participation in political processes and parties.

The Islamic Emirate called the claims in the annual report of the US State Department regarding the situation in Afghanistan, baseless.

Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, told TOLOnews: “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan as the governing power, is committed to Islamic and Sharia rights for all its citizens. The Western world desires the implementation of Western equivalent rights and essentially strives to impose Western culture.”

Waheed Faqiri, a political analyst, said: “This report was indeed shocking and I think it confirms all the past occurrences, and I believe that America will not recognize the Taliban during the election campaigns that continue until the end of this year.’

Nearly three years after the return of the Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan, no country, including neighboring countries, has recognized the Islamic Emirate.

US State Dept: No Plans to Recognize the Islamic Emirate
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UN Women: Focus on women affected by Herat earthquake

April 22, 2024
Khaama Press

Written By: Hakim Bigzaad

The United Nations Women’s Section has released a report stating that the majority of the victims of the Herat earthquake were women and children, with a focus on women in their aid efforts.

This institution, which recently elaborated on its assistance to earthquake victims in Herat, emphasized that 58% of the youth casualties in the October 7, 2023 earthquake in Herat were women. According to the report, 60% of the wounded and 61% of the missing persons are also women.

It is noteworthy that on October 7, 2023, an earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale shook Herat province in western Afghanistan, mainly affecting women and children. The epicentre of this earthquake was in Zindajan district of Herat.

The report mentions that cash assistance has been provided to 500 female heads of households in affected areas, but details of the assistance provided are not available.

Furthermore, the report states that 600 women have received non-food aid such as blankets, clothes, shoes, and tents, while an additional 370 women have received psychosocial support and social assistance.

The deadly Herat earthquake on October 7, 2023, destroyed about 400 villages to varying degrees. 10% of women in these affected villages were entrepreneurs.

According to the United Nations Women’s Section, 178 of the 400 affected villages have received assistance.

UN Women: Focus on women affected by Herat earthquake
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Afghan Migrants Need Intl Attention: Exiled Human Rights Defenders

April 22, 2024
TOLOnews
TV Network
22 April 2024

Armed attacks, arrests, and disappearances of Afghan migrants have instilled fear among them.

The International Federation of Human Rights Defenders in Exile expressed concern over the poor conditions of Afghan migrants in Pakistan.

The organization in a statement said that armed attacks, arrests, and disappearances of Afghan migrants have instilled fear among them.

The statement said: “The International Federation of Human Rights Defenders in Exile immediately calls on the international community to intervene to prevent a humanitarian disaster and address the dire situation of Afghan migrants in Pakistan.”

Samiullah Azizi, the International Federation of Human Rights Defenders in Exile, said: “The problems that have recently occurred, including arrests by the police, targeted killings, and harassment by the Pakistani police due to lack of visa or expired visas, suicides, and most recently the kidnapping of three former Kabul Bank employees here, are issues we are facing.”

After seven days since the start of the second round of the deportation of Afghan migrants from Pakistan, some Afghan migrants in that country are expressing concern over their increasingly challenging situations.

They are demanding an immediate halt to the deportation of Afghan migrants from Pakistan.

“A mechanism should be built to free migrants from this distress and worry,” said Mir Ahmad Raufi, head of the Afghan Refugee Council in Pakistan.

“The situation of Afghan migrants in Pakistan is worrying. Recently, Afghan migrants have faced armed attacks, abductions, and arrests. Afghan migrants cannot properly roam around the city and markets,” said Zaher Bahaand, an Afghan journalist in Pakistan.

Earlier, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan at a press conference, said that his country currently has no plans for migrants who hold Afghan Citizenship Cards (ACC).

Afghan Migrants Need Intl Attention: Exiled Human Rights Defenders
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26% Decline in Afghanistan’s Gross Production Last Year: World Bank

April 21, 2024
Bibi Amina Hakimi
TOLOnews’ Reporter
21 April 2024

According to the report, the ban on drug cultivation has resulted in a $1.3 billion reduction in farmers’ incomes in Afghanistan.

The World Bank in a recent report stated that Afghanistan’s gross output decreased by 26% in the past calendar year.

According to the report, the ban on drug cultivation has resulted in a $1.3 billion reduction in farmers’ incomes in Afghanistan.

The report also said that in 2023, revenue from taxation increased by 13%, reaching 102 billion afghani.

The findings of this report indicate that although exports remained relatively stable in 2023, there was a 15% decrease in exports to Pakistan.

“Afghanistan’s economic outlook remains uncertain, with the threat of stagnation looming large until at least 2025. The absence of GDP growth coupled with declining external financing avenues for off-budget expenditures paints a bleak picture of the nation’s economic prospects. Structural deficiencies in the private sector and waning international support for essential services are anticipated to impede any semblance of economic progress,” the report reads.

However, regarding this report, the Ministry of Economy said that various projects aimed at reducing poverty were implemented in the past calendar year.

Abdul Latif Nazari, a professional deputy at the Ministry of Economy, stated that attracting investment, focusing on the mining sector, increasing exports, preventing dollar smuggling, and improving the Afghan currency’s value against other currencies are among the most significant achievements of the Islamic Emirate.

“The recent World Bank report is incomplete in our view; the Islamic Emirate has taken serious steps in supporting the growth of domestic production, developing trade and transit, strengthening national monetary stability, launching major economic projects, and also strengthening Afghanistan’s agriculture. We have reduced the inflation rate in the country. Our demand is that sanctions and restrictions on the people of Afghanistan be urgently lifted,” he added.

Sakhi Ahmad Payman, the first deputy of the Chamber of Industries and Mines, said: “There is no doubt that the Afghan economy has contracted since the transformation due to the blocking of Afghanistan’s funds, the non-recognition of Afghanistan, and strengths in Afghanistan. Over the past two years, the value of the Afghan currency, exports, and investment in the mining and industrial sectors of Afghanistan have increased.”

Several economic experts believe that for economic growth, banking restrictions need to be removed, and work on major projects including the TAPI pipeline, Aynak copper extraction, and CASA-1000 should practically begin.

Shabir Bashiri, an economist, said, “Infrastructure projects play an important role in expanding employment opportunities in the country and can be extremely effective in reducing poverty.”

According to statistics, exports to Pakistan reached $1.2 billion in 2022, while in 2023 this figure decreased to one billion dollars. Conversely, exports of food items to India in 2023 increased by 43 percent.

26% Decline in Afghanistan’s Gross Production Last Year: World Bank
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