SIGAR: US Aid Halt Has Created Serious Challenges for Afghan People

May 1, 2025
Bibi Amina Hakimi
TOLOnews’ Reporter
1 May 2025

SIGAR quoted UNICEF, saying: “Lack of education contributes to the shortage of female health workers.”

A report of the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) said the suspension of US humanitarian and development aid to Afghanistan has created challenges for its citizens. The organization warns in its report that if the suspension continues, the health, education, and livelihoods of the Afghan people will further deteriorate.

According to SIGAR’s findings, the United States has provided over $3.83 billion in aid to Afghanistan since 2021. The report states: “The United States has been the single largest donor to programs supporting the Afghan people, having disbursed more than $3.83 billion in humanitarian and development assistance since the Taliban takeover in 2021.”

“This humanitarian and charitable aid can at least reduce poverty and temporarily resolve part of the economic problems. But if the aid had been economic in nature, the government could have implemented strategic programs and stimulated developmental processes. In that case, the aid could have served as a stable source of income,” said Abdul Nasir Rishtya, an economic analyst.

The report, citing the United Nations, states that without additional funding, about 7 million people may lose access to essential health services by 2025. Due to the shortage of female staff in health services, UNICEF has predicted around 1,600 maternal deaths and over 3,500 infant deaths in the current year.

SIGAR quoted UNICEF, saying: “Lack of education contributes to the shortage of female health workers.”

“We have always relied on foreign aid, and there’s no doubt about that. The reduction in aid can directly affect patients’ lives, which is a worrying development. We need to find an alternative. The Ministry of Health must have an adequate budget,” said Mujtaba Sufi, a doctor.

On security, SIGAR reported via the Ministry of Defense that in the past three months, 7,920 individuals joined the army and 10 joined the air force. The total estimated but unverified number of military personnel is around 200,000, while the number of police officers is reported to be over 219,000.

In response to the report, the Islamic Emirate’s Ministry of Economy reiterated that humanitarian aid should not be politicized by the United States. Ministry spokesperson Abdul Rahman Habib said: “Humanitarian assistance, based on global laws and respect for international principles, is vital. In emergencies, disasters, economic crises, and for vulnerable individuals, such aid plays a key role in providing food, water, and access to services. This aid must not be used by some countries as tools of political pressure.”

This comes amid reports that Donald Trump, upon returning to power, signed an order suspending US foreign aid, including to Afghanistan.

SIGAR: US Aid Halt Has Created Serious Challenges for Afghan People
read more

Islamic Emirate Urges UN to Aid Returnee Housing and Services

May 1, 2025
TOLOnews
TV Network
1 May 2025

At the same time, the acting minister of economy also met with the head of a Qatari charity organization to discuss humanitarian support for returnees.

Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, acting minister of refugees and repatriation, in a meeting with Roza Otunbayeva, head of UNAMA, called on the United Nations to assist in equipping residential settlements for migrants.

In addition, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir emphasized the Islamic Emirate’s readiness to engage with the international community, stating that such engagement must occur within the framework of Islamic law.

Abdulmutalib Haqqani, spokesperson for the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, said: “At the end of the meeting, the minister made it clear that the Islamic Emirate is willing to engage in dialogue with the world and is prepared to establish relations with all parties within the framework of Sharia.”

According to the ministry’s spokesperson, the head of UNAMA also promised that the UN mission would work to mobilize more financial resources to support Afghan migrants and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Meanwhile, Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, referred to a UNHCR report warning of the forced deportation of Afghan refugees from neighboring countries and described it as a potential trigger for a deeper humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

Dujarric told reporters: “Amid the current funding uncertainties, the UNHCR today called for $71 million to respond to this crisis across the region for a nine-month period.”

At the same time, the acting minister of economy also met with the head of a Qatari charity organization to discuss humanitarian support for returnees.

Abdul Rahman Habib, spokesperson for the Ministry of Economy, told TOLOnews: “The head of the Qatari charity pledged that, in coordination with relevant committees, they will assist in meeting the urgent needs of returnees, including health services, shelter, and the construction of water supply networks.”

Earlier, the World Health Organization reported that more than 130,000 Afghan migrants had returned from Pakistan and Iran in the past thirteen days.

Islamic Emirate Urges UN to Aid Returnee Housing and Services
read more

Fletcher: Afghan Women Want Their Voices to Be Heard

May 1, 2025
TOLOnews
TV Network
1 May 2025

Tom Fletcher arrived in Afghanistan on April 27, and his six-day trip is set to conclude tomorrow (Friday, May 2).

Tom Fletcher, the United Nations Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, stated Afghan women do not want to be saved—they want their voices to be heard.

During his visit to Kunduz, Tom Fletcher warned that the suspension of aid has led to the closure of health centers and made it more difficult for women to access medical services.

He said: “And here in Kunduz, hearing from women who are losing everything because of the cuts that we’ve been forced to make even since April. The nearest medical facility is now 3 hour cycle away. The clinics have all been closed nearby. And so I’m hearing from women who have had to cycle while very very heavily pregnant back to the nearest hospital and they’ve lost their children as a result.”

“In dealing with the international community, regional countries, and internally, there is a need for greater flexibility. They must share Afghanistan’s real situation with the world so the global community understands their severe condition. The Afghan people also need to know that their issues are being communicated to the world,” said Ismail Zadran, an economic analyst.

Meanwhile, Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, stated that Tom Fletcher was also informed of the negative impact of reduced funding on demining efforts during his meetings in Kunduz.

He said: “The Under Secretary General also heard how funding cuts are crippling lifesaving mine action work in Afghanistan. Landmines killed and injured 55 people every month on average in the country, 80% of them children often hurt while playing or going to school.”

“They must make significant investments and provide economic support to the demining sector, continuing this cooperation. We have not yet achieved peace. Our children and livestock are still being killed by mine explosions. Afghans continue to be victims of landmines,” said Kamran Aman, a military analyst.

Tom Fletcher arrived in Afghanistan on April 27, and his six-day trip is set to conclude tomorrow (Friday, May 2).

During the visit, he met with Islamic Emirate officials in Kabul, Kandahar, and Kunduz, emphasizing the continuation of UN humanitarian cooperation.

Fletcher: Afghan Women Want Their Voices to Be Heard
read more

Muttaqi: Direct Talks with the US Resumed After Trump’s Return

May 1, 2025
Bibi Amina Hakimi
Tolo News
1 May 2025

Regarding regional ties, Muttaqi said the Islamic Emirate seeks no tension between India and Pakistan and supports direct dialogue for resolving disputes.

The acting foreign minister said that after Donald Trump’s return to power, direct communications with the United States resumed, and  he expressed hope that relations between the two countries will improve.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Amir Khan Muttaqi emphasized that the Islamic Emirate has fulfilled its commitments under the Doha Agreement. However, he noted that some obligations on the American side—such as removing the Islamic Emirate’s name from the blacklist—have yet to be fulfilled.

He also highlighted the development of relations with regional countries including Russia, Qatar, India, and Pakistan, and reiterated the Islamic Emirate’s commitment to a balanced foreign policy.

Muttaqi stated: “We have repeatedly stressed that the United States must adopt a realistic view of the current situation in Afghanistan. There is no security threat, no drug trafficking, and no use of Afghan soil against others. If reality is seen instead of propaganda, there is a good opportunity to improve relations.”

Wais Naseri, a political analyst, said: “A de facto relationship—meaning practical ties—has existed with all countries, especially the United States, Russia, India, China, and Pakistan, over the past three years and eight months. However, a legitimate, state-to-state relationship has not yet been established, mainly due to global conditions and the positions of the US, Russia, India, China, Pakistan, and the UN Security Council.”

Muttaqi called Russia’s recent move to remove the Islamic Emirate from its list of banned organizations a “positive step” toward expanding relations, particularly in the trade sector.

He added: “We consider Russia’s recent decision a significant step. Now, more economic cooperation is possible. Afghanistan’s geographic location can also be advantageous for Russia.”

Fazl Rahman Oria, another political analyst, commented: “Afghanistan must adopt a balanced and completely neutral foreign policy between Eastern and Western powers, and protect its legitimate national interests accordingly.”

Regarding regional ties, Muttaqi said the Islamic Emirate seeks no tension between India and Pakistan and supports direct dialogue for resolving disputes.

He also stated that new opportunities for political, economic, cultural, and trade cooperation have emerged between Kabul and Doha.

Muttaqi: Direct Talks with the US Resumed After Trump’s Return
read more

Families Are Split as Pakistan Deports Thousands of Afghan Refugees

April 30, 2025
Zia ur-Rehman

Reporting from Karachi, Pakistan

The New York Times

Many undocumented Afghan migrants have Pakistani spouses and have lived in the country for years. Nevertheless, the government says they must leave.

Every night in Karachi, a bustling port city in Pakistan, Fatima Bibi goes to bed in fear. The sound of police sirens from the streets outside makes her anxious. She wonders whether a knock at the door might tear her family apart.

Her husband, Sher Zada, is an Afghan refugee. His family fled conflict in Afghanistan when he was just a boy, in 1992, and Pakistan is the only home he knows. Ms. Bibi’s family long hoped that despite Mr. Zada’s undocumented status, his close ties to the country and marriage to a Pakistani national would eventually help him secure permanent residency, if not citizenship.

But to the Pakistani government, it is officially past time for Mr. Zada to leave.

On March 31, a government-imposed deadline expired for many Afghans in Pakistan to find another country of refuge. Those without legal status who remain in Pakistan, like Mr. Zada, now face repatriation. Less than three weeks after the deadline’s expiration, the Pakistani minister of state for interior, Talal Chaudhry, announced at a news conference that more than 80,000 Afghans had already been expelled.

The deportations could subject the refugees to perilous conditions under the heavy hand of Taliban rule in Afghanistan. And, if they are married to Pakistanis, it could mean leaving their families behind.

The campaign to deport Afghans coincides with a resurgent conflict with India, Pakistan’s eastern neighbor and archrival. India has ordered almost all Pakistani citizens to leave the country, part of its response to a terrorist attack in Kashmir that it has linked to Pakistan. The Pakistani government, which denies any involvement in the attack and has asked for an international investigation into it, responded by canceling most Indian citizens’ visas.

Pakistan’s crackdown on Afghans follows years of tightening restrictions on Afghan residency. Recent U.N. reports indicate that over 910,000 Afghans have been deported from the country since September 2023.

The deportations have been motivated largely by officials’ frustration with the Taliban government, which they accuse of harboring Pakistani militants responsible for deadly attacks inside Pakistan. The Taliban deny those allegations, but tensions continue to rise.

Pakistan’s military said on Sunday that it had killed 54 militants trying to infiltrate the country from Afghanistan over the previous two nights. Pakistan said the militants had been “khawarij” — a term it often uses for the Pakistani Taliban.

The Pakistani government has also been emboldened by a tide of anti-immigrant sentiment around the world. It has drawn parallels to recent deportation efforts in the United States and various European countries to justify its own campaign.

Among the Afghans facing deportation in Pakistan are those who arrived after the Taliban seized power in August 2021 and now await resettlement in Western countries, including the United States. Pakistan extended the deadline for their relocation to another country to Wednesday, after which they will again face deportation.

Their fate became increasingly uncertain in January when President Trump issued an executive order suspending all refugee admissions to the United States. The decision left thousands of Afghans stranded in Pakistan with no clear recourse.

In October 2023, during an earlier wide-ranging effort to expel undocumented Afghans, Mr. Zada was detained. He narrowly avoided deportation only after Ms. Bibi’s father paid a last-minute bribe to secure his release.

This year’s renewed deportation campaign forced Mr. Zada and his family to leave their home. Ms. Bibi’s father offered them shelter, putting himself at risk. At the news conference this month, Mr. Chaudhry warned of strict repercussions for anyone who helped Afghans stay in the country illegally.

Rights groups say that the plight of refugees like Mr. Zada — Afghans married to Pakistani citizens — is one of the most overlooked aspects of Pakistan’s deportation drive.

While no official data on the subject is available, rights groups like the Joint Action Committee for Refugees, a Pakistani civil society network, estimate that thousands of Afghan-Pakistani marriages have taken place. They are especially common in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, Pakistani provinces that share a porous border with Afghanistan.

Such weddings are often conducted through tribal customs or informal community ceremonies. Though socially recognized, the unions frequently lack formal documentation, such as marriage certificates, making it hard for the Afghan spouse to obtain legal residency or citizenship.

Even in big cities like Karachi, Afghans with Pakistani spouses often face obstacles to formally registering their marriages or the births of their children.

Legal experts have told Mr. Zada that his marriage to Ms. Bibi gives him a chance, if a slim one, of staying in Pakistan legally. But the lengthy process and the high fees are prohibitive. Mr. Zada earns just $3 a day, he said.

Some Pakistanis married to Afghans have turned to the judiciary for relief from the bureaucratic obstacles. In July, a court in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ruled in favor of 65 petitioners, affirming that their Afghan spouses were eligible for dual nationality. But such cases are uncommon.

Umer Ijaz Gilani, an expert on refugee rights based in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, said the authorities had deliberately fostered the perception that refugees had few options for obtaining legal residency or citizenship, despite constitutional guarantees and numerous rulings from higher courts.

Refugee-rights activists also say that NADRA withholds origin cards from applicants who qualify, often citing the need for clearance from Pakistan’s intelligence agencies. NADRA officials declined to comment on those claims.

The Pakistani authorities remain firmly committed to the deportation campaign. Officials say that all undocumented Afghans must leave the country and re-enter on valid visas, regardless of marital or familial connections. But current immigration restrictions can make it almost impossible for them to secure visas after they leave.

Mukaram Shah, an undocumented Afghan migrant married to a Pakistani woman, had been living on the outskirts of Quetta, a city about 70 miles from the Afghan border. In December 2023, he was arrested by the police while working as a porter at a local vegetable market.

“We could not even say a proper goodbye,” said his wife, Palwasha, who, like many women from rural Pakistan, goes by a single name.

Her family, citing security and economic concerns, refused to let her follow her husband, believing he would return on a long-term visa. But under the current crackdown on Afghan refugees, that hope is fading.

“Every night, my children ask when their father will come home,” Palwasha said, her voice breaking. “I don’t have an answer. All I can do is pray.”

Families Are Split as Pakistan Deports Thousands of Afghan Refugees
read more

UN: 70% of women in Afghanistan face barriers to accessing humanitarian aid

April 28, 2025
Khaama Press

A recent UN report highlights that 70% of women in Afghanistan struggle to access humanitarian aid due to various restrictions.

A recent report by the United Nations Women’s Division highlights that over 70% of women in Afghanistan face significant barriers to accessing humanitarian aid. The report points to a lack of female staff in humanitarian organizations and restrictions on women’s mobility as the primary reasons for this challenge.

The report, released on Sunday, April 27, examines the gendered impact of humanitarian aid in Afghanistan. It states that the Taliban’s strict regulations on women, such as mandatory male guardianship and strict dress codes, have severely limited women’s participation in public life.

Additionally, the report emphasizes that the Taliban’s ban on women working for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and United Nations (UN) agencies has restricted women’s access to essential services such as healthcare, education, nutrition, and protection. This has undermined women’s role in shaping effective and equitable responses within the community.

One of the most concerning findings is the ongoing restriction of education for girls, with only 43% of school-aged girls receiving education and virtually no girls in the 13-17 age group attending school. This contributes to the continued cycle of poverty in the country.

The report also reveals that economic pressures, particularly on households led by women, have intensified in 2024. Some families have been forced to resort to drastic measures such as skipping meals, pulling children out of school, and early child marriages.

Furthermore, the lack of female health workers has significantly reduced women’s access to healthcare services, worsening maternal health conditions. With limited decision-making power in society, Afghanistan’s women and girls face heightened risks of gender-based violence and early marriage.

Despite these challenges, women-led organizations have played a vital role in advocating for women’s rights, but they have struggled due to a lack of funding. The report recommends increasing the recruitment of female staff in humanitarian organizations and providing financial support to women-led institutions to help alleviate the situation.

The report underscores the critical need for international support to ensure that Afghanistan’s women can access the resources and rights they are entitled to. As the humanitarian crisis deepens, efforts to empower women and ensure their participation in the rebuilding process are crucial for Afghanistan’s long-term stability and progress.

UN: 70% of women in Afghanistan face barriers to accessing humanitarian aid
read more

Pakistani Defense Minister: Terrorism is a result of US policies in the region

April 28, 2025
Khaama Press

 

Pakistan’s Defense Minister stated that terrorism in the region stems from U.S. policies, which have supported militant groups for decades.

Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif recently reiterated his country’s stance on terrorism, acknowledging past support for terror groups. In a statement, Asif stressed that the roots of terrorism in the region can be traced back decades to Western policies, particularly those of the United States. He claimed that Pakistan had long been involved in a “dirty game” on behalf of the West, citing decades of collaboration with the U.S. and the U.K. in supporting terrorism.

Asif’s remarks come after previous admissions on Pakistani involvement in supporting terror groups during the Soviet-Afghanistan war and beyond. He confirmed that Pakistan had been complicit in facilitating terrorist activities for Western powers, asserting that Pakistan had engaged in this “dirty work” for over three decades, largely driven by U.S. interests in countering Soviet influence in the region.

The defense minister also discussed India’s accusations against Pakistan. He pointed out that while Pakistan was often blamed for regional issues, it had no involvement in the accusations leveled by India. Despite the tension, Asif stressed that Pakistan did not want to escalate the conflict, emphasizing that Islamabad had no desire to take the initiative in any military action.

In an earlier interview with Sky News, Asif went further to criticize Western policies. He underscored that U.S. and British support for terrorist groups had destabilized the region. His comments were part of an ongoing critique of Western interventions in the region, where Pakistan had historically been used as a strategic ally in the fight against the Soviet Union, only to face the consequences of those same policies.

Reports indicated that Pakistan supported terrorism and insurgent groups in Afghanistan both before and after the Soviet withdrawal, continuing even after 2001 with U.S. and NATO presence.

Asif also targeted India’s alleged role in supporting terrorism against Pakistan. He claimed that India was involved in training and equipping terrorists in Afghanistan, particularly through its consulates in the country. According to Asif, Pakistan had credible intelligence indicating that India was directly supplying weapons and explosives to groups like TTP to target key Pakistani cities.

Asif’s remarks reflect deep-rooted geopolitical tensions in South Asia, particularly the ongoing rivalry between Pakistan and India, and the complex role the West has played in the region’s instability. These historical dynamics, shaped by U.S. and U.K. actions during the Cold War, continue to influence current relationships and conflicts.

Pakistani Defense Minister: Terrorism is a result of US policies in the region
read more

UN Deputy Secretary-General arrives in Kabul

April 28, 2025
Khaama Press

UN Deputy Secretary-General, Tom Fletcher, arrived in Kabul for a week-long visit to assess humanitarian challenges and collaborate with teams.

Tom Fletcher, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations for Humanitarian Affairs, arrived in Kabul for a one-week visit. His mission is to work with UN humanitarian teams in Afghanistan and assess the challenges faced by the country.

During his visit, Fletcher highlighted the increasing number of people in need of humanitarian assistance, noting the significant reduction in available funding and the complexity of policies, which have made the humanitarian situation even more challenging.

Fletcher emphasized the continued importance of humanitarian support for the people of Afghanistan, stressing that the UN remains committed to providing aid despite the growing difficulties. He also emphasized the importance of supporting the 22.9 million Afghans requiring humanitarian assistance in 2025.

Afghanistan faces one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), around half of Afghanistan’s population, or 22.9 million people, will need humanitarian aid to survive in 2025.

Despite the challenging circumstances, the UN is focused on ensuring that humanitarian efforts continue, aiming to alleviate the suffering of millions affected by ongoing crises in Afghanistan.

Tom Fletcher’s visit signifies the UN’s ongoing commitment to providing vital humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. As the country faces complex challenges, international collaboration remains crucial to addressing the humanitarian needs and ensuring stability.

UN Deputy Secretary-General arrives in Kabul
read more

50% Surge in Return of Afghan Migrants from Iran

April 28, 2025
Nasir Ahmad Salehi
TOLOnews Reporter
28 April 2025

Some returning migrants from Iran say they were compelled to return due to the pressures imposed by the Iranian authorities.

Local officials in Herat say that in recent weeks, the rate of deportation and return of Afghan migrants from Iran has increased by 50%.

According to the Directorate of Migrant Affairs at Islam Qala Border Crossing in Herat, more than 5,000 migrants are entering Afghanistan daily through this border.

Abdullah Qayoumi, head of the Migrant Affairs Directorate at Islam Qala, stated: “Various sanctions imposed by the Iranian government on our migrants have forced Afghan migrants to return to their homeland and continue their normal lives there.”

Some returning migrants from Iran say they were compelled to return due to the pressures imposed by the Iranian authorities.

Kabir Ahmad Mohammadi, one of the returnees from Iran, said: “We were forced to come back. Half of our house rent was left unpaid there. Along the way, they took 30 million tomans from us, and we were compelled to return from Iran.”

Other Afghans who have been expelled from Iran have complained about mistreatment by the Iranian authorities. They claim that the police and some government agencies have been extorting money from them under various pretexts.

Changiz Rahimi, another deportee from Iran, said: “Along the way, we are harassed a lot and a significant amount of money is taken from us. The municipality collects money on one side, and the drivers take 50,000 tomans from each passenger. In each vehicle, about four to five million tomans are collected and handed over to the drivers. Despite complaining to various authorities, no one helped us.”

Homayoun Roufi, another deportee from Iran, said: “We were given exit papers and told to return to our country, and it was said that there might not be any problems in the camps. But from the moment we left, I kept a list showing that they took 1.5 million tomans for vehicle rent and card fees, and the municipality charged another one million tomans. Even the drivers replaced the tires on their vehicles and made the deportees pay for it.”

In addition to the return of families to the country, hundreds of young Afghan laborers are being arrested and deported by Iranian police daily.

According to some of the deportees, the Iranian government has expelled their children from schools and given them less than three months to leave the country.

50% Surge in Return of Afghan Migrants from Iran
read more

Ratwatte: Recognition of Islamic Emirate Responsibility of UN

April 28, 2025
TOLOnews
TV Network
28 April 2025

In an exclusive interview with TOLOnews, he emphasized the importance of dialogue, addressing challenges, and finding solutions.

Indrika Ratwatte, deputy special representative (development) for Afghanistan in the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), said that the issue of recognizing the caretaker government is a responsibility of the United Nations General Assembly.

In an exclusive interview with TOLOnews, he emphasized the importance of dialogue, addressing challenges, and finding solutions.

Ratwatte stated: “Different member states, as you have seen in many of their statements, the Security Council and others have put the issues of concern forward. One issue remains obviously, the space for girls and women in the country, but these are very specific issues that have been put forward, and I think dialogue, sitting down, looking at the issues of concern for the international community, looking at the issues of concern for the de facto authorities and having roadmap to try to sit together and advance those issues step-by-step together is incredibly important.”

Referring to the forced deportation of Afghan migrants from neighboring countries, particularly Pakistan, the UN official said efforts are underway to encourage the governments of both countries to engage in dialogue so that the return of migrants can be conducted voluntarily.

He said: “That is a deep concern for us. We are trying to encourage dialogue between the two governments and play a… role that we can have voluntarily safe and dignified returns into the country.”

The deputy head of the UN mission also assured continued efforts toward long-term investment in Afghanistan, announcing that since 2021, approximately $14 billion has been allocated for humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan.

Indrika Ratwatte added: “The international community, the UN, and partners together with media outlets and others like yourself, highlighted the needs of the people of Afghanistan. And around $14 billion have been provided in humanitarian assistance mostly and basic human needs assistance since August 2021.”

The deputy representative of the UN Secretary-General in Afghanistan also expressed concern over the reduction of humanitarian aid, noting that around 23 million people in Afghanistan will need humanitarian assistance in 2025.

Ratwatte: Recognition of Islamic Emirate Responsibility of UN
read more

Recent Posts