Lavrov Urges Pragmatic Ties With Afghanistan

Lavrov noted that the UN’s blacklist is limited to a few officials of the Islamic Emirate.

Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, stated at the 22nd Doha Forum that Afghanistan’s caretaker government “are not, as an organization, on the UN terrorist list. Several leaders of the Taliban are on the personal terrorist list.”

Lavrov noted that the UN’s blacklist is limited to a few officials of the Islamic Emirate.

At this forum, the Russian foreign minister added that Moscow has not closed its embassy in Kabul during Afghanistan’s decades-long developments.

” We never withdrew our embassy from Kabul. The embassy was staying there throughout the American and coalition occupation, throughout their shameful departure. We never withdrew the embassy,” said Sergey Lavrov.

Regarding the similarities between the collapse of Syria and Afghanistan’s previous government, Lavrov remarked that the United States exited Afghanistan with even greater haste.

Establishing pragmatic interactions with Afghanistan’s caretaker government is a matter that Russian officials have consistently emphasized. Previously, Sergey Lavrov had also spoken about the possibility of removing Islamic Emirate officials’ names from his country’s sanctions list.

Some political analysts, given the ongoing regional tensions, say that maintaining a balance in relations with both the East and the West is crucial.

Sangar Amirzada, an international relations expert, told TOLOnews: “Unfortunately, we have been victims—victims of the leadership of the East and the West. Based on this, if there are greater inclinations toward one side, it will expose us to serious risks.”

Discussions about the UN’s terrorist group list come as the UN Security Council is set to review the mandate of its sanctions committee on the Islamic Emirate this Thursday.

Lavrov Urges Pragmatic Ties With Afghanistan
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Human Rights Day: Islamic Emirate’s Commitments and Global Concerns

Mujahid said that human rights are upheld in Afghanistan and urged global institutions to view the country through the lens of Afghan values and Islamic law.

On December 10, International Human Rights Day, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) urged the Islamic Emirate to honor global human rights commitments.

In a statement, UNAMA emphasized the importance of these commitments for safeguarding the welfare of current and future generations in Afghanistan.

UN Special Representative for Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, was quoted in the statement as saying:”With authority comes responsibility. The claim of the de facto authorities to be legitimate representatives of the Afghan people within the United Nations must be accompanied by genuine efforts to uphold and advance our shared norms and values.”

The statement also included comments by Fiona Frazer, Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Afghanistan, regarding ongoing restrictions, particularly those affecting women and girls.

“If Afghans, in particular women and girls, continue to be denied their rights, this constitutes a clear and intentional failure to protect and be responsible for the well-being of all who live in Afghanistan,” Frazer said.

The European Union posted on X that human rights are essential for building a strong state and ensuring Afghanistan’s prosperity. The EU delegation reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the rights of all Afghan citizens, particularly women and girls, to access work and education.

“Our primary demand from the Islamic Emirate is to respect the rights of all Afghan people, particularly women. We also call on the international community to move beyond slogans and speeches. We want tangible actions and for the voices of Afghan women to be heard,” said Tafsir Seyahposh, a women’s rights advocate.

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, said that human rights are upheld in Afghanistan and urged global institutions to view the country through the lens of Afghan values and Islamic law.

“Within our value framework, we can define rights, recognize our responsibilities, and act upon them. We urge countries and human rights institutions not to view Afghanistan from their lens but from the perspective of Afghan people and Islamic principles, respecting what the people of Afghanistan value and believe in,” he said.

Sayed Moqaddam Amin, a political analyst, said: “The Islamic Emirate, considering its religious resources, should naturally focus all its activities on human rights.”

UNAMA stated that this year’s International Human Rights Day is being observed under the theme: “Our rights, our future, right now.”

Human Rights Day: Islamic Emirate’s Commitments and Global Concerns
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Shaheen Criticizes US for Actions Related to Doha Agreement

Shaheen stated that the name of the Islamic Emirate was supposed to be removed from the blacklist three months after the agreement was signed.

Suhail Shaheen, the head of the Political Office of the Islamic Emirate in Qatar, in remarks to TOLOnews, accused the United States of violating the Doha Agreement.

Shaheen stated that the name of the Islamic Emirate was supposed to be removed from the blacklist three months after the agreement was signed, but no action has been taken in this regard so far.

The head of the Political Office of the Islamic Emirate in Qatar told TOLOnews: “They had promised that they would remove the blacklist within three months, but it has not been done and is still in place. They have not fulfilled this commitment. Another matter is that they said they would participate in the reconstruction of Afghanistan and encourage other countries as well, but this part has also not been completed. Sanctions imposed on Afghanistan are still in effect.”

Regarding the activities of the Political Office of the Islamic Emirate in Doha, Shaheen added that the office serves as the communication gateway between the Islamic Emirate and the world, clarifying the positions of the Islamic Emirate in various areas to the international community.

Suhail Shaheen further stated: “Here, I meet with delegations from different countries every day or every other day, especially with European ambassadors to Afghanistan, who number thirteen. We try to encourage them to visit Afghanistan, and some have already traveled and met with our senior officials.”

“Certain issues that are important to the people of Afghanistan and the world have not yet received serious attention from the Islamic Emirate, nor has a specific mechanism been announced by the Islamic Emirate to address these problems. Among these are the absence of a constitution in Afghanistan and the issue of women’s education,” Belal Omar, a political analyst, told TOLOnews.

According to the head of the Political Office of the Islamic Emirate in Qatar, fourteen Afghans are currently detained in Qatari prisons, and specific teams are addressing their cases.

Shaheen Criticizes US for Actions Related to Doha Agreement
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UNAMA Studies Climate Impacts and Drought in Afghanistan

According to UNAMA, the aim of this research is to identify the number of vulnerable individuals and determine their needs in facing these crises.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has stated that it is conducting research on the impact of climate change and ways to prevent drought in Afghanistan.

According to UNAMA, the aim of this research is to identify the number of vulnerable individuals and determine their needs in facing these crises.

The organization also emphasized that it would provide awareness to returnees to Afghanistan, as well as those who will return in the future, regarding the risks posed by unexploded ordnance.

“We are researching the impacts of climate change and drought prevention to determine how many people are affected so that we can take timely measures,” said Indrika Ratwatte, the deputy special representative (development) for Afghanistan at UNAMA.

The National Disaster Management Authority stated that Indrika Ratwatte shared this information during a meeting with Nooruddin Turabi, the acting head of the authority.

The management of humanitarian aid in the context of natural disasters, public awareness about the dangers of landmines, and their clearance were also discussed during this meeting.

Afghanistan is one of the countries that, despite having a negligible contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, suffers severely from its destructive consequences.

The country faces compounded challenges such as drought, sudden floods, reduced water resources, and irregular changes in weather patterns, which have affected the lives of millions of people, especially farmers and livestock owners.

In addition to climate change, landmines left from decades of war remain a serious threat to the lives of the Afghan people and continue to claim lives.

UNAMA Studies Climate Impacts and Drought in Afghanistan
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President Japarov Urges Recognition of Islamic Emirate, Release of Funds

He called for the release of these funds, arguing they could be used to develop Afghanistan’s infrastructure, agriculture, and alleviate poverty.

Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov, in an interview with Turkish news outlet TRT Avaz, urged the leaders of European countries and the United States to acknowledge the dire living conditions of the Afghan people and to recognize the Islamic Emirate. He emphasized the importance of addressing Afghanistan’s humanitarian and political challenges on the global stage.

Regarding the frozen assets of Afghanistan by the US, he called for the release of these funds, arguing they could be used to develop Afghanistan’s infrastructure, agriculture, and alleviate poverty.

Japarov said: “Currently, the people of Afghanistan are living on the verge of starvation. Therefore, I call on the leaders of European countries and the US administration, knowing this situation, to recognize the current government of Afghanistan and to release their frozen reserves for the future of Afghans.”

During the interview, he was asked if the Islamic Emirate will react positively to the proposal of Sadyr Japarov, he said: “Of course they will. When it comes to the development of their country and the welfare of the people, why should they be against it? I am sure that they themselves know very well that they cannot stay in power for long if they do not work for their own people.”

Japarov referred to women’s rights and education as important in Islam.

He stated: “Education and women’s rights are very important in Islam. Islam brought hope to the oppressed, respect and rights for women. Science also has a very important place in Islam.”

In his remarks, Japarov called dialogue the only way of convincing the interim government, saying: “I think we can only convince the Taliban leaders through dialogue. The more often we meet and talk, the more we will influence them. Afghans are one of the peoples of the East, and so if we give them special treatment, we can get a positive result.”

This is while countries in the region, including China, Russia, Uzbekistan, and some other nations, have consistently emphasized engagement with Afghanistan’s interim government.

President Japarov Urges Recognition of Islamic Emirate, Release of Funds
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Afghanistan’s Rashid, Nabi urge Taliban to revoke ban on women’s education

Afghanistan’s top cricket stars Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi have urged the Taliban to reconsider their ban on women’s access to medical education and training, terming the move “deeply unjust”.

“Education holds a central place in Islamic teachings, emphasising the pursuit of knowledge for both men and women,” Afghanistan’s T20 captain Rashid wrote in a social media post on Wednesday.

Earlier this week the Taliban announced their decision to forbid older girls and women from receiving medical education and training, closing all avenues for them to become doctors, nurses or midwives.

Rashid, who said he was speaking out in support of his Afghan “sisters and mothers”, believes the decision will profoundly affect Afghan women’s future as well as “the broader fabric of society”.

The 26-year-old global icon of the sport said the country “desperately needs professionals in every field, especially the medical sector”.

He pointed to Afghan women’s expression of “pain and sorrow” through social media as a “poignant reminder of the struggles they face”.

In a detailed post, written in both English and his native Dari language, Rashid said: “The acute shortage of female doctors and nurses is particularly concerning, as it directly impacts the healthcare and dignity of women.”

“It is essential for our sisters and mothers to have access to care provided by medical professionals who truly understand their needs.”

The all-rounder, who consistently ranks among the world’s top players in limited-overs cricket, urged the Taliban to reconsider their decision.

“Providing education to all is not just a societal responsibility but a moral obligation deeply rooted in our faith and values,” he concluded.

A few hours after Rashid’s outpouring of concern and support, former captain Nabi, too, raised the issue on X.

“The Taliban’s decision to ban girls from studying medicine is not only heartbreaking but deeply unjust,” Nabi wrote.

The veteran all-rounder, who has been representing Afghanistan since 2009, pointed to the importance placed on education in Islam and asked the Taliban to reflect on the religion’s values.

“Denying girls the chance to learn and serve their people is a betrayal of both their dreams and our nation’s future. Let our daughters study, grow, and build a better Afghanistan for everyone. This is their right, and it is our duty to protect it,” Nabi added.

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Human Rights Watch has criticised the move, which it said “closed one of the last remaining loopholes in their [Taliban’s] ban on education for older girls and women”.

The rights body said the ban would result in “unnecessary pain, misery, sickness, and death for the women forced to go without healthcare, as there won’t be female healthcare workers to treat them”.

At least 1.4 million school-age Afghan girls are being “deliberately deprived” of their right to an education, according to the United Nations, which has said the Taliban government has put “the future of an entire generation in jeopardy”.

Afghanistan is the only country in the world to stop girls and women from attending secondary schools and universities.

The Taliban administration, which is not recognised by any other country, has imposed restrictions on women that the UN has described as “gender apartheid”.

Read more: https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2024/12/5/afghanistans-rashid-nabi-urge-taliban-to-revoke-ban-on-womens-education#ixzz8tmZS763S

Afghanistan’s Rashid, Nabi urge Taliban to revoke ban on women’s education
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Taliban move to ban women training as nurses and midwives ‘an outrageous act of ignorance’

 and  for Rukhshana Media

The Taliban’s ban on Afghan women attending nursing and midwife courses has been condemned as “an outrageous act of ignorance” by human rights organisations.

The official decree detailing the ban has not been shared publicly, but several media reports confirmed that the order was announced at a meeting of the Taliban public health ministry on Monday and communicated to training institutes soon after.

Nursing students and medical trainers from Kabul and the provinces confirmed to the Guardian that they had been informed by their institutes that their courses had been suspended.

“I was preparing for a test on Monday night when I received a message from my teacher about the closure of the institute,” said Sahar*, a 22-year-old nursing student.

Hands can be seen holding signs in English and Pashto. One reads ‘Education is our right.’

“I couldn’t stop crying,” she said. “This was my last hope.”

A group of female students in Herat province gathered at the governor’s office in Herat on Thursday to protest at the closure of health science institutes, chanting “We will not give up our rights” and “Education is our right.”

Another medical student and activist from Kabul said: “A society without female doctors or medical workers is doomed.”

International agencies and human rights organisations joined Afghan women in criticising the ban and raised concerns about women’s rights to education and the impact on women’s access to healthcare.

Samira Hamidi, an Afghan activist and campaigner for Amnesty International, said: “This is an outrageous act of ignorance by the Taliban, who continue to lead a war against women and girls in Afghanistan. This draconian action will have a devastating long-term impact on the lives of millions of Afghans, especially women and girls.

“In a country like Afghanistan, where people are bound to traditional and cultural practices, women in most parts of the country are not allowed to be checked or treated by a male doctor.

“With this ban, it will mean there will be no more midwives, nurses, female lab and medical personnel to serve female patients,” she said.

Heather Barr, at Human Rights Watch, said: “If you ban women from being treated by male healthcare professionals, and then you ban women from training to become healthcare professionals, the consequences are clear: women will not have access to healthcare and will die as a result.”

Maternal healthcare in Afghanistan was precarious even before the Taliban takeover, and the country ranked among the lowest for maternal safety, with 620 women dying for every 100,000 live births in 2020, compared with just 10 in the UK, according to the World Health Organization.

According to data from UNFPA, the United Nations’ reproductive health agency, Afghanistan needs an additional 18,000 skilled midwives for Afghan women to get adequate care.

Taliban move to ban women training as nurses and midwives ‘an outrageous act of ignorance’
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Director of Radio Voice of Badghis released after one month in custody

The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) reports that Abdul Razzaq Seddiqi, the director of Radio Voice of Badghis, has been released from Taliban custody after a month in detention.

On Friday, December 6, the Center issued a statement confirming that Seddiqi was freed after 34 days, following a ruling by the second district court in Kabul.

According to the report, the Taliban had detained Seddiqi for preparing a report about women from a private company, which they claimed violated their regulations. The report had been broadcast on foreign media outlets, leading to his arrest.

The Afghanistan Journalists Center has expressed its concern, stating that Seddiqi’s detention violated media laws. They emphasized that such actions are not only unlawful but also undermine the freedom of press.

Currently, six journalists remain imprisoned under the Taliban regime, four of whom have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from two to five years.

The Taliban’s actions against journalists have raised serious concerns, with many human rights organizations condemning their crackdown on media freedom since their takeover of Afghanistan.

The growing number of detained journalists highlights the ongoing suppression of independent reporting in the country.

The detention and abuse of journalists by the Taliban pose a significant challenge to freedom of expression and press in Afghanistan. International bodies and media organizations must continue to advocate for the protection of journalists and press freedoms in the region.

Director of Radio Voice of Badghis released after one month in custody
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Oxford University to host event on women of Afghanistan

The Women’s Rights Network, amid growing concerns about the current situation in Afghanistan, announced that it will hold a meeting to highlight the issues faced by the women in Afghanistan.

According to Daily Oxford, the meeting will take place on Saturday, December 7 at the University of Oxford, initiated by the Women’s Rights Network (WRN).

The report states that the event will be an overnight vigil, focusing on the “desperate situation of Afghanistan’s women and girls.”

The main objective of the event is to shed light on the challenges faced by women and girls in Afghanistan.

The Women’s Rights Network Afghanistan had also announced last week on the social media platform X about preparations for this event.

The meeting takes place at a time when women and girls in Afghanistan have been deprived of their rights to education, employment, and work. Most recently, the education of girls in fields like midwifery and nursing has been suspended until further notice.

This event serves as a critical platform for raising awareness about the continuing violation of women’s rights in Afghanistan. With the international community’s growing attention to the plight of Afghan women, such initiatives aim to generate support for advocating their rights and push for policy changes.

The future of Afghan women and girls remains uncertain, but these events keep their voices heard on the global stage.

Oxford University to host event on women of Afghanistan
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Iran detains and deports 800 illegal migrants daily, plans to expel 2 million more

 

Abbas Ali Mohammadian, the head of Tehran’s police, has announced that around 700 to 800 illegal migrants are arrested and deported from Iran daily.

According to the state news agency IRNA, on Friday, December 6, the Iranian official reported that 70,000 undocumented migrants have been expelled from the country, and around 70,000 others have voluntarily left Tehran.

He emphasized that businesses should be aware that employing illegal foreign workers is a crime, and if foreigners, especially in food-related industries, supermarkets, and restaurants, are hired, they must be legally authorized and undergo proper health and trial procedures.

The Iranian official mentioned that a continuous operation to collect “illegal foreign nationals” is underway, and authorities are committed to deporting 2 million more migrants by the end of the current solar year.

The report from the head of Tehran’s police stated that fewer migrants are seen today in public places, particularly in Freedom Square, due to the police’s ongoing efforts in gathering illegal migrants.

The situation for Afghan refugees in Iran has become increasingly dire. The heightened deportation and arrest measures, combined with the lack of legal avenues for migrants to stay, have left many Afghans in precarious living conditions. With limited access to healthcare, education, and employment opportunities, many refugees are forced to live in constant fear of being caught and deported.

The situation is worsened by the socio-political landscape in Afghanistan, where the ongoing instability continues to push more Afghans to seek refuge in neighboring countries like Iran.

However, with increasing restrictions and hostilities in host countries, the plight of Afghan refugees is becoming more severe. This is a humanitarian crisis that requires urgent international attention to provide protection and support for displaced populations.

Iran detains and deports 800 illegal migrants daily, plans to expel 2 million more
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