Mawlawi Abdul Kabir: Islamic Emirate Represents Afghanistan Well

During the program, he described the people as supporters of the caretaker government.

The Political Deputy of the Prime Minister said that the caretaker government can effectively represent Afghanistan.

Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, speaking at a graduation ceremony in Logar province, emphasized that the Islamic Emirate has established direct relations with countries around the world.

During the program, he described the people as supporters of the caretaker government.

Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, said: “Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, the Political Deputy of the Prime Minister, has stated that the Islamic Emirate can represent Afghanistan effectively and has managed to establish direct relations with the world in recent years.”

The Political Deputy of the Prime Minister also noted that, in addition to supporting religious schools, the caretaker government is committed to the development of schools and universities across the country.

The Deputy Spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate stated: “The Islamic Emirate is committed to expanding universities alongside religious schools and is working to educate university students with an Islamic mindset so they can serve the country.”

Idris Mohammadi Zazi, a political analyst, said: “The Islamic Emirate should establish an educational system and mechanism where both male and female classes can progress step by step in a way that enables them to address the hardships of their fellow citizens.”

Previously, the US Secretary of State remarked that due to the policies of the caretaker government, Afghanistan has been pushed into global isolation.

Mawlawi Abdul Kabir: Islamic Emirate Represents Afghanistan Well
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Dozens killed in two passenger bus crashes in Afghanistan

Al Jazeera

Two bus crashes in central Afghanistan have killed at least 50 people and injured dozens more, according to officials.

The accidents took place on the same highway in Ghazni province between the capital, Kabul, and southern Kandahar city late on Wednesday, provincial head of information and culture Hamidullah Nisar said on X on Thursday.

In the first, a passenger bus collided with a fuel tanker near Shahbaz village in central Ghazni. In the other accident, a bus hit a truck in the eastern district of Andar, Nisar said.

Hafiz Omar, a spokesman for the governor of Ghazni province, said 50 people were killed in the accidents.

Taliban chief government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid put the death toll at 52 and said 65 people were injured. Other officials said up to 76 people were injured.

“We learned with great regret that two fatal traffic accidents occurred on the Kabul-Kandahar Highway,” Mujahid said in a statement.

“These incidents have deeply disturbed and saddened us … We urge the relevant authorities to conduct an immediate investigation into both incidents, identify the causes, and take necessary actions to prevent such tragedies in the future,” he added.
Dozens killed in two passenger bus crashes in Afghanistan
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G7 representatives urge Taliban to restore women’s rights and tackle terrorism

G7 Special Representatives have expressed deep concern over the Taliban’s recent decision to ban women and girls from attending health institutes in Afghanistan.

In a joint statement issued on Friday, December 20, they stated that this ban would have devastating consequences for all Afghans, especially mothers and newborns, further destabilizing an already fragile healthcare system.

The representatives noted that this decision is part of a pattern of over 80 “repressive” and “discriminatory” policies enacted by the Taliban under the pretext of religious enforcement, aimed at excluding women and girls from education, the economy, and public life.

They called for the immediate reversal of these unacceptable actions and policies by the Taliban.

The statement also emphasized that Afghanistan’s long-term stability requires a credible and inclusive national dialogue leading to the establishment of a constitutional system with a comprehensive and inclusive political structure.

Additionally, the representatives expressed concern over the recent attack on the Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation and the ongoing threats of terrorism, which jeopardize Afghanistan’s security and stability. While acknowledging the Taliban’s actions against ISIS-Khorasan, they urged the Taliban to address these threats in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2593.

They further highlighted that several terrorist groups continue to operate safely within Afghanistan, planning and executing domestic and cross-border attacks.

The Taliban’s recent decision to close health institutes to girls has sparked widespread domestic and international criticism.

The Taliban’s ban on women in health education and their broader policies of exclusion risk pushing Afghanistan further into isolation and hardship. These actions not only harm Afghan society but also pose a significant challenge to regional and global stability.

The international community must maintain pressure on the Taliban to uphold basic human rights and ensure that women and girls have equal access to education, healthcare, and economic participation. Sustainable peace and development in Afghanistan depend on reversing these oppressive policies and fostering inclusivity.

G7 representatives urge Taliban to restore women’s rights and tackle terrorism
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NRC: 760,000 Afghans Returned from Pakistan Since October

Officials from this organization emphasize their support for returnees in Afghanistan.

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) stated that nearly 760,000 Afghans have returned from Pakistan since October last year.

Officials from this organization emphasize their support for returnees in Afghanistan.

Kiana Alavi, advocacy manager of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in Afghanistan, said: “For some, their children were born in Pakistan and many lacked Afghan ID cards and other documents needed to restart their lives in Afghanistan. Our team at the border guides them on where to obtain legal documents and connects them with assistance, such as shelter, food.”

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has also reported that, in the past week alone, more than 70,000 Afghan migrants have entered Afghanistan from the borders of Iran and Pakistan.

In the report, the organization said: ” An additional 28,742 individuals entered through the Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Pathan, Angor Ada, Spin Boldak, Baramcha, and Nazar Posta border crossing points with Pakistan.

An additional 28,742 individuals entered through the Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Pathan, Angor Ada, Spin Boldak, Baramcha, and Nazar Posta border crossing points with Pakistan.”

Meanwhile, Iranian media, quoting an advisor to the minister and head of the Bureau for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants’ Affairs, reported that Iran has urged undocumented Afghan nationals to take advantage of the provided opportunity and return to their homeland.

Nader Yar Ahmadi, the advisor to the minister, identified higher incomes, easier access to facilities, and lower living costs in Iran as the main drivers of the mass migration of Afghans to the country.

Mohammad Khan Mohammadzai, a migrant rights activist, said: “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan must work in collaboration with host countries to establish the necessary infrastructure for reducing migration and ensuring the dignified return of migrants.”

Some deported migrants from Iran have also emphasized that economic difficulties forced them to migrate.

Rommel, one such migrant, said: “There is no work here. Whoever goes to another country does so out of desperation to provide something for their family. The current system forced me to migrate to Iran.”

Meanwhile, the IOM, in its latest report on the occasion of International Migrants Day, announced that more than 1.2 million Afghan migrants returned to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan in 2024.

NRC: 760,000 Afghans Returned from Pakistan Since October
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Ministry: Afghanistan Rich in Nearly All Kinds of Precious Stones

Economic experts consider investment in precious and semi-precious stones to be effective for the country’s economic growth.

The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum stated that Afghanistan, with its 120 types of precious and semi-precious stones, is considered one of the richest countries in the region.

According to Homayoun Afghan, the spokesperson of the ministry, most of these stones are found in the provinces of Kabul, Panjshir, Badakhshan, Laghman, Nuristan, and Kunar.

He said that Afghanistan, except for diamonds, possesses all types of precious stones, including emeralds, rubies, and lapis lazuli.

“There are 120 types of precious and semi-precious stones in the world. Except for diamonds, Afghanistan has all these stones, especially emeralds, rubies, and lapis lazuli, which are widely available,’ said Homayoun Afghan.

The Chamber of Commerce and Investment also emphasized the importance of creating sales markets and processing centers for exporting these precious stones.

“Establishing processing centers within the country and setting up trade markets and sales centers for these stones can help boost the economy,” said Jan Aqa Nawid, the spokesperson for this chamber.

Economic experts consider investment in precious and semi-precious stones to be effective for the country’s economic growth.

“If these programs are implemented properly and contracts are transparent, not only will Afghanistan’s economy improve, but it will also have regional impacts,” said Abdul Shakoor Hadawal, an economic analyst.

Officials of the Islamic Emirate have consistently emphasized that necessary facilities for mining, especially precious stones, have been provided.

Ministry: Afghanistan Rich in Nearly All Kinds of Precious Stones
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Fitrat: Islamic Emirate Not Isolated, Maintains Intl Relations

Tolo News

20 Dec 2024

Earlier, the US Secretary of State said that the interim government has become isolated due to its shift in policies since its initial days in power.

The Islamic Emirate has rejected the statement of the US Secretary of State regarding its isolation, emphasizing that the interim government maintains relations with various countries. 

Hamdullah Fitrat, the deputy spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, stated that the interim government remains committed to its obligations under the Doha Agreement. He described recent changes in the country as being in accordance with Islamic principles and urged the international community to refrain from interfering in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.

The deputy spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate said: “Afghanistan is not in isolation. At present, we maintain diplomatic, trade, and economic relations with various countries. We have active political representatives in different nations, and high-level exchanges of delegations with key countries worldwide have taken place. The commitments we made in Doha have been implemented, and we continue to uphold them.”

Salim Paigir, a political analyst, commented: “It is true that we have relations with regional countries, but this is not enough for Afghanistan today. We need to strengthen our ties with both Western and Eastern countries to bring Afghanistan out of isolation from the Western world.”

Earlier, the US Secretary of State said that the interim government has become isolated due to its shift in policies since its initial days in power.

Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, remarked: “The Taliban initially projected a more moderate image when talking control of Afghanistan, and then its true colors came out. The result is that they are terribly isolated worldwide.”

Moeen Gul Samkani, another political analyst, said: “The Islamic Emirate’s government must fulfill the promises it made during the Doha negotiations.”

The United States and the Islamic Emirate have repeatedly accused each other of violating the Doha Agreement.

Fitrat: Islamic Emirate Not Isolated, Maintains Intl Relations
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Khalilzad: Others Can Learn from Ahmed al-Sharaa

The US had previously set the reward for information leading to the capture of Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of HTS.

Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special envoy for Afghan peace, referred to the US removal of the bounty on Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), and asked: “Are the Taliban paying attention?”

Without pointing to any specific country or individual, he said that others in similar circumstances can learn from Ahmed al-Sharaa about how to integrate into the mainstream international system.

“Others in similar circumstances can learn from Ahmed al-Sharaa how to join the mainstream international system,” Khalilzad wrote on X.

Earlier, Reuters reported that the US had decided to cancel the $10 million reward for the capture of Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Barbara Leaf, a senior US diplomat for Middle Eastern affairs, raised this issue after a US diplomatic delegation met with the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in Damascus.

She said that this decision was made based on Ahmed al-Sharaa’s commitment that “terrorist groups cannot pose a threat.”

The US had previously set the reward for information leading to the capture of Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of HTS.

This was the first visit by senior US State Department officials to Syria in more than a decade.

The visit was part of the resumption of US diplomatic engagement with the transitional government in Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

Khalilzad: Others Can Learn from Ahmed al-Sharaa
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Anas Haqqani: US’s Divisive Policies in Afghanistan Have Failed

Haqqani also pointed out that Daesh deceives young people in Islamic countries and seeks to challenge the security that exists in Afghanistan.

Anas Haqqani, a senior member of the Islamic Emirate, stated that the United States used divisive policies over the past two decades to achieve its objectives in Afghanistan.

In an interview with Al-Arabiya, the senior member of the Islamic Emirate remarked that the US has now failed to sow discord and create divisions among Afghan citizens.

Anas Haqqani said: “These words refer to events from 24 years ago when the Americans first came to Afghanistan. They employed various methods. Now that no other options remain, they are trying to test approaches aimed at creating division and pressuring people. However, this is not possible, and thankfully, such attempts have not succeeded.”

He further stated that differences in perspective among officials of the Islamic Emirate are normal and emphasized that they do not want these differences to escalate into conflicts.

Anas Haqqani said: “There is a difference between disagreement and differing opinions, and this is a natural phenomenon. We do not want these differences in views to turn into conflicts because Afghanistan has suffered from divisions. We witnessed what happened after the victory of the Mujahideen. They defeated the Communists and the Soviets but could not establish a government due to the existence of multiple factions.”

Haqqani also pointed out that Daesh deceives young people in Islamic countries and seeks to challenge the security that exists in Afghanistan.

He stated: “This group, which calls itself the founders of the Islamic Caliphate, uses such methods to deceive people and the youth of Islamic nations. Through these actions, they aim to portray Afghanistan as insecure.”

In his remarks, the senior member of the Islamic Emirate emphasized that major economic projects and global engagement are now taking shape, which is concerning for Daesh and others who oppose stability in Afghanistan.

Anas Haqqani: US’s Divisive Policies in Afghanistan Have Failed
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Watch: Blinken testifies before House on Biden Afghanistan withdrawal

BY THE HILL STAFF

Secretary of State Antony Blinken testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday morning, over three years after the Biden administration’s chaotic withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.

The hearing also came just a few months after House Republicans unveiled their long-awaited report analyzing the event that led to the deaths of 13 service members and an estimated 100,000 partners of U.S. government efforts being left behind. The report painted President Biden as being determined to leave the country but fumbling preparations that set the stage for the deadly exit from America’s longest war.

Blinken was unable to make a hearing earlier this year, citing his commitment to attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Due to his absence, the GOP-led committee moved forward with an attempt to hold the secretary of State in contempt of a subpoena to appear.

Late last month, committee chair Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) announced he had secured Blinken to testify.

Watch the video above.

Watch: Blinken testifies before House on Biden Afghanistan withdrawal
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After emigrating from Afghanistan, a young wrestler feels at home on the mat

By Michael Howes
The Washington Post
December 15, 2024

Zahid Shujaee has the same routine every day.

His alarm rings at 5 a.m. He wakes his 16-year-old brother, Arshad, and the pair arrive at Blake less than two hours later. After school ends at 2:30 p.m., wrestling practice runs for three hours. When that’s over, Shujaee works a five-hour shift at Costco. He gets home around 11:30.

On a typical night, Shujaee sleeps for about five hours. He said he doesn’t need much to feel refreshed.

The junior hasn’t had much time to rest since moving from Afghanistan 11 months ago. Shujaee works five days a week at Costco, practices wrestling for three hours a day and helps care for his three siblings. His coaches often praise his work ethic — it’s why they think he has a chance to wrestle collegiately. Shujaee hopes they’re right.

“We are new here. It’s hard to pay off our rent because it’s very expensive,” Shujaee said. “I want to be a champion in the future. … I am here to get a scholarship from a college and wrestle.”

Shujaee moved to the United States in January. His father had worked with the U.S. Army, meaning the Shujaee family — his mother, two brothers and sister — received special visas granted to those who aided the U.S. government abroad.

When he came to the United States, he brought with him a love of wrestling. He picked up the sport at 14 years old, hoping to lose some weight. In Afghanistan he practiced freestyle wrestling, the preferred international style. U.S. wrestlers use folkstyle. It is not too different from freestyle, but it is typically slower and more methodical. Shujaee said he found folkstyle easier, but he needed time to get accustomed to new techniques.

Upon arriving at Blake, he wanted to join the wrestling team immediately. But it was spring by then, and the season had just ended. Blake Coach Jim Potts connected Shujaee with local clubs, and he quickly began training at Capital Wrestling Club in Gaithersburg. Because of his unusual situation, the gym allowed him to train free.

“He was able to acclimate and learn the new rule set in a really short period of time, which I think is a testament to his athleticism and knowledge of the sport,” said Max Meltzer, co-founder and coach at Capital Wrestling Club.

Outside of the sport, Shujaee said, the biggest difference between the United States and Afghanistan is the price of goods. He could buy six pairs of shoes for $100 in Afghanistan. That barely covers a single pair of quality athletic shoes here.

Shujaee’s first meet of the season took place at the Mad Mats tournament at Magruder on Dec. 8. He used an old pair of wrestling shoes given to him by a friend. The black Rudis sneakers have small tears near the white sole. They didn’t stop him from defeating his first opponent by technical fall in just 2 minutes 15 seconds.But there wasn’t much time to celebrate. He grabbed his gray sweatshirt and rushed to an adjacent gym to cheer on Arshad, who had his first match of the day. After Arshad won, his brother was waiting with a hug.

“I enjoy having him here with me,” said Arshad, a sophomore. “He works very hard. He is really interested in wrestling and likes wrestling. He also works hard for our family.”

The work ethic that defines his wrestling skill set is the same that has him scanning the QR code on his employee ID to start his shift at Costco in Wheaton. It’s the same that helps him stock shelves through the evening.

“I can’t explain how proud I am of my son. I know he is a hard worker,” Mohammed Bashir said. “I want him to get everything he wants.”

On the second day of Mad Mats, Zahid lost in the championship round in a 12-5 decision in the 150-pound weight class. Despite his disappointment, he remains optimistic about the rest of the season. His coach shares his confidence.

“Being that it was a whole new thing and a whole different set of rules, I thought he did a great job,” Potts said.

Next year, Shujaee will be ineligible to wrestle with Blake as a senior because he’ll be 19 at the start of the season, putting him over the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association age limit. Potts said Shujaee could become a team manager instead. He could also enroll in a postgraduate private school, allowing him to continue wrestling while also pursuing his high school diploma.

No matter which route he chooses, Shujaee knows he won’t stray far from the mat.

“This is my life,” Shujaee said. “This is something I learned. Wrestling is in my blood. I have to do this.”

After emigrating from Afghanistan, a young wrestler feels at home on the mat
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