Afghan Youth Struggle with Unemployment, Urge Govt for Solutions

February 18, 2025 Current News Articles

Shabnam Amini

Tolo News

18 Feb 2025

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs announced that nearly 100,000 work permits have been issued since the beginning of this solar year.

The lack of job opportunities in Afghanistan, especially for young people, has raised serious concerns. Youth are urging officials in the interim government to make greater efforts to create more employment opportunities than ever before.

Abdullah, a 25-year-old graduate in economics and agricultural development from Parwan University, is one of these young people. He spent four years studying in hopes of achieving his goals.

Abdullah told TOLOnews: “I have made many efforts to find a job, but the current conditions make it impossible to find work.”

Several other young people also told TOLOnews that the lack of job opportunities has led to problems such as mental health issues and illegal migration among youth.

Abdul Wahab Nabi Zada, a resident of Kabul, said: “Due to unemployment, we are forced to leave the country for the sake of our families. I am the breadwinner of my family, and many others like me are facing severe economic challenges in Afghanistan.”

Hafizullah, another Kabul resident, said: “If job opportunities were available in our country, no one would leave. But if unemployment continues, just as I am jobless now, it will force young people to leave the country and even fall into addiction.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs announced that nearly 100,000 work permits have been issued since the beginning of this solar year.

Samiullah Ibrahimi, the ministry’s spokesperson, stated that these permits have mostly been granted to individuals employed in domestic and private institutions.

“Since the start of 1403 (solar year), the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has issued work permits to nearly 100,000 people, who have been officially employed in Emirate offices, the private sector, and factories. Additionally, the ministry has provided technical training for young people who have missed out on education to reduce unemployment,” he said.

Poverty and unemployment remain two major social challenges that have consistently brought numerous hardships to Afghan citizens, especially the youth.

OIC Representative Calls for Realistic Engagement with Afghanistan

February 18, 2025 Current News Articles

TOLOnews

TV Network

18 Feb 2025

The OIC representative also held a separate meeting with Roza Otunbayeva, the head of UNAMA, where they discussed women’s rights in Afghanistan.

Tariq Ali Bakhit, the Special Representative of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for Afghanistan, emphasized realistic engagement and avoiding “selective” approaches in relations with Afghanistan, during a meeting with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting foreign minister.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both sides discussed security, education, counter-narcotics efforts, and humanitarian aid during the meeting.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Vice and Virtue said that its acting head, Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, highlighted the OIC’s crucial role in improving Afghanistan’s relations with the Islamic world during his meeting with the OIC representative.

Fazal Rahman Oria, a political analyst, told TOLOnews: “The Organization of Islamic Cooperation is the largest organization in the world after the United Nations, and it can play a highly positive role in integrating Afghanistan into the global order and strengthening the government within the country.”

During his visit to Kabul, the OIC representative also held a separate meeting with Roza Otunbayeva, the head of UNAMA, where they discussed women’s rights in Afghanistan.

“The meeting focused on the efforts of both sides in disseminating the Jeddah Document on Women’s Rights in Islam, which was adopted during the International Conference on Women in Islam held on 6 – 8 November 2023,” a statement from OIC reads.

Faryal Saidzada, a women’s rights activist, said: “This organization and institutions can take necessary steps through negotiations with the interim government, supporting educational projects in Afghanistan, and creating educational programs.”

UNAMA also issued a statement describing the discussion between Roza Otunbayeva and the OIC representative on the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan as “important and constructive,” emphasizing the need for immediate action and participation in this regard.

Ishaq Dar Urges Road Map for Afghanistan’s Global Integration at OIC

February 18, 2025 Current News Articles

TOLOnews

TV Network

18 Feb 2025

Ishaq Dar also stressed support for Afghanistan’s economic recovery and the release of its frozen assets.

Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, during a meeting with the OIC in New York called for a comprehensive framework to guide engagement between Afghanistan’s interim government and the international community.

Ishaq Dar said that such a framework could determine how Afghanistan’s relations with the international community could be normalized.

According to Dar, this framework could help resolve existing issues between the Islamic Emirate and the international community.

“Pakistan believes that the international community should adopt a comprehensive strategy outlining a road map of actions to be taken by the Afghan interim government, including counter-terrorism and respect for the rights of women and girls, and those reciprocal steps which the international community can take to promote Afghanistan’s economic and social development and the normalization of its relations with the international community,” he said.

Ishaq Dar also stressed support for Afghanistan’s economic recovery and the release of its frozen assets.

Meanwhile, some political analysts have expressed differing opinions on Pakistan’s policies toward Afghanistan.

Political analyst Jannat Faheem Chakari told TOLOnews: “A comprehensive framework for Afghanistan’s integration at the United Nations General Assembly is essential; such a framework could enable Afghanistan to establish direct ties with the West and the UN, and allow it to join the General Assembly.”

Another political analyst, Nik Mohammad Hamdard, also said: “It is clear to the world and the region that if Afghanistan is stable, the world and the region will also be stable. Therefore, Pakistan wants and has asked the Islamic Emirate to engage positively with the region and the world. This is a positive suggestion from Pakistan.”

The Islamic Emirate has not yet commented on this matter. However, in the past, its spokesperson emphasized the importance of good relations with Pakistan, despite occasional tensions between the two countries.

Afghanistan’s Taliban makes debut diplomatic trip to Japan

February 17, 2025 Current News Articles

Al Jazeera

Delegation says Taliban seeks ‘dignified’ global interaction as it builds ‘strong’ and ‘developed’ Afghanistan.

A Taliban delegation has arrived in Japan on what is the first visit by the group that rules Afghanistan, according to media in the East Asian country.

The delegation, consisting of foreign affairs, education, economy and health officials, arrived on Sunday for a weeklong visit, the Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported. The visit is a rarity for the Taliban, whose diplomatic trips have previously remained close to Afghanistan since regaining power in 2021.

The Taliban representatives are expected to seek humanitarian support and potentially discuss diplomatic ties with Japanese officials.

Latif Nazari, a deputy minister at the Taliban’s economy ministry, described the visit as part of the group’s efforts to become an “active member of the international community”.

“We seek dignified interaction with the world for a strong, united, advanced, prosperous, developed Afghanistan and to be an active member of the international community,” Nazari, who is part of the delegation, wrote in a post on X on Saturday.

Citing Afghan diplomatic sources, Japan’s public broadcaster NHK said the Taliban representatives plan to “exchange views with Japanese government officials”.

Rare trip outside the region

While the Taliban government makes regular visits to neighbouring and regional countries, including Central Asia, Russia and China, it rarely travels outside the region. It has officially visited Europe only for diplomacy summits in Norway in 2022 and 2023.

Japan’s embassy in Kabul temporarily relocated to Qatar after the fall of the previous foreign-backed government and the takeover by the Taliban in 2021. But it has since reopened and resumed diplomatic and humanitarian activities in the country.

The Taliban’s visit to Japan comes just days after ISIL (ISIS) claimed responsibility for a deadly suicide bombing outside the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing in Kabul, the latest in a series of attacks by the group.

Japan’s embassy condemned the attack, posting on X on Sunday that “these attacks of terror must cease immediately”.

ISIS-Khorasan emerges as the most dangerous branch of ISIS: Reuters

February 17, 2025 Current News Articles

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

February 17, 2025

Reuters reported on Sunday that most foreign fighters fleeing Iraq have joined ISIS-Khorasan in Afghanistan. According to the report, Sanaullah Ghafari, the leader of ISIS-Khorasan, has turned the group into one of the most dangerous factions with the ability to carry out cross-border attacks.

The article, written by Michael Georgy and Menna AlaaElDin, highlighted ISIS’s continued global reach, despite previous setbacks. The group remains active and capable of executing deadly attacks across the globe, particularly in the Middle East, the West, and Asia.

The report mentions ISIS’s efforts to increase its influence, noting that even after being defeated by a U.S.-led coalition, the group has managed to reorganize. It emphasizes the group’s ability to carry out operations far from its bases along borders in countries like Afghanistan.

Sanaullah Ghafari, a 29-year-old leader, is credited with transforming ISIS-Khorasan into a formidable branch capable of conducting guerrilla operations and surprise attacks in the Middle East. This has contributed to its growing notoriety as a significant threat.

In addition, the report provides examples of recent ISIS attacks worldwide, such as the deadly concert hall attack in Russia, bombings in Iran, and a suicide attack in a mosque in Oman. These incidents underscore ISIS’s ongoing global threat.

The threat posed by ISIS-Khorasan remains significant, especially in Afghanistan, where its operations are escalating under Ghafari’s leadership. As the group continues to expand its influence, countries around the world are facing the increasing risk of deadly attacks, highlighting the need for stronger counterterrorism efforts to address this global threat.

Recent ISIS attacks in Kabul and Kunduz further demonstrate the group’s expanding reach within Afghanistan. The increasing number of attacks in these cities signals a growing challenge for the Taliban security forces and international efforts to curb the terrorist group’s influence in the region.

Over 2,000 Afghan Commandos denied resettlement in UK despite service with British Forces

February 17, 2025 Current News Articles

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

February 17, 2025

The UK Ministry of Defence has announced that more than 2,000 Afghan commandos, who had valid service records with units supported by the UK, have been unsuccessful in securing resettlement in the country. These commandos were part of various training and support programs facilitated by the UK in Afghanistan.

According to a report by BBC, these Afghan forces had been part of UK-funded programs, and their expenses were covered by the UK government. Despite their previous service with UK-supported units, these commandos are now facing the rejection of their resettlement applications.

Mike Martin, a member of the UK Parliament and a former military officer with experience in Afghanistan, expressed concerns over this decision, calling it “extremely worrying.” He emphasized the implications of the UK’s failure to provide a safe relocation for these individuals, who had previously worked alongside British forces.

The UK Ministry of Defence has confirmed that over 2,000 Afghan commandos have had their resettlement requests denied. These individuals had valid records of service with units that had operated under British support in Afghanistan, yet they have been denied the opportunity to seek refuge in the UK.

In the past, the UK implemented several programs to help resettle individuals who had collaborated with British forces. One such program was the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP), which allowed local personnel, including translators and Afghan staff, to relocate to the UK. Additionally, the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) was set up to support Afghan nationals who were at risk.

The rejection of these commandos’ resettlement requests raises concerns about the UK’s commitment to its allies who have served with British forces in Afghanistan. The denial of resettlement not only affects the individuals involved but also sends a troubling message about the safety and treatment of those who have supported foreign military operations.

The situation of Afghan commandos denied resettlement in the UK is a major humanitarian concern. As the world watches, it is essential that the UK and other nations fulfill their obligations to those who stood by them in Afghanistan.

Qani: ISIS Has No Presence in Afghanistan

February 17, 2025 Current News Articles

TOLOnews

TV Network

17 Feb 2025

The spokesperson added that, according to their information, recent ISIS attacks were planned outside Afghanistan’s borders, in neighboring countries.

Abdul Mateen Qani, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, told TOLOnews that ISIS has been completely suppressed in Afghanistan and has no physical presence.

The spokesperson added that, according to their information, recent ISIS attacks were planned outside Afghanistan’s borders, in neighboring countries.

Qani said the Islamic Emirate is working to neutralize ISIS’s cross-border attacks as well.

He stated: “ISIS does not exist in Afghanistan at all and has reached zero. We completely reject their presence. Unfortunately, the recent incidents we have witnessed have roots beyond our borders. There is evidence and documents proving they are organized from neighboring countries, and their citizens are involved. We are working to establish relations with those countries to eliminate ISIS beyond our borders as well.”

The spokesperson once again pledged that Afghanistan’s soil will not be used against other countries.

Some members of the United Nations Security Council had previously expressed concerns over Afghanistan’s security situation.

Some military analysts also stressed the need for joint efforts to combat terrorist groups at the regional level.

“To prevent ISIS activities in Afghanistan, a regional consensus must be established to put an end to this issue,” said Sadiq Shinwari, a military analyst.

“The roots of ISIS-Khorasan should be traced and pursued outside Afghanistan’s borders because the intelligence and technology of regional and global countries are highly advanced, and they know well where ISIS-Khorasan originates from,” said Ahmad Khan Andar, another analyst.

Previously, the Islamic Emirate’s Central Commission for Security and Clearance Affairs had also stated that, based on credible information, newly recruited fighters are being transferred through Karachi and Islamabad airports to centers in Balochistan and the tribal areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with the aim of carrying out attacks in the region and globally, especially in Afghanistan.

UN Security Council Debates Extension of UNAMA Mandate

February 17, 2025 Current News Articles

TOLOnews

TV Network

17 Feb 2025

US-China dispute over Afghanistan resolutions escalates at UNSC

February 17, 2025 Current News Articles

By Yasin Shayan

AMU TV

17 Feb 2025

File-Photo United Nations Security Council

A diplomatic dispute over control of United Nations Security Council resolutions on Afghanistan has escalated into a broader clash between the United States and China, raising tensions within the global body, Just Security reported.

The disagreement, which has been simmering since late 2024, has intensified in recent weeks following the return of the Trump administration. The dispute could shape not only the U.N.’s engagement with the Taliban-led government in Kabul but also Beijing’s growing influence in the Security Council.

“While the Trump administration has made headlines by pulling out of U.N. mechanisms like the Paris climate pact and the World Health Organization, this argument in the council could be a harbinger of more Sino-American tensions over multilateral security,” the report stated.

At the center of the dispute is which country should serve as the Security Council’s “penholder” on Afghanistan. In U.N. terminology, the penholder is responsible for drafting resolutions, initiating negotiations, and shaping key mandates related to the country in question.

Some council members have suggested a shared arrangement, with South Korea acting as a pro-Western counterbalance to China’s influence. However, Pakistan has asserted its right to take the lead, citing its geographic proximity and security concerns related to Afghanistan.

Security Council resolutions are binding documents aimed at maintaining international peace and security. They can include sanctions, the deployment of peacekeeping forces, and diplomatic measures, all of which member states are obligated to enforce.

Resolutions on Afghanistan typically address counterterrorism efforts, support for the peace process, oversight of U.N. missions—such as the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)—human rights, and sanctions enforcement.

The Just Security report noted that U.S. officials are increasingly concerned about China’s influence at the U.N. and are reluctant to allow Beijing to shape Afghanistan’s agenda. The tensions over Afghanistan’s Security Council resolutions have further intensified with Donald Trump’s return to office.

Trump has repeatedly emphasized the strategic importance of Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. Two weeks ago, he stated that if he had been in office at the time of the U.S. withdrawal, he would have retained control of the base. He also claimed—without evidence—that China currently controls the facility.

Historically, the three Western permanent members of the Security Council—the United States, France, and the United Kingdom—have held significant influence over resolution drafting. According to Just Security, in 2024, the U.S. served as penholder on six country-specific issues, France on seven, and the U.K. on six. Russia has led on matters concerning Central Asia and co-leads with the U.S. on the U.N. peacekeeping mission in the Golan Heights.

With Beijing’s influence at the U.N. growing, the battle over Afghanistan’s Security Council resolutions is likely to remain a key flashpoint in U.S.-China relations.

Afghanistan’s exports to India grow

February 16, 2025 Current News Articles

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

February 16, 2025

Indian media has reported that over the past two years, the country’s imports from Afghanistan have increased, with bilateral trade between India and Afghanistan reaching a value of $642.29 million.

According to the report, the largest exports from Afghanistan to India include agricultural products such as saffron, raisins, figs, apples, potatoes, almonds, apricots, onions, garlic, pomegranates, and mixed nuts.

Meanwhile, the National Statistics and Information Authority of the Taliban government has stated that the country’s exports decreased by $28 million in January compared to December, with a total export value of $162.2 million through the country’s customs in the past month.

It is reported that the highest exports were made to Pakistan, India, and the United Arab Emirates, while the highest imports came from Iran, Pakistan, and China.

Based on the statistics from this authority, the total export value of the country in the January 2025 was $190.2 million, while the import value was $1,041.5 million.

It is worth noting that the significant trade deficit and the increase in imports from other countries have turned Afghanistan into a consumer nation.

Additionally, the World Bank reported a 14% decline in Afghanistan’s exports from January to September compared to the same period last year.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan continues to maintain trade relations with neighboring countries, the growing import dependence and declining exports suggest challenges for the nation’s economic stability. The trade imbalance is a concerning trend, which highlights the need for efforts to boost local production and reduce reliance on foreign goods.

Rare trip outside the region

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