Richard Bennett: ICC arrest warrant request gives hope to women and girls in Afghanistan

February 24, 2025
Khaama Press

The 12th Herat Security Dialogue began today in Madrid, with scholars, diplomats, and human rights activists attending. UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett highlighted the ICC’s arrest warrant request, offering hope to Afghan women and girls.

The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, stated that the request for an arrest warrant against the Taliban leader from the International Criminal Court (ICC) has given hope to Afghanistan’s women and girls.

During the 12th Herat Security Dialogue conference held in Madrid, Bennett emphasized that the request from the ICC prosecutor has encouraged women and girls, who have been most affected by the Taliban’s restrictions, to continue fighting for their rights.

Mr. Bennett remarked that for years, it was said that words and condemnation were not enough; action was needed against the Taliban’s restrictions. He considered the arrest warrant request as a significant step in this regard.

Bennett added that if the arrest warrants for the Taliban’s leader and chief justice are issued, it would make it difficult for the world to improve relations with the group and recognize them. This would send a clear message that the Taliban is far from gaining international recognition.

Furthermore, Bennett stressed that the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan must be an integral part of any peace and negotiation process in Afghanistan. He noted that while the world is facing a regression in women’s rights, the deterioration of women’s conditions in Afghanistan is unparalleled by any other country.

The 12th Herat Security Dialogue, which is held annually by the Institute of Strategic Studies Afghanistan, began on Monday, February 24, in Madrid, Spain. Experts, former Afghanistan government officials, human rights activists, and politicians have gathered to discuss Afghanistan’s security outlook and future.

The conference also saw the participation of some U.S. diplomats and regional politicians, emphasizing the international importance of addressing the challenges facing Afghanistan.

In light of these discussions, it is evident that the situation of Afghanistan women remains a critical point of focus for the international community.

The international community must ensure that Afghanistan’s women and girls are not forgotten in global conversations about peace and human rights. It is vital that countries continue to demand accountability and support Afghanistan women in their ongoing fight for equality and dignity.

 

Richard Bennett: ICC arrest warrant request gives hope to women and girls in Afghanistan
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UN, Japan Sign Agreement to Support Displaced Afghans

February 24, 2025
TOLOnews, TV Network
Tolo News
24 Feb 2025

During the signing ceremony, Japan’s ambassador to Afghanistan, Takayoshi Kuromiya, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to supporting the Afghan people.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has signed a $6 million cooperation agreement with Japan.

The purpose of this agreement is to support the livelihoods and self-sufficiency of displaced Afghan citizens and returnees, benefiting more than 15,000 people across thirteen provinces.

Arafat Jamal, UNHCR’s representative, stated: “with the support of new action with JICA, more than 15,000 Afghans will benefit from activities designed to boost their self-reliance and prosperity for displaced, returned and host communities alike.”

Jamal also highlighted that more than two million Afghans returned to Afghanistan in 2024, emphasizing that managing this process will have a critical impact on the country’s situation.

He added: “In 2024 alone, over 2.1 million Afghans are estimated to have returned home. This trend is expected to continue in 2025. How these returns are managed will make the difference between a peaceful, stable situation or a situation of chaos.”

During the signing ceremony, Japan’s ambassador to Afghanistan, Takayoshi Kuromiya, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to supporting the Afghan people.

He stated: “The Government of Japan is committed to continue to support Afghanistan, particularly through projects in agriculture and community-based infrastructure that are inclusive, sustainable and provide opportunities for women.”

According to UNHCR reports, Japan has contributed nearly $30 million to UNHCR operations in Afghanistan since 2021.

UN, Japan Sign Agreement to Support Displaced Afghans
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UN Experts to Hold Informal Meeting on Afghanistan

February 24, 2025
TOLOnews
TV Network
24 Feb 2025

This meeting comes as the UN Security Council is also planning a formal session soon to discuss Afghanistan’s situation and the mandate of UNAMA in the country.

UN experts will hold a meeting on Thursday this week to discuss Afghanistan, focusing on issues of peace, security, and climate change in the country.

The UN Security Council stated: “There will be a meeting of the Informal Expert Group on Climate Change, Peace and Security (IEG) focusing on Afghanistan on Thursday (27 February).”

“Any meeting about Afghanistan, especially regarding climate change, peace, and security, is beneficial in my view. I only wish that Afghan representatives were also present to provide a detailed report on how Afghans have no role in climate change,” Salim Paigir, a political analyst, told TOLOnews.

This meeting comes as the UN Security Council is also planning a formal session soon to discuss Afghanistan’s situation and the mandate of UNAMA in the country.

“If the Security Council makes a unanimous decision, it will naturally be impactful. However, if it only issues a statement, it will not have much effect,” Fazl Rahman Oria, another political analyst, told TOLOnews.

The UN Security Council has announced that UNAMA’s mission in Afghanistan is set to end on March 17 this year.

UN Experts to Hold Informal Meeting on Afghanistan
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Afghan Gathering in Birmingham Stresses Continued Aid to Afghanistan

February 24, 2025
TOLOnews
TV Network
24 Feb 2025

Some participants highlighted that supporting Afghan citizens in economic hardship is a collective responsibility.

The international Afghan council in the UK organized an event in Birmingham aimed at supporting the continuation of aid to the people of Afghanistan.

Participants stressed the importance of sustaining assistance for millions facing poverty and deprivation of basic services in Afghanistan.

Some participants highlighted that supporting Afghan citizens in economic hardship is a collective responsibility.

Mirwais Afghan, one of the event organizers, stated: “I urge every Afghan attending this gathering, especially our elders, to contribute at least 2,000 afghani per month to their relatives and friends in Afghanistan to support them financially.”

Peter, a British political activist, remarked: “Millions of Afghans are struggling with poverty, hunger, and lack of essential services. We urge the international community, the United Nations, and humanitarian organizations to maintain and expand their support for Afghanistan.”

Participants emphasized that a large portion of Afghanistan’s population depends on humanitarian aid, and continued global assistance could address significant challenges faced by the people.

Speaking online at the event, Zabihullah Sadat, TOLOnews representative, said: “I call on the US government, the United Nations, international relief organizations, Afghan businessmen, and all humanitarian bodies not to forget Afghanistan. Afghans are not asking for luxury; they simply need food, water, and a chance to live.”

Another attendee, Maiwand Ahmadi, urged Afghans to amplify this message worldwide to ensure continued aid.

Speakers also discussed investment in water infrastructure, climate-resilient agriculture, sustained humanitarian aid, Afghanistan’s economic empowerment, and support for Afghan refugees as key solutions to improving the country’s situation.

Afghan Gathering in Birmingham Stresses Continued Aid to Afghanistan
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UNICEF: Over 19 million Afghans, half of them children, receive Humanitarian Aid

February 23, 2025
Khaama Press

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) announced that over 19 million people in Afghanistan benefited from the organization’s humanitarian aid last year, with more than half of them being children.

In a recent report, UNICEF stated that the aid provided covered various sectors, including health, education, nutrition, water sanitation, social protection, and child protection.

Tajuddeen Oyewale, the head of UNICEF’s office in Kabul, announced on Sunday, February 23 that in 2024, approximately 23.7 million people in Afghanistan, including 12.6 million children, would require humanitarian assistance due to issues such as prolonged conflicts, the return of Afghan migrants from Pakistan, climate change, and the economic crisis.

The report also mentioned that UNICEF provided vital medical services to 628,000 children under the age of five suffering from severe malnutrition, resulting in an 80% improvement in their conditions.

UNICEF emphasized that the restrictions imposed on women and girls in Afghanistan have exacerbated humanitarian challenges. The organization warned that excluding women from various aspects of life, including education and the labor market, has not only worsened the economic crisis but also increased social and security risks.

According to the UNICEF report, the organization requested $1.44 billion in humanitarian aid for Afghanistan from the international community in 2024, but only 56% of this budget was fulfilled.

Despite ongoing needs, international aid to Afghanistan has decreased, raising concerns about the continuation of humanitarian programs in the country.

UNICEF’s report highlights the critical and growing humanitarian needs in Afghanistan, especially among children, and underscores the challenges faced by international aid organizations. With continued restrictions and a decline in global funding, the future of humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan remains uncertain, and further support from the international community is urgently needed.

UNICEF: Over 19 million Afghans, half of them children, receive Humanitarian Aid
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Trump appoints official to retrieve US weapons from Afghanistan

February 23, 2025
Khaama Press

In a recent speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference, U.S. President Donald Trump instructed an official to develop a plan to recover U.S. military equipment from the Taliban.

In his recent speech, Trump referred to a person named “Doug” and asked him to take action on retrieving U.S. military equipment from the Taliban. He praised Doug, saying, “He can do this. He is an entrepreneur.”

The exact identity of this official remains unclear, but some believe Trump was referring to Doug Manchester, a businessman and supporter of the Republican Party.

Trump continued his remarks by emphasizing the need to retrieve the American weapons in Taliban hands, expressing anger at watching Taliban military parades featuring U.S. equipment.

He stated, “We give about two to two and a half billion dollars to Afghanistan every year, while we ourselves need help.”

The remaining U.S. military equipment in Afghanistan includes 78 aircraft, over 40,000 military vehicles, and more than 300,000 weapons, all of which are now in the possession of the Taliban government.

Trump’s remarks reflect ongoing concerns about the loss of critical U.S. military assets to the Taliban and the broader consequences of the withdrawal from Afghanistan. While the identity of the official tasked with recovering this equipment remains uncertain, the implications of such a mission are significant for both U.S. national security and international relations.

Earlier, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s senior spokesperson said the Taliban considers the U.S. equipment left in Afghanistan as “war loot” and will continue to protect it. He added that the U.S. could not reclaim it unless the Taliban are no longer in power.

Trump appoints official to retrieve US weapons from Afghanistan
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Fitrat: Former Govt Politicians No Longer Trusted by Afghan People

February 23, 2025
Nazim Qasimi
Tolo News
23 Feb 2025

He further added that the caretaker government is taking a serious approach to fostering closer ties with other countries.

Fasihuddin Fitrat, the chief of staff of the Ministry of Defense, commented on the fifth meeting of political figures from the former government held in Vienna, stating that these individuals are no longer acceptable to the people of Afghanistan.

Speaking to reporters in Badakhshan, Fitrat highlighted the caretaker government’s engagement at various levels with countries around the world, emphasizing that the Islamic Emirate seeks to expand its relations with the international community.

The chief of staff of the Ministry of Defense said: “With these meetings, they aim to confuse public opinion. They are well-known individuals whom the Afghan people no longer trust. It would be better for them to stop conspiring and spreading propaganda against the Islamic Emirate.”

He further added that the caretaker government is taking a serious approach to fostering closer ties with other countries, and currently, many nations are engaged in some form of interaction with the Islamic Emirate.

Fasihuddin Fatrat stated: “Although no country has officially declared its recognition of the Islamic Emirate, the interactions taking place so far indicate that the Islamic Emirate holds its position in the world, and countries are engaging with it.”

Meanwhile, Amanuddin Mansoor, commander of the Omari Army Corps, dismissed claims of internal disagreements among Islamic Emirate members and stressed that no government will exist in Afghanistan after the ‘Taliban’.

Commander Mansoor stated: “There are no fundamental disagreements among Taliban leaders. Just as they fought under one flag during the jihad, today, the same unity remains among them. There has been no change, and there will be no post-Taliban government; such a thing does not exist.”

Additionally, the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Defense rejected reports of ISIS presence and recruitment in northern Afghanistan, asserting that the group does not have the capability to disrupt the country’s security.

Fitrat: Former Govt Politicians No Longer Trusted by Afghan People
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ICRC Chief Stresses National Programs, Healthcare Access in Afghanistan

February 23, 2025
Hadia Ziaei
Tolo News
23 Feb 2025
In an exclusive interview with TOLOnews, he stated that global humanitarian aid to Afghanistan is beneficial in the short term.
Pierre Krähenbühl, director-general of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), stressed the need to focus on national programs to improve the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, citing the stability that has emerged in the country.

In an exclusive interview with TOLOnews, he stated that global humanitarian aid to Afghanistan is beneficial in the short term.

“The future cannot be humanitarian. I don’t wish even for any population to depend on humanitarian responses for the long-term. This shouldn’t be moving at one point into development responses into national plans to improve the situation … if you ask any country on the planet, It was never humanitarian aid that gave a path for the future. Humanitarian aid should be short-period,” said the ICRC director-general.

Krähenbühl further stressed that the ICRC’s focus is on addressing the challenges faced by the Afghan people and improving their living conditions. He also called for greater global coordination to change the situation in Afghanistan.

“The lives of many Afghans are still in very critical circumstances, and this is why we think that it is important for international actors to participate and cooperate in finding solutions, humanitarian programs, and development assistance. Our contribution has been 40 years of presence here and that we remain focused on the humanitarian priorities that we have with the Afghan Red Crescent,” he added.

Krähenbühl also highlighted the necessity of having trained healthcare workers, both male and female, to ensure fair access to medical services for all citizens.

“In order for people to have access to healthcare, we need skilled personnel and this is very important. So, training of skilled health personnel, be they men or women, is very important because every Afghan man, every Afghan woman, every Afghan boy and every Afghan girl should have access in equal ways to healthcare,” he stated.

According to Krähenbühl, 65% of the services provided by the 47 ICRC health centers in Afghanistan are received by women and children. Additionally, the ICRC supported 200,000 people in the country last year.

ICRC Chief Stresses National Programs, Healthcare Access in Afghanistan
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Trump Links US Aid to Afghanistan with Return of Military Equipment

February 23, 2025
TOLOnews
TV Network
23 Feb 2025

Some political analysts argue that retrieving the equipment is not feasible.

US President Donald Trump has made Washington’s continued aid to Afghanistan conditional on the return of military equipment left behind in the country.

Trump stated that the US provides $2.5 billion annually to Afghanistan, and this aid will only continue if the weapons and military gear are returned to Washington.

The US president said: “We give Afghanistan about two or two and a half billion dollars a year. Do you know that — for aid? We need aid ourselves. And I’m going to go back, I told them yesterday, I want to look at it, but if we’re going to give them money it’s okay, but I want them to give us back our military equipment that they have.”

The Islamic Emirate has not yet responded to Trump’s remarks. However, in the past, its spokesperson dismissed Trump’s claims about retrieving military equipment and the Bagram airbase as unrealistic.

Some political analysts argue that retrieving the equipment is not feasible.

“These military assets were handed over to the former republic’s government, and the Islamic Emirate took them as spoils of war. According to diplomatic principles, war spoils are not requested back or returned,” said Edris Mohammadi Zazi, a political analyst.

“Trump’s claim, when compared to the oppression and killings the US carried out in Afghanistan over the past 20 years, could lead to the conclusion that the US is actually indebted to Afghanistan,” said Sayed Akbar Sial Wardak, another political analyst.

This is not the first time Trump has raised the issue of US military equipment in Afghanistan. Previously, he also stressed reclaiming the military assets and the Bagram airbase, a claim that the Islamic Emirate’s spokesperson dismissed as unrealistic.

Trump Links US Aid to Afghanistan with Return of Military Equipment
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Afghan women’s radio station will resume broadcasts after Taliban lift suspension

February 23, 2025

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
February 23, 2025

An Afghan women’s radio station will resume broadcasts after the Taliban lifted their suspension over alleged cooperation with an overseas TV channel.

Radio Begum launched on International Women’s Day in March 2021, five months before the Taliban seized power amid the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops.

The station’s content is produced entirely by Afghan women. Its sister satellite channel, Begum TV, operates from France and broadcasts programs that cover the Afghan school curriculum from seventh to 12th grade. The Taliban have banned education for women and girls in the country beyond grade six.

In a statement issued Saturday night, the Taliban Information and Culture Ministry said Radio Begum had “repeatedly requested” to restart operations and that the suspension was lifted after the station made commitments to authorities.

The station pledged to conduct broadcasts “in accordance with the principles of journalism and the regulations of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, and to avoid any violations in the future,” it added.

The ministry did not elaborate what those principles and regulations were. Radio Begum confirmed the ministry had granted permission to resume broadcasting. It did not give further details.

Since their takeover, the Taliban have excluded women from education, many kinds of work, and public spaces. Journalists, especially women, have lost their jobs as the Taliban tighten their grip on the media.

In the 2024 press freedom index from Reporters without Borders, Afghanistan ranks 178 out of 180 countries. The year before that it ranked 152.

The Information Ministry did not initially identify the TV channel it alleged Radio Begum had been working with. But the Saturday statement mentioned collaboration with “foreign sanctioned media outlets.”

Afghan women’s radio station will resume broadcasts after Taliban lift suspension
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