Shah wa Arous Dam in Kabul Officially Opens With Ceremony

The Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs, emphasized the dam’s importance in agricultural development and providing drinking water to parts of Kabul.

The Shah wa Arous Dam in Kabul was inaugurated today (Tuesday) by the Ministry of Energy and Water during a ceremony attended by the deputy prime ministers.

The deputy prime ministers described the completion of the Shah wa Arous Dam as a significant step toward water management in Afghanistan and reiterated the Islamic Emirate’s commitment to managing the country’s water resources.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, said that in some countries, water is more valuable than oil and minerals. He said that due to Afghanistan’s prolonged wars, little attention was paid to water management, leading to losses for the people and farmers from climate changes and devastating floods.

“Work on this dam began in 2010. The remaining tasks were completed professionally with the efforts of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,” Mullah Baradar said.

Abdul Salam Hanafi, the Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs, said: “Kabul faces water shortages, and strategic plans, including building dams, are needed to address this challenge.”

Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, the Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs, emphasized the dam’s importance in agricultural development and providing drinking water to parts of Kabul. He stated that the Islamic Emirate is taking practical steps to implement major water management projects in the country.

“The Islamic Emirate is working to eliminate inherited poverty and unemployment, create jobs for youth, and reduce poverty levels,” he said.

Representatives from Iran’s Embassy in Kabul also attended the ceremony.

Abdul Latif Mansoor, Acting Minister of Energy and Water, stated that the Shah wa Arous Dam was completed at a cost of $52 million by an Iranian company. He highlighted that all major dam construction projects in Afghanistan are now funded by domestic resources.

He further continued: “In the past, nearly 80% of Afghanistan’s budget was funded by foreign countries, leaving 20% for the government to cover from its own revenues. Now, the Islamic Emirate funds 100% of project budgets.”

Saifullah Najafi, head of the contracting company, said: “Over 90% of the engineering and contractors for this project were from Afghanistan.”

According to the Ministry of Energy and Water, the Shah wa Arous Dam stands 77 meters tall and can regulate 30 million cubic meters of water annually. It is capable of producing 1.2 megawatts of electricity, irrigating 3,500 hectares of farmland, and providing 5 million cubic meters of drinking water.

Shah wa Arous Dam in Kabul Officially Opens With Ceremony
read more

Raffaella Iodice: A Legacy of Advocacy for Afghan Women

Media outlets reported that she passed away due to a stroke.

Following the passing of Raffaella Iodice, the former chargé d’affaires of the European Union Delegation to Afghanistan, Josep Borrell Fontelles, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, described her as an inspiring example of commitment to the rights and dignity of Afghan women.

Media outlets reported that she passed away due to a stroke.

Josep Borrell said about her: “Her tireless work in Afghanistan changed countless lives, giving voice to those unheard.”

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai also expressed condolences on her passing, stating that she contributed significantly to the Afghan people during her mission.

“Indeed, this woman worked extensively, particularly in advocating for women’s rights. Moreover, she discussed removing some restrictions and was active in other areas, such as media and other initiatives that benefited the country,” said Zaherullah Zaheer, a political analyst.

“The European Union has always sent capable individuals to Afghanistan. She maintained the sensitivities between the Islamic Emirate and Europe, worked hard for women’s rights, and made great efforts regarding European aid to Afghanistan. Therefore, Raffaella Iodice’s activities over two years are commendable, and the Afghan people are grateful,” said Salim Paigir, another political analyst.

Meanwhile, the European Union Delegation in Kabul expressed sorrow over the passing of Raffaella Iodice, stating that she was “a true friend of Afghanistan, a champion of women & girls.”

During her mission, Raffaella Iodice traveled to various provinces in Afghanistan. In addition to meeting Afghan women and girls, she engaged in discussions with officials of the Islamic Emirate, calling for the removal of restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan.

On May 1 of this year, Raffaella Iodice also visited TOLOnews and acknowledged the important role of media in the country. During her visit to TOLOnews, she said: “We have not forgotten you, and we appreciate your work. TOLOnews is the voice of today’s Afghanistan and its people. You are the future of a better Afghanistan. Thank you for staying here and fighting.”

The EU Delegation to Afghanistan announced on Sunday that Raffaella Iodice had died. She had assumed the position of chargé d’affaires of the European Union Delegation in Kabul in September 2022. Her mission as the EU diplomat in Afghanistan concluded at the end of August this year.

Following Raffaella Iodice, Veronika Bošković Pohar has begun her work as the new chargé d’affaires of the European Union Delegation in Afghanistan.

Raffaella Iodice: A Legacy of Advocacy for Afghan Women
read more

David Page obituary

William Crawley

David had been the first editor of the BBC Pashto language service that was set up in 1981 following the Soviet invasion and occupation of Afghanistan. There was no teaching post in a British university at that time, and David worked with a retired Pakistani army officer and experienced linguist in recruiting staff and guiding choices of language and dialect for a service that was to attract a large audience as a reliable source of news and information.

Its popularity was boosted by a radio soap opera broadcast in Pashto and Dari (Afghan Persian) inspired by The Archers and called New Home, New Life, which won a large audience among refugees in Pakistan and throughout Afghanistan and is still on air 30 years later.

Born in Derby, David was the son of Ena (nee Draper), a PA, and Kenneth Page, a manager at the Rolls-Royce aircraft engine factory in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire. David went to Loughborough grammar school and then Merton College, Oxford. After graduating with a first in history in the mid-1960s he worked as a volunteer teacher at Edwardes college in Peshawar, Pakistan. His doctoral thesis on politics in pre-1947 Punjab, published as Prelude to Partition (1982), is still in print.

After 22 years at the BBC he devoted his energies to development work in Afghanistan. As a trustee, and for 10 years chairman, of the charity Afghanaid he helped in turning its focus from relief to development projects in some of the poorest rural provinces.

It is one of the leading NGOs, supporting Afghan families and promoting adaptation to climate change. Retaining his close interest in the broadcast and print media in south Asia, David collaborated in writing and editing books or monographs in this field, including Embattled Media: Democracy, Governance and Reform in Sri Lanka (2014). He had an acute mind and a great sense of humour and capacity for friendship.

Since 2016, David played a leading role in establishing a partnership of civil society organisations that has argued strongly for the Commonwealth to take action to ensure that the media is protected by law to report freely.

That alliance of professional groups includes organisations of Commonwealth journalists, lawyers, parliamentarians and human rights advocates, along with London University’s Institute of Commonwealth Studies, of which David was a senior research fellow. Weeks after his death the Commonwealth principles on freedom of expression, and the role of the media in good governance, were adopted by heads of government at their summit meeting in Samoa in October.

David is survived by his partner, Ruth Kirk Wilson, whom he met at Oxford, and his sister, Janet.

David Page obituary
read more

The Taliban say they will close all NGOs employing Afghan women

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Taliban say they will close all national and foreign nongovernmental groups in Afghanistan employing women. It comes two years after they told NGOs to suspend the employment of Afghan women, allegedly because they didn’t wear the Islamic headscarf correctly.

In a letter published on X Sunday night, the Economy Ministry warned that failure to comply with the latest order would lead to NGOs losing their license to operate in Afghanistan.

The ministry said it was responsible for the registration, coordination, leadership and supervision of all activities carried out by national and foreign organizations.

The government was once again ordering the stoppage of all female work in institutions not controlled by the Taliban, according to the letter.

“In case of lack of cooperation, all activities of that institution will be canceled and the activity license of that institution, granted by the ministry, will also be canceled.”

It’s the Taliban’s latest attempt to control or intervene in NGO activity.

Earlier this month, the U.N. Security Council heard that an increasing proportion of female Afghan humanitarian workers were prevented from doing their work even though relief work remains essential.

The Taliban deny they are stopping aid agencies from carrying out their work or interfering with their activities.

They have already barred women from many jobs and most public spaces, and also excluded them from education beyond sixth grade.

In another development, the Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has ordered that buildings should not have windows looking into places where a woman might sit or stand.

According to a four-clause decree posted on X late Saturday, the order applies to new buildings as well as existing ones.

Windows should not overlook or look into areas like yards or kitchens. Where a window looks into such a space then the person responsible for that property must find a way to obscure this view to “remove harm,” by installing a wall, fence or screen.

Municipalities and other authorities must supervise the construction of new buildings to avoid installing windows that look into or over residential properties, the decree added.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing was not immediately available for comment on Akhundzada’s instructions.

The Taliban say they will close all NGOs employing Afghan women
read more

Kam Air banned from European Airspace

Khaama Press
Privately-owned airline Kam Air

Reports indicate that the European Union has added the airline “Kam Air” to the list of carriers banned from operating in its airspace.

The European Union recently published a list of 129 airlines from various countries that are not permitted to fly within European airspace.

At least one airline from Afghanistan is included in this list. Kam Air has not yet commented on its loss of flight rights within the European Union.

According to the European Union’s website, these airlines have been prohibited from flying in its airspace because they are deemed “unsafe.”

The European Union further explained that assessing and reviewing the safety of airlines helps to improve the safety of international air travel.

It is noteworthy that the European Union updates this list every three months.

This move by the European Union highlights its ongoing commitment to ensuring high safety standards in international aviation. By regularly updating its list of banned airlines, the EU seeks to mitigate risks and protect passengers traveling to and from its member states.

For airlines, especially those from developing regions like Afghanistan, this decision underscores the importance of maintaining international safety certifications. Without such compliance, airlines risk losing vital market access, which could significantly impact their operations and reputation.

Kam Air banned from European Airspace
read more

UNICEF treats 475,000 malnourished children in Afghanistan

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced that in 2024, it has treated over 475,000 malnourished children in Afghanistan.

On Monday, December 30, UNICEF stated in a message on its X/Twitter page, emphasizing that children suffering from malnutrition in Afghanistan require nutritious food.

The report states that these services have been distributed across 3,300 of the organization’s service points in Afghanistan.

This comes at a time when several international aid organizations have raised alarms about the increasing number of vulnerable people in Afghanistan, including children suffering from malnutrition.

According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, currently, 3.2 million children under the age of five and 840,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women in Afghanistan are suffering from severe malnutrition.

Previously, UNICEF reported that over one million malnourished children in Afghanistan were examined in September of this year.

The World Health Organization has warned that due to the growing poverty and hunger, a significant number of children in Afghanistan are at risk of malnutrition.

As the crisis deepens, international organizations and humanitarian aid groups continue to call for urgent action to address the growing humanitarian needs. Without sustained support and intervention, the situation for vulnerable children and families in Afghanistan may worsen further, making long-term recovery more difficult.

UNICEF treats 475,000 malnourished children in Afghanistan
read more

Over 1 Million Afghan Migrants Returned in 9 Months: Ministry

Some migrants who have returned from Pakistan are also seeking government support to provide them with jobs and basic amenities.

The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation said that in the past nine months, more than one million Afghan migrants have returned to Afghanistan, either forcibly or voluntarily, from neighboring countries.

Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, the spokesperson for the ministry, stated that of this number, over 90,000 people returned from Pakistan, around 17,000 from Turkey, and the rest from Iran.

“In the past nine months, from the beginning of Hamal to the end of Qaws, over one million Afghans have returned to the country from neighboring countries, either forcibly or voluntarily. Of this number, nearly 93,000 came from Pakistan, around 17,000 from Turkey, and the remainder from Iran.”One of the families recently returning from Iran to Kabul shared their struggles of life in migration.

“For three years, I lived in Iran with my family as a migrant. Last Tuesday, we were arrested and taken to a camp. After that, I contacted my family. Since we had no guardian, I had to bring my family back with me,” said Visal, a migrant who returned from Iran.

Some migrants who have returned from Pakistan are also seeking government support to provide them with jobs and basic amenities.

“The government of Pakistan created many problems for us. They did not allow us to work in the markets. Now we are very happy to have returned to our homeland,” Parwiz, a migrant who returned from Pakistan.

“Life there was very difficult, and it was impossible to continue. Now that we are in Afghanistan, we have no job or livelihood. We ask the government to provide us with work and facilities,” said Hussain, another returnee from Pakistan.

“Young people returning from abroad to Afghanistan should be provided with employment opportunities in the country,” said Ehsanullah Ahmadzai, a migrant rights activist.

Previously, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that in 2024, more than 1.2 million Afghan migrants had returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan and Iran.

Over 1 Million Afghan Migrants Returned in 9 Months: Ministry
read more

Concerns Raised Over Economic Consequences of Women’s Work Ban

These activists have urged the Islamic Emirate to lift restrictions on women’s education and employment.

Some women’s rights activists, in response to the suspension of women’s work in non-governmental organizations, told TOLOnews that banning women from work exacerbates economic challenges.

These activists have urged the Islamic Emirate to lift restrictions on women’s education and employment.

“Our consistent demand from the Islamic Emirate is to address the rights of all citizens of the country, especially Afghan women. They must reopen closed doors to education, higher education, and employment as soon as possible and pay attention to women’s demands,” said Tafsir Siyahposh, a women’s rights activist.

Meanwhile, economic analysts said that banning women from work will create challenges in delivering aid to women in remote areas of the country.

“Women constitute a significant portion of Afghanistan’s population. If they are removed from NGOs and institutions, systems should be established in their homes so they can support themselves and their families,” Shams Rahman Ahmadzai, an economic analyst, told TOLOnews.

“This is while a letter on the matter has been made public by the Ministry of Economy. The ministry stated that women working in UN organizations are exempt from this directive because the licenses for UN institutions are issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” Qutbuddin Yaqubi, another economic analyst, told TOLOnews.

Abdul Rahman Habib, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Economy, said that currently 853 non-governmental organizations, including 175 foreign and 678 domestic organizations, are operating in the country.

The spokesperson told TOLOnews: “At present, there are a total of 853 non-Emirate (non-governmental) NGOs, including 175 foreign and 678 domestic organizations, whose budgets for individual projects are registered in the Ministry of Economy’s system, and they operate in various sectors with project-based activities.”

On Sunday, the Ministry of Economy once again issued an order to stop women from working in non-governmental organizations. The ministry stressed that if these organizations do not cooperate in this regard, all their activities will be suspended, and the licenses they have obtained from the ministry will be revoked.

Concerns Raised Over Economic Consequences of Women’s Work Ban
read more

Ignoring Warnings, a Growing Band of Tourists Venture to Afghanistan

Ignoring Warnings, a Growing Band of Tourists Venture to Afghanistan
read more

Religious Scholars Voice Support for Islamic Emirate’s Window Regulations

Some of these scholars consider this decree important and effective in preventing potential harm to women.

A number of religious scholars in the country have welcomed the leader of the Islamic Emirate’s decree on regulations to prevent the construction of windows in buildings facing towards neighbors.

Some of these scholars consider this decree important and effective in preventing potential harm to women.

Haseebullah Hanafi, a religious scholar, stated: “This decree is a good initiative because in Kabul, especially in urban areas, tall buildings often cause religious and social discomfort to the people living in the lower buildings.”

Hussein, a resident of Kabul, said: “This is a very important issue, and we also request people to observe it and ensure its practical implementation.”

Previously, the leader of the Islamic Emirate issued a new decree establishing regulations to prevent the construction of windows in buildings facing neighboring homes, especially areas where women reside.
The decree was issued with the aim of “protecting privacy and preventing potential harm to women.”

According to the decree, if someone constructs a building on their property, they are not allowed to install windows facing areas or courtyards of neighboring homes where women are present.

In one part of the decree, the leader of the Islamic Emirate stated: “The builder cannot construct windows facing the neighboring house where women typically cook, where a water well exists, or where women customarily sit.”

Additionally, the decree emphasized that if a window in an existing building violates these regulations, the owner must block the view using a wall or appropriate coverings.

Another section of the decree specifies: “If someone has constructed a window facing the neighboring house, they are required to build a wall of human height or use other means to eliminate the harm to the neighbor.”

Under this decree, municipalities and relevant departments are tasked with preventing the construction of such windows in new buildings and ensuring “strict supervision” over the implementation of these regulations.

Religious Scholars Voice Support for Islamic Emirate’s Window Regulations
read more