Azizi: Afghanistan Holds $1 Trillion in Lithium Reserves

The Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce said that Afghanistan is considered one of the richest countries in terms of natural and mineral resources, particularly lithium.

According to Nooruddin Azizi, the value of Afghanistan’s lithium mines is estimated at one trillion dollars.

“A study conducted by the Americans themselves shows that we have a reserve worth one trillion dollars of just one mineral, Alhamdulillah. Today, the entire world needs Afghanistan’s lithium,” said Nooruddin Azizi, the acting Minister of Industry and Commerce.

Also in his remarks, Nooruddin Azizi emphasized the growing global importance of clean energy and called domestic investment in mining, especially lithium extraction, a priority.

The acting minister also said that the Islamic Emirate, based on its economy-focused policy, is ready to welcome investors in various sectors.

“The slogan of the Islamic Emirate is that we are economy centered. Our system is an Islamic Sharia-based system with economic centrality. Why is economic centrality important? Because we have significant resources, and they must be used to assist the people,” Azizi said.

Lithium, which is the most important electricity storage material, is widely used in modern technologies, particularly in the production of batteries for mobile phones, electric vehicles, computers, and drones.

Previously, the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum stated that Afghanistan’s lithium mines have not yet been contracted to any company.

Azizi: Afghanistan Holds $1 Trillion in Lithium Reserves
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Islamic Emirate: Khalil Rahman Haqqani Martyred in ‘Cowardly’ Attack

The Islamic Emirate, in a statement, announced that Khalil Rahman Haqqani, the acting Minister of Refugees and Repatriation, was killed in today’s explosion.

A deadly explosion occurred this afternoon (Wednesday) at the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation.

The Islamic Emirate, in a statement, announced that Khalil Rahman Haqqani, the acting Minister of Refugees and Repatriation, was killed in today’s explosion.

According to the Islamic Emirate, the ISIS group is responsible for this attack.

The Islamic Emirate stated: “With deep regret, we have learned that the Minister of Refugees and Repatriation of the Islamic Emirate was martyred this afternoon in a cowardly attack by the Khawarij.”

Khalil Rahman Haqqani was born in 1966 in Paktia province. He and his brother, Jalaluddin Haqqani, were senior members of the Islamic Emirate and played significant roles in the battles against the former Soviet Union and coalition forces over the past decades.

Khalil Rahman Haqqani served as the acting Minister of Refugees and Repatriation during the re-establishment of the Islamic Emirate in the country.

In one of his speeches, the acting Minister of Refugees and Repatriation stated: “Anyone caught engaging in such actions—encouraging people, transferring them abroad illegally for money, or coercing them—will be dealt with according to the law.”

“His activities in Afghanistan’s history, his role in Afghanistan’s jihad, his honorable efforts in the repatriation of Afghan refugees, his strengthening of the Islamic system, and his family upbringing all contribute to making personalities like him rare in Afghanistan,” Rohullah Hotak, a political analyst, told TOLOnews.

In most of his speeches, he emphasized unity among citizens, resolving challenges faced by refugees in neighboring countries, and enforcing Sharia law in the country.

The last meeting Khalil Rahman Haqqani attended was the Economic Commission meeting of the Prime Minister’s Office.

Islamic Emirate: Khalil Rahman Haqqani Martyred in ‘Cowardly’ Attack
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Russian lawmakers advance a bill removing the terrorist designation for the Taliban

Associated PressUpdated 10:04 AM EST, December 10, 2024

MOSCOW (AP) — The lower house of the Russian parliament gave initial approval Tuesday to a long-discussed bill that would set the stage for Moscow to remove the designation of the Taliban in Afghanistan as a terrorist group.

Under the bill passed by the State Duma in the first of three required readings, the official terrorist designation of an organization could be suspended temporarily by a court. The legislation also needs to be approved by the upper house and signed by President Vladimir Putin to become law.

The Taliban were put on Russia’s list of terrorist organizations in 2003, and any contact with such groups is punishable under Russian law. At the same time, Taliban delegations attended various forums hosted by Moscow.

Russian officials have shrugged off questions about the seeming contradiction by emphasizing the need to engage the Taliban to help stabilize Afghanistan.

The Soviet Union fought a 10-year war in Afghanistan that ended with Moscow withdrawing its troops in 1989. Since then, Moscow has made a diplomatic comeback as an influential power broker, hosting talks on Afghanistan involving senior representatives of the Taliban and neighboring nations.

There is a deepening divide in the international community on how to deal with the Taliban, who have been in power for three years and face no internal or external opposition. Afghanistan’s rulers have pursued bilateral ties with major regional powers.

Russian lawmakers advance a bill removing the terrorist designation for the Taliban
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UN humanitarian aid reaches over 15 million in Afghanistan in 9 months

Khaama Press

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) for Afghanistan has reported that it has provided aid to 15.3 million people in Afghanistan over the past nine months.

On Tuesday, December 10, OCHA published a message on its X page, stating that 23.7 million people in Afghanistan still require humanitarian assistance.

The report indicates that over 17 million of those in need have been reached by the organization’s efforts.

According to OCHA, addressing the needs of the population in Afghanistan will require a budget of $3.6 billion, with $958 million already received.

As the winter season begins in Afghanistan, international aid organizations have warned of an increase in demand for assistance due to the harsh conditions.

Previously, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) had also warned that 14.8 million people in Afghanistan will require immediate aid during the upcoming winter season.

With the mounting challenges posed by the winter season, it is critical for international bodies to continue providing the necessary aid and resources to the people of Afghanistan. As the humanitarian crisis deepens, the global community’s response will play a crucial role in alleviating the suffering of millions.

UN humanitarian aid reaches over 15 million in Afghanistan in 9 months
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35,000 female students in Afghanistan denied education as Medical Institutions close

Sources in the Taliban’s Ministry of Health told AFP that at least 35,000 female students have been deprived of their education due to the ban on women in medical institutions.

These students were enrolled in 10 government institutes and over 150 private ones, according to the sources.

Some of the students affected by this decision have expressed fear and despair over the closure of these institutions.

Zahra, one of the students who had switched from university to a medical institute after schools were closed, said, “This was my last hope to do something, to become someone. But everything has been taken away from us simply because we are girls.”

The Taliban leader recently instructed educational institutions to prevent women from being admitted.

Zahra, who was in her first year at a private institution, added, “Everyone is confused, and no one really knows what’s happening. We take two or three exams every day… even though we finished our exams months ago.”

One administrator of a private institution in Kabul, which has 1,100 students, 700 of whom are women, said, “We have received many messages from students and teachers asking if there is any hope. No one is happy.”

According to sources from the Taliban’s Ministry of Public Health, 35,000 women were studying fields like nursing, midwifery, dentistry, and laboratory sciences at these institutions.

The United Nations has condemned this decision, describing it as systematic and unacceptable discrimination against women. Experts have called the decision “gendercide,” warning that it could lead to “unnecessary suffering, disease, and possibly death for Afghan women and children.”

The UN stated that this decision would have devastating consequences in a country that already has some of the highest maternal and neonatal mortality rates in the world.

Since the Taliban regained power in 2021, the group has imposed widespread restrictions on women, making Afghanistan the only country where girls are banned from attending school beyond the 6th grade.

35,000 female students in Afghanistan denied education as Medical Institutions close
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Lavrov Urges Pragmatic Ties With Afghanistan

Lavrov noted that the UN’s blacklist is limited to a few officials of the Islamic Emirate.

Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, stated at the 22nd Doha Forum that Afghanistan’s caretaker government “are not, as an organization, on the UN terrorist list. Several leaders of the Taliban are on the personal terrorist list.”

Lavrov noted that the UN’s blacklist is limited to a few officials of the Islamic Emirate.

At this forum, the Russian foreign minister added that Moscow has not closed its embassy in Kabul during Afghanistan’s decades-long developments.

” We never withdrew our embassy from Kabul. The embassy was staying there throughout the American and coalition occupation, throughout their shameful departure. We never withdrew the embassy,” said Sergey Lavrov.

Regarding the similarities between the collapse of Syria and Afghanistan’s previous government, Lavrov remarked that the United States exited Afghanistan with even greater haste.

Establishing pragmatic interactions with Afghanistan’s caretaker government is a matter that Russian officials have consistently emphasized. Previously, Sergey Lavrov had also spoken about the possibility of removing Islamic Emirate officials’ names from his country’s sanctions list.

Some political analysts, given the ongoing regional tensions, say that maintaining a balance in relations with both the East and the West is crucial.

Sangar Amirzada, an international relations expert, told TOLOnews: “Unfortunately, we have been victims—victims of the leadership of the East and the West. Based on this, if there are greater inclinations toward one side, it will expose us to serious risks.”

Discussions about the UN’s terrorist group list come as the UN Security Council is set to review the mandate of its sanctions committee on the Islamic Emirate this Thursday.

Lavrov Urges Pragmatic Ties With Afghanistan
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Human Rights Day: Islamic Emirate’s Commitments and Global Concerns

Mujahid said that human rights are upheld in Afghanistan and urged global institutions to view the country through the lens of Afghan values and Islamic law.

On December 10, International Human Rights Day, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) urged the Islamic Emirate to honor global human rights commitments.

In a statement, UNAMA emphasized the importance of these commitments for safeguarding the welfare of current and future generations in Afghanistan.

UN Special Representative for Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, was quoted in the statement as saying:”With authority comes responsibility. The claim of the de facto authorities to be legitimate representatives of the Afghan people within the United Nations must be accompanied by genuine efforts to uphold and advance our shared norms and values.”

The statement also included comments by Fiona Frazer, Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Afghanistan, regarding ongoing restrictions, particularly those affecting women and girls.

“If Afghans, in particular women and girls, continue to be denied their rights, this constitutes a clear and intentional failure to protect and be responsible for the well-being of all who live in Afghanistan,” Frazer said.

The European Union posted on X that human rights are essential for building a strong state and ensuring Afghanistan’s prosperity. The EU delegation reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the rights of all Afghan citizens, particularly women and girls, to access work and education.

“Our primary demand from the Islamic Emirate is to respect the rights of all Afghan people, particularly women. We also call on the international community to move beyond slogans and speeches. We want tangible actions and for the voices of Afghan women to be heard,” said Tafsir Seyahposh, a women’s rights advocate.

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, said that human rights are upheld in Afghanistan and urged global institutions to view the country through the lens of Afghan values and Islamic law.

“Within our value framework, we can define rights, recognize our responsibilities, and act upon them. We urge countries and human rights institutions not to view Afghanistan from their lens but from the perspective of Afghan people and Islamic principles, respecting what the people of Afghanistan value and believe in,” he said.

Sayed Moqaddam Amin, a political analyst, said: “The Islamic Emirate, considering its religious resources, should naturally focus all its activities on human rights.”

UNAMA stated that this year’s International Human Rights Day is being observed under the theme: “Our rights, our future, right now.”

Human Rights Day: Islamic Emirate’s Commitments and Global Concerns
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Shaheen Criticizes US for Actions Related to Doha Agreement

Shaheen stated that the name of the Islamic Emirate was supposed to be removed from the blacklist three months after the agreement was signed.

Suhail Shaheen, the head of the Political Office of the Islamic Emirate in Qatar, in remarks to TOLOnews, accused the United States of violating the Doha Agreement.

Shaheen stated that the name of the Islamic Emirate was supposed to be removed from the blacklist three months after the agreement was signed, but no action has been taken in this regard so far.

The head of the Political Office of the Islamic Emirate in Qatar told TOLOnews: “They had promised that they would remove the blacklist within three months, but it has not been done and is still in place. They have not fulfilled this commitment. Another matter is that they said they would participate in the reconstruction of Afghanistan and encourage other countries as well, but this part has also not been completed. Sanctions imposed on Afghanistan are still in effect.”

Regarding the activities of the Political Office of the Islamic Emirate in Doha, Shaheen added that the office serves as the communication gateway between the Islamic Emirate and the world, clarifying the positions of the Islamic Emirate in various areas to the international community.

Suhail Shaheen further stated: “Here, I meet with delegations from different countries every day or every other day, especially with European ambassadors to Afghanistan, who number thirteen. We try to encourage them to visit Afghanistan, and some have already traveled and met with our senior officials.”

“Certain issues that are important to the people of Afghanistan and the world have not yet received serious attention from the Islamic Emirate, nor has a specific mechanism been announced by the Islamic Emirate to address these problems. Among these are the absence of a constitution in Afghanistan and the issue of women’s education,” Belal Omar, a political analyst, told TOLOnews.

According to the head of the Political Office of the Islamic Emirate in Qatar, fourteen Afghans are currently detained in Qatari prisons, and specific teams are addressing their cases.

Shaheen Criticizes US for Actions Related to Doha Agreement
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UNAMA Studies Climate Impacts and Drought in Afghanistan

According to UNAMA, the aim of this research is to identify the number of vulnerable individuals and determine their needs in facing these crises.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has stated that it is conducting research on the impact of climate change and ways to prevent drought in Afghanistan.

According to UNAMA, the aim of this research is to identify the number of vulnerable individuals and determine their needs in facing these crises.

The organization also emphasized that it would provide awareness to returnees to Afghanistan, as well as those who will return in the future, regarding the risks posed by unexploded ordnance.

“We are researching the impacts of climate change and drought prevention to determine how many people are affected so that we can take timely measures,” said Indrika Ratwatte, the deputy special representative (development) for Afghanistan at UNAMA.

The National Disaster Management Authority stated that Indrika Ratwatte shared this information during a meeting with Nooruddin Turabi, the acting head of the authority.

The management of humanitarian aid in the context of natural disasters, public awareness about the dangers of landmines, and their clearance were also discussed during this meeting.

Afghanistan is one of the countries that, despite having a negligible contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, suffers severely from its destructive consequences.

The country faces compounded challenges such as drought, sudden floods, reduced water resources, and irregular changes in weather patterns, which have affected the lives of millions of people, especially farmers and livestock owners.

In addition to climate change, landmines left from decades of war remain a serious threat to the lives of the Afghan people and continue to claim lives.

UNAMA Studies Climate Impacts and Drought in Afghanistan
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President Japarov Urges Recognition of Islamic Emirate, Release of Funds

He called for the release of these funds, arguing they could be used to develop Afghanistan’s infrastructure, agriculture, and alleviate poverty.

Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov, in an interview with Turkish news outlet TRT Avaz, urged the leaders of European countries and the United States to acknowledge the dire living conditions of the Afghan people and to recognize the Islamic Emirate. He emphasized the importance of addressing Afghanistan’s humanitarian and political challenges on the global stage.

Regarding the frozen assets of Afghanistan by the US, he called for the release of these funds, arguing they could be used to develop Afghanistan’s infrastructure, agriculture, and alleviate poverty.

Japarov said: “Currently, the people of Afghanistan are living on the verge of starvation. Therefore, I call on the leaders of European countries and the US administration, knowing this situation, to recognize the current government of Afghanistan and to release their frozen reserves for the future of Afghans.”

During the interview, he was asked if the Islamic Emirate will react positively to the proposal of Sadyr Japarov, he said: “Of course they will. When it comes to the development of their country and the welfare of the people, why should they be against it? I am sure that they themselves know very well that they cannot stay in power for long if they do not work for their own people.”

Japarov referred to women’s rights and education as important in Islam.

He stated: “Education and women’s rights are very important in Islam. Islam brought hope to the oppressed, respect and rights for women. Science also has a very important place in Islam.”

In his remarks, Japarov called dialogue the only way of convincing the interim government, saying: “I think we can only convince the Taliban leaders through dialogue. The more often we meet and talk, the more we will influence them. Afghans are one of the peoples of the East, and so if we give them special treatment, we can get a positive result.”

This is while countries in the region, including China, Russia, Uzbekistan, and some other nations, have consistently emphasized engagement with Afghanistan’s interim government.

President Japarov Urges Recognition of Islamic Emirate, Release of Funds
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