SIGAR: Closed Girls’ Schools Has Had ‘Averse Effect’

Earlier Islamic Emirate said that efforts are underway for opening schools for girls above grade six but still unknow when the will open schools’ door for girls.

The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction in a recent report expressed concern about the closure of schools for girls above grade six in Afghanistan.

“Afghan activists and education sector representatives told us that the Taliban’s restrictive and varied guidance toward girls’ education, including prohibiting girls from attending school after sixth grade, has had an adverse effect and resulted in an overall reduction in school attendance,” said SIGAR.

“Schools above grade six for girls have to open immediately,” said Najibullah Jami, a political analyst.

Meanwhile, the Associate Director of the Women’s Rights Division at Human Rights Watch said that Afghanistan is the only country where girls are deprived from going to school.

“Taliban violation the right of women and girls in Afghanistan and today is the 400 hundred days since the Taliban banned secondary education for girls there is no other country in the world that systematically deny girls education based on the gender and denying women the right to work,” said Heather Barr.

“Opening schools is a religious order and its demand of people and international community and it’s an urgent need,” said Hassan Haqyar, political analyst.

Some students above grade six asked the government to allow them to go to schools.

“They closed schools’ door against us, we urged government to opening schools’ for girls,” said Sahar, a student.

“We asked the government to open schools’ door for us so we can learn and progress,”said Parwen, a student.

Earlier Islamic Emirate said that efforts are underway for opening schools for girls above grade six but still unknow when the will open schools’ door for girls.

SIGAR: Closed Girls’ Schools Has Had ‘Averse Effect’
read more

400 Days Have Passed Since Afghan Girls Attended Secondary School

Meanwhile, some female students above grade six asked the government to allow them to go to schools.

Rina Amiri, United States special envoy for Afghan Women, Girls and Human Rights, expressed concern about the closure of secondary schools for girls and said it has been 400 days that girls have been banned from going to school. She said the current government cannot deny education to half the population.

In addition, she said that girl’s education is the key to lifting Afghanistan from poverty.

“The Taliban can’t deny half the population education & work opportunities & claim to move Afghanistan towards economic independence. Education of all Afghans, including women & girls, is key to lifting Afghanistan out of poverty & restoring hope,” said Rina Amiri.

Analysts believe that the opening of schools for girls is important to improve relations between the Islamic Emirate and the world.

“The current situation of education for females is not acceptable and it is not in the interest of our country, our people, and our religion,” said Hassan Haqyar, political analyst.

Meanwhile, some female students above grade six asked the government to allow them to go to schools.

“Closing schools means creating problems for the entire nation of Afghanistan,” said Huma, a student.

“Opening schools means achieving goals and nobody can stop us from obtaining our rights,” said liala, a student.
Islamic Emirate emphasis that they are not against girls’ education and the reopening of girls’ schools beyond grade six is being considered.

400 Days Have Passed Since Afghan Girls Attended Secondary School
read more

Norway to Host Closed Meeting on Afghanistan

The Islamic Emirate said that all types of meetings including the Norwegian summit should consider the situation of the Afghans.

The Norwegian Permanent Mission to the UN said that it will be hosting a closed Arria-formula meeting titled “Engaging Afghanistan.”

The Norwegian Permanent Mission to the UN said in a statement that the UN special envoy Roza Otunbayeva, deputy special envoy Ramiz Alakbarov, and a female civil society representative would be among the briefers.

“We are very concerned about the situation for the people of Afghanistan as they are facing a multitude of crises,” said the Norwegian Permanent Ambassador to the UN, Mona Juul. “The reason we are bringing members together in this way is to have an informal, critical, discussion on the political situation and how the Security Council best can support the political aspects of the mandate of the UN Mission in the way ahead.”

The Islamic Emirate said that all types of meetings including the Norwegian summit should consider the situation of the Afghans.

“The expectations of the people of Afghanistan from any meeting being held in any country in which Afghan issues are being discussed– is to provide them with help. The problems which exist can be solved via negotiations,” said Bilal Karimi, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate.

The political analysts believe that such summits could benefit the situation in Afghanistan.

“Norway is a country which has a positive and important role in relations with current and former government,” said Abdul Jamil Shirani, a political analyst.

“The meeting of the UN Security Council which is being called in by the Norway is a positive step and should be welcomed by the Afghans. But the representatives of the people of Afghanistan should be present in such meetings,” said Wahid Faqiri, a political analyst.

The statement of the Norwegian Permanent Mission in Afghanistan said that the five incoming members to the Security Council were also invited to the meeting.

Norway to Host Closed Meeting on Afghanistan
read more

Commission Will Investigate Citizens’ Complaints About Ex-Govt Officials

According to the commission’s recent figures, so far more than 370 political figures from the previous administration have returned to the nation.

The Commission for “Return and Communications with Former Afghan Officials and Political Figures” said that the commission will look into any claims made by citizens against political figures.

Ahmadullah Wasiq, the communication committee spokesperson, said that the political figures who have returned to the country have complete immunity, and that this commission will look into their cases.

“They (people) come to the commission and file a petition, registering their lawsuit … The commission then reviews their claim and takes appropriate action,” Wasiq said.

Wasiq further stated that the Islamic Emirate might have some considerations over the former president Hamid Karzai’s trips.

“The government might have its own views in this regard,” Wasiq added.

According to the commission’s recent figures, so far more than 370 political figures from the previous administration have returned to the nation.

However, reports indicate that some former government officials who have come to the country have since left Afghanistan.

“There are some of my friends and former colleagues who are keen to work with me under a specific and regular plan, therefore I came back to consult with them,” said Amanullah Ghalib, former head of Breshna company.

“More trust-building is required in Afghanistan because there are many Afghans who have significant wealth abroad. If they come and invest in the nation from the Gulf, Pakistan, Turkey, and Europe they can end the nation’s poverty,” said political expert Tariq Farhadi.

On the leader of the Islamic Emirate’s order, the Commission for “Return and Communications with Former Afghan Officials and Political Figures” was formed in the month of Sawr 1401 (solar year).

This commission is tasked with creating the conditions for the return of figures from political, military and cultural areas, and civilians who left the country following the collapse of the republican government.

Commission Will Investigate Citizens’ Complaints About Ex-Govt Officials
read more

Islamic Emirate’s Leader Meets With MoD Officials

Sayed Bilal Ahmad Fatimi, a political analyst, said that the international and Islamic laws in this regard match each other.

The leader of the Islamic Emirate, Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada, met with the officials of the department of strategy and intelligence of the Defense Ministry, and commanders of the corps.  

In a statement released by the Islamic Emirate’s Spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada instructed that innocent people should not be detained and investigated.

The deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, Bilal Karimi, said that in the meeting the need to exclude inappropriate individuals from the command of the Islamic Emirate was stressed.

“In accordance with the Islamic regulation, they (detainees) should not be harassed and they should be treated based on Islamic rules and Sharia,” he said.

The Islamic Emirate leader ordered the officials to treat detainees based on Sharia law and to avoid illegal torture.

“The officials have been provided with recommendations to form their forces with honest and committed people to serve the country and their religion and pave the way for development of the country,” Karimi said.

Sayed Bilal Ahmad Fatimi, a political analyst, said that the international and Islamic laws in this regard match each other.

“This is similar to the Islamic sharia as well as international laws–the Islamic law in this regard matches international regulation,” he said.

The Islamic Emirate’s leader said that intelligence’s role is important for the current government and the elimination of corruption.

Islamic Emirate’s Leader Meets With MoD Officials
read more

New Printed Afghani Will Replace Banknotes: West

According to West, there will be an additional advisory body of Afghan professionals and experienced people.

The US special envoy for Afghanistan, Thomas West, said that the “new printed Afghani will replace bank notes” in Afghan markets.

He made the remarks while speaking about the Afghan frozen funds in a Zoom conference.

“So I am very pleased to say that in the past 24 hours, we finally have seen the conclusion of currency transaction… this will mean that new printed Afghani will replace banknotes that … are virtually disintegrating in the system.”

“I don’t have a great sense of exactly when those banknotes are going to show up in Afghanistan, but we are going to continue supporting the priority transaction,” West said.

However, the time when the new banknotes will enter the Afghan markets has not been determined.

In the conference West said that in August 2021 it was not the executive branch that told the banks to suspend access, it was the banks.

He said the first meeting of the board of trustees is expected to take place next month in Switzerland.

West said the board of trustees, which is comprised of representatives from the US and Switzerland, as well as Anwar ul-Haq Ahady, who formerly served as Afghan Minister of Commerce and Industry, and Shah Mohammad Mehrabi, will make major decisions about the $3.5 billion Afghan assets.

According to West, there will be an additional advisory body of Afghan professionals and experienced people.

The US envoy said al-Zawahiri’s presence in Kabul was a “flagrant” violation of the Doha deal. Referring to US cooperation with the Islamic Emirate over counter-terrorism, West said that fulfilling the commitments of the deal in this regard is “their job.” But there will be some cooperation.

New Printed Afghani Will Replace Banknotes: West
read more

Efforts Underway to Form New Constitution: Mujahid

After the fall of the former government, the fate of the constitution in Afghanistan remained tentative.

The Islamic Emirate’s Spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said that work on the formation of a constitution that will replace the previous constitution.

After the fall of the former government, the fate of the constitution in Afghanistan remained tentative.

“The work regarding the constitution is underway,” Mujahid said.

Politicians said the constitution was one the main needs of the country and urged the Islamic Emirate to make serious efforts in this regard.

The former head of the Independent Commission for Overseeing the Implementation of the Constitution, Gul Rahman Qazi, believes that the lack of a constitution will cause several problems.

“The constitution forms the basis of a government’s legislation, our laws are formed from the constitution,” he said.

“There is not a law that the Afghan nation can adapt itself to it. The government should be formed, the Loya Jirga (Great Assembly) should be called, the commission of constitution should begin operating to form the constitution and, eventually, the government should take some responsibility and should be accountable (to institutions), which is the parliament,” said Sayed Ishaq Gailani, leader of the National Solidarity Movement of Afghanistan.

In accordance with a statement of the supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada at a meeting with the provincial governors, the previous constitution was dissolved.

Mawlawi Akhundzada said that all decisions should be made based on Islamic Sharia.

“Sheikh Sahib said that it is incorrect to implement Zahir Shah’s constitution and that there is no difference between the constitutions of the republican administration and Zahir Shah’s period. We just want the Sharia system; neither Ashraf Ghani’s constitution nor Zahir Shah’s are acceptable,” Obaidullah Ameenzada, governor of Parwan province told a gathering in the province.

Legal analysts believe that there is a need for additional laws besides Shariah.

The constitution was formed under former Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Efforts Underway to Form New Constitution: Mujahid
read more

Japan Begins Limited Diplomatic Activities in Kabul

The Japanese embassy in Kabul has begun limited activity, the Japanese foreign minister said on Saturday.

Japan’s foreign minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi, said on Friday during a press conference in Tokyo that his country had resumed limited diplomatic relations with Afghanistan after a hiatus of more than a year.

According to Hayashi, the Japanese embassy in Kabul will limit their activities.

“At the moment, the Japanese Embassy in Kabul has begun its limited activity and is doing the minimum necessary work. For security reasons, I refrain from mentioning the details,” he continued.

Hayashi noted that other aspects will be taken into consideration before deciding to launch a complete diplomatic presence in Kabul.

Japan’s embassy in Kabul was closed after the fall of the previous administration, and its diplomats then temporarily continued activities form Qatar.

Meanwhile, experts consider the foreign diplomatic missions’ activity in Kabul as a positive development.

“Relations with the world are crucial for Afghanistan, and vice versa. Afghanistan cannot survive in isolation and given its current situation, the world should continue to have contacts with Afghanistan,” said political analyst Mohammad Hassan Haqyar.

“If we look at the United Nations Charter, it says that any time a country opens an embassy in another country and sends a diplomat, it must accept the embassy of the other country in its own country and accept its diplomats,” said Ahmad Khan Andar, a political expert.

Despite having been in power in Afghanistan for more than a year, the Islamic Emirate is still not recognized by any nation. even though a few nations, including China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Qatar, and Turkey, have opened embassies in Kabul.

Japan Begins Limited Diplomatic Activities in Kabul
read more

Nations Request the Lifting of Restrictions on Women in Afghanistan

The ambassador of Norway to the UN said that efforts are being made to facilitate direct communication between Afghan women and the Islamic Emirate.

Several nations requested the lifting of restrictions on women in Afghanistan during the UN Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace, and Security.

The ambassador of Norway to the UN said that efforts are being made to facilitate direct communication between Afghan women and the Islamic Emirate.

“Afghanistan women continue to ask the international community to create the platform for them to engage directly with the Taliban, and we will continue to look for safe spaces for them to do so,” said Mona Juul, Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations.

“Holding such meetings and expressing support for Afghan women’s rights can definitely be inspiring in the current situation that Afghan women are in, and it shows that the world has not forgotten Afghan women. But until the declared commitments of the international community to defend and support Afghan women are actually upheld, Afghan women will not progress,” said Maryam Marouf Arween, a women’s rights activist.

During the debate, the China representative to the UN expressed his hope that women’s rights and interests would be protected in Afghanistan.

“China hopes that they will have their basic rights and their interest is protected and that they will integrate organically into the country’s economic and social life and become an important force in the peace and rebuilding of their country,” said Geng Shuang Deputy Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations.

At the Security Council meeting, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that the US has formed a US-Afghan consultative mechanism.

“The US established the US-Afghan consultative mechanism. This mechanism systematically engages a diverse range of Afghan voices, particularly women and civil society leaders so their perspectives are integrated into our policy discussion,” said US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

Ambassador R. Ravindra, India’s deputy permanent representative, called for the rights of women and minorities in Afghanistan to be respected.

However, Kabul said that human rights in Afghanistan are more fully respected now than ever before.

“Full immunity has been attained, and there is no threat to Afghanistan. Thousands of courts have been formed throughout the provinces and districts to serve the public and protect their rights. Anyone who has a problem with their rights should go to court, where their rights will be secured,” said Zabiullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Islamic Emirate.

Many nations and international organizations have criticized Afghanistan’s restrictions on women, especially in the field of education, but the decision to reopen girls’ schools has not yet been made.

Nations Request the Lifting of Restrictions on Women in Afghanistan
read more

Ahadi: Freezing of Afghan Assets Was Political Decision

The United States established the trust fund and said it will transfer $3.5bn in Afghan central bank assets to the fund. 

Anwar ul-Haq Ahadi, a member of the Afghanistan Fund in Switzerland, said that Afghanistan’s frozen assets have been changed into a political issue.

Ahadi, in an exclusive interview with TOLOnews, said that although the Swiss-based trust fund was established more than a month ago, the $3.5 billion of Afghanistan’s frozen assets has not been transferred from the US Treasury Department.

“The freezing of these assets was a political decision, and the issue that Afghanistan’s current government has not been recognized yet is political. if the problems are solved, there is no need for this trust fund and it will be canceled. At that time, the money will be transferred to the Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB),” said Anwar Ul Haq Ahadi.

Ahadi is one of the four members of the trust fund, which was formed, according to the US, to prevent the misuse of 3.5 billion dollars of Afghanistan’s foreign reserves.

“Disbursement is based on a consensus, if one member of the fund disagrees with it, the assets will not be used. I will not agree with using the assets where there is no justification,” said Anwar Ul Haq Ahadi.

“The transfer of 3.5 billion dollars from Afghanistan’s foreign exchange reserves to the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) can help Afghanistan in maintaining the Afghan currency against foreign currencies,” said Seyar Qurishi, economist.

Meanwhile, Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, in an interview with a Turkish media outlet once again urged the United States to release the more than $9 million assets.

“More than nine billion dollars of Afghanistan that were entrusted to the US in banks, was blocked after the political changes in occurred in Afghanistan, now they (US) do not allow us to access the assets and imposed some restrictions on Afghanistan’s banks, we know that the assets are supporting money for our national currency, but the assets are the wealth of the people,” said Zabiullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Islamic Emirate.

The United States established the trust fund and said it will transfer $3.5bn in Afghan central bank assets to the fund.

Anwar ul-Haq Ahadi, former Minister of Commerce and Industry of Afghanistan, Shah Mohammad Mehrabi, a member of the Supreme Council of Da Afghanistan Bank, and Scott C. Miller, the US Ambassador to Switzerland, as well as a person from the Swiss Foreign Ministry, are the trustees of this fund and will decide on the assets of Afghanistan.

Ahadi: Freezing of Afghan Assets Was Political Decision
read more