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White House: Women suffer under Medieval Laws in Afghanistan

February 21, 2025
Khaama Press

The White House deputy press secretary stated that Afghan women face severe oppression following the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Anna Kelly, deputy press secretary for the White House, has stated that Afghan women are facing severe oppression due to the “disastrous” withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan during Joe Biden’s presidency, leading to the imposition of medieval Taliban policies.

Kelly discussed the impact of the suspension of U.S. foreign aid on the education of Afghan women in an interview with The Washington Post. She stated that the chaotic withdrawal allowed the Taliban to seize control of the country and impose extreme Sharia laws on its citizens.

According to The Washington Post, many educational programs for Afghan women, ranging from online courses to scholarships for studying abroad, have been suspended following the halt of U.S. foreign aid. These programs were often the last hope for thousands of Afghan women and girls who were banned from attending schools and universities after the Taliban regained power.

The suspension of U.S. aid has left these women with little opportunity to pursue their education. Between 2005 and 2019, the U.S. invested approximately $167 million in the American University of Afghanistan. This university, which has now moved to Doha, Qatar, was one of the largest providers of online education for Afghan women.

However, the university announced on its website that its Spring 2025 semester has been suspended, affecting about 700 students. Afghan students hoping to study abroad are also now facing uncertain circumstances. The Asian University for Women in Bangladesh, which had become a lifeline for many Afghan women, has delayed the admission of 330 new students due to the suspension of U.S. aid.

International organizations and human rights groups have expressed deep concern about the future of Afghanistan women’s education. A UN official warned that the Trump administration’s decision to cut off foreign aid could worsen the situation for Afghanistan’s women and girls, effectively denying them access to education.

Donald Trump issued an order to suspend all U.S. foreign aid on his first day as president. This decision has had a wide-reaching impact on humanitarian and educational programs across the globe, with Afghanistan being one of the hardest-hit countries.

The suspension of U.S. foreign aid has not only crippled educational opportunities for Afghanistan’s women but also worsened the broader economic crisis in the country. With the future of Afghanistan women’s education hanging in the balance, there is a growing call for international efforts to reinstate support and safeguard the rights of women and girls in the country.

White House: Women suffer under Medieval Laws in Afghanistan
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12th Herat Security Conference to take place in Spain on February 24-25

February 21, 2025

By Fidel Rahmati

Khaama Press

The 12th Herat Security Conference will be held in three days in Madrid, Spain. This important event will gather international leaders and experts to discuss critical security issues affecting Afghanistan and the broader region.

The Afghanistan Institute for Strategic Studies has announced that the conference will take place on the 24th and 25th of February in Madrid. This marks a significant opportunity for global stakeholders to engage in discussions about Afghanistan’s future and its security challenges.

The theme of the conference is “Afghanistan: Reviving Hope; Synergetic Efforts.” This theme emphasizes the need for collaborative solutions to the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan, aiming to foster hope for a peaceful and stable future for the country.

According to a statement from the Afghanistan Institute for Strategic Studies, the world cannot view Afghanistan merely as a chronic crisis, nor can Afghanistan solely rely on the world for solutions. The statement highlights the importance of internal efforts alongside international support to address the nation’s challenges.

 

It is expected that diplomats, civil society activists, women, and intellectuals from around the world will participate in the conference. These participants will share their expertise and propose solutions to the complex issues that Afghanistan currently faces, particularly its ongoing security concerns.

 

The 11th edition of the Herat Security Dialogue was held last year in Tajikistan. This year’s event in Madrid will continue the tradition of fostering international dialogue on Afghanistan’s future, with a focus on both security and development.

The security situation in Afghanistan remains a pressing concern, with ongoing violence, instability, and the threat of terrorist activities. The international community must prioritize collaborative approaches to address these challenges and support Afghanistan in building a more secure and prosperous future.

12th Herat Security Conference to take place in Spain on February 24-25
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Criticism Mounts as the US Ends Afghan Resettlement Program

February 21, 2025
TOLOnews
TV Network
21 Feb 2025

Meanwhile, Afghan migrants awaiting resettlement in the US have expressed concern over this decision.

The Trump administration’s decision to close the Afghan resettlement office (CARE) has faced widespread criticism.

Shawn VanDiver, the head of AfghanEvac, expressed concern about this move during a press conference and urged the US president to honor commitments regarding the resettlement of Afghans.

“On day one, the administration issued an executive order that brought refugee missionaries in for us, providing them with all the key programs that we were going to have. At the time, we were told that the administration didn’t need a time group. But now we know the truth. The State Department has been directed to draw a plan for a permanent shutdown,” said VanDiver.

Meanwhile, Afghan migrants awaiting resettlement in the US have expressed concern over this decision.

“This situation has increased stress and mental health problems among migrants and has had a negative impact on their social lives,” said Haseena Sarwari, an Afghan migrant.

Humanitarian organizations have also called on the US government to uphold its commitments to Afghan allies.

“It’s been an honor to welcome Afghans who risked their lives for our country and encouraging to see the incredible hospitality of the American people in receiving them. But our work — and America’s moral obligation to these individuals — is not complete, and it would be a disaster,” said Myal Greene, president and CEO of World Relief.

Human rights activists have also reacted to this decision.

“The United States, as a global power and a committed member of international conventions, is obligated to honor its commitments. This is not only a human rights and security issue but also essential support for individuals in crisis who need assistance,” stated Fazel Saberi a human rights activist.

According to Reuters, the US government intends to shut down the Afghan resettlement office (CARE) by April this year—a move that could impact the future of 200,000 Afghan refugees awaiting resettlement in the US.

Criticism Mounts as the US Ends Afghan Resettlement Program
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Rubio: ‘Taliban’ Cooperative with US Against ISIS, But Concerns Remain

February 21, 2025
TOLOnews
TV Network
21 Feb 2025

The US Secretary of State also stressed that America’s concerns are not limited to Afghanistan and mentioned Syria as another security threat.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the Islamic Emirate has, in some instances, cooperated with Washington in eliminating ISIS and Al-Qaeda.

In an interview with an American media outlet, he said that a lack of control over these groups in Afghanistan gives them the opportunity to expand their activities.

Marco Rubio stated: “I think any time you have governing spaces that are contested, that you don’t have a government that has full control of every part of the territory, it creates the opportunity for these groups.”

The US Secretary of State also stressed that America’s concerns are not limited to Afghanistan and mentioned Syria as another security threat.

“In my opinion, this is a baseless claim because, over the past three and a half years, the current government has proven its authority in Afghanistan and has not lost control over even a small portion of its territory. They should clarify which part of the country is outside the government’s control,” said Moeen Gul Samkanai, a political analyst.

“These are just media statements. So far, they have not provided any global proof, nor does such proof exist, to suggest that Afghanistan poses a threat to the world or its neighboring countries,” said Hewad Zazi, another political analyst.

Meanwhile, in a recent statement, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior told TOLOnews that ISIS has been suppressed in Afghanistan and that there are no concerns regarding threats from this group.

Rubio: ‘Taliban’ Cooperative with US Against ISIS, But Concerns Remain
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Democratic Lawmakers criticize Trump’s decision to close Afghan Refugee Office

February 20, 2025
Khaama Press

Dina Titus, Representative of Nevada, and Gregory Meeks, Democratic Member of Congress from New York, have criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to close the Afghan Refugee Resettlement and Relocation Office in the United States, calling it “shameful.”

On Wednesday, February 19, both Democratic representatives responded to reports about the closure of the Afghan refugee resettlement office. Titus, in a tweet, said, “Trump is turning his back on those who risked everything to stand with the U.S., and that is shameful.”

Titus further mentioned that the office had worked to resettle many Afghans who faced security threats and the “Taliban’s danger.” She emphasized the vital role the office played in helping these individuals find safety.

Gregory Meeks, the Democratic Congressman from New York, also stressed that “it is crucial for America’s credibility to remain faithful to our commitment to the Afghans who fought alongside us.”

Recently, Reuters reported, citing sources, that officials at the Afghan relocation office had been warned to prepare for its closure in April 2025. If this happens, at least 200,000 eligible Afghan refugees will be barred from relocating to the U.S.

Meanwhile, Shawn VanDiver, President and Founder of the Afghan Evacuation Support Group “Afghan Evac,” stated that the U.S. State Department is considering plans for the permanent closure of the Afghan resettlement office. However, no final decision has been made yet regarding its closure.

VanDiver referred to the U.S. decision as “a national disgrace” and “a betrayal of Afghan allies,” insisting that the U.S. must honor its commitment to the Afghan veterans who fought for them.

This decision has sparked widespread criticism among U.S. lawmakers and refugee advocates. The closure of the Afghan resettlement office could have severe consequences for thousands of vulnerable refugees, undermining the promises made by the U.S. to its Afghan allies.

Democratic Lawmakers criticize Trump’s decision to close Afghan Refugee Office
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Afghanistan is the most landmine and explosive affected country: ICRC

February 20, 2025
Khaama Press

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has announced that Afghanistan is one of the countries with the highest levels of contamination from landmines and unexploded ordnance.

On Wednesday, February 19, the ICRC wrote on its X page that it has launched various support programs to raise public awareness about the dangers of mines and unexploded munitions.

The Red Cross Committee added that in 2024, it has informed 243,000 people in five regions of Afghanistan about the dangers of mines and explosive materials.

Previously, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Afghanistan announced that 55 civilians are killed or injured every month in Afghanistan due to explosions from explosive materials.

Meanwhile,, the demining organization “Halo Trust” reported that contamination from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Afghanistan has reached over 65 square kilometers.

The organization also emphasized that by the end of 2022, this figure was around 53 square kilometers, and to date, contamination has been identified in 26 provinces of Afghanistan.

These alarming figures highlight the ongoing challenges Afghanistan faces due to war-related remnants, posing a serious threat to public safety and hindering recovery efforts. Continued efforts in awareness and demining are crucial for reducing the risk and ensuring safer environments for civilians.

Afghanistan is the most landmine and explosive affected country: ICRC
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Acting Defense Minister: Intl Engagement Depends on National Interests

February 20, 2025
Mohammad Bashir Soltani
Tolo News
20 Feb 2025

Fasihuddin Fitrat, the chief of staff of the Ministry of Defense, spoke about nationwide security, stating that warlordism has been eliminated in the country.

Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, the acting minister of defense, stressed positive relations with world countries during a ceremony in Kabul today (Thursday).

Speaking at the inauguration of a new section of Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan Hospital, he stated that Afghanistan is part of the world and that the Islamic Emirate is fully prepared for positive engagement with all countries based on national and Islamic interests.

Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid said: “As long as it does not contradict our national interests, we are ready to engage with all countries. We are part of this world and want to live alongside the global community.”

The acting minister also stated that the Islamic Emirate supports domestic professionals and urged Afghans living abroad to return and contribute to Afghanistan’s reconstruction.

He said: “Our request is that they return to their country and serve the people. It is true that salaries are higher there, facilities are better, and life is more comfortable. We also understand that some may have concerns, but this is a great goal.”

Meanwhile, Fasihuddin Fitrat, the chief of staff of the Ministry of Defense, spoke about nationwide security, stating that warlordism has been eliminated in the country.

Fasihuddin Fitrat further stated: “There are those who fought against the world’s greatest powers for twenty years, and today they have the capability to fully defend Afghanistan. We have proven this in practice—whoever rises against us anywhere in Afghanistan has been crushed on the spot.”

Officials from the Ministry of Defense announced that the new section of Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan Hospital, which was previously used as a military base by NATO forces under the former government, has been transformed into a fully equipped 100-bed hospital at a cost of two billion afghani.

Acting Defense Minister: Intl Engagement Depends on National Interests
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Fitrat: Islamic Emirate ‘Not Obligated’ to Adhere to Rome Statute

February 20, 2025
TOLOnews
TV Network
20 Feb 2025

The Islamic Emirate also declared that Afghanistan’s previous government’s accession to this statute lacks legal validity.

The Islamic Emirate has stated in a declaration that as a system safeguarding the religious and national values of Afghans, it is not bound by the provisions of the Rome Statute.

In its statement, the Islamic Emirate described the approach of the International Criminal Court (ICC) as politically motivated, silent in the face of oppression, and failing to act against countries that have committed war crimes.

The Islamic Emirate also declared that Afghanistan’s previous government’s accession to this statute lacks legal validity.

Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, said: “Membership in it is unnecessary. Considering the mentioned points, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan officially announces that it is not obligated to comply with this statute, and the past government’s accession to it has no legal validity.”

The statement further asserted that one of the fundamental reasons for rejecting this statute by the Islamic Emirate is the ICC’s inaction against countries that have committed war crimes in Afghanistan.

“The International Criminal Court is a staged court, meaning it is used by major powers against countries like Afghanistan. If they truly want to investigate human rights violations, they should examine the war crimes committed by the US and NATO in Afghanistan,” said Salim Paigir, a political analyst.

“Afghanistan condemns such decisions and courts, and the managers and leaders of this court should be prosecuted themselves because they have ignored countless crimes committed around the world,” said Fazl Rahman Oria, another political analyst.

Previously, the ICC had requested the arrest of the leader of the Islamic Emirate and the head of the Supreme Court of the caretaker government—a matter strongly condemned by the Islamic Emirate.

Fitrat: Islamic Emirate ‘Not Obligated’ to Adhere to Rome Statute
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Baradar Calls on Countries to Abandon Pressure Tactics

February 20, 2025
Mohammad Bashir Soltani
Tolo News
20 Feb 2025

According to Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, pressure tactics not only fail to facilitate engagement but also drive nations and countries further apart.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the deputy prime minister for economic affairs, has urged the international community in a speech in Kabul to abandon the policy of exerting pressure and instead engage in positive interaction with the caretaker government.

According to Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, pressure tactics not only fail to facilitate engagement but also drive nations and countries further apart.

The deputy prime minister for economic affairs stated that the political and economic relations of the caretaker government with global nations are expanding.

He further said: “I call on the countries of the world to cease their economic and political pressures on our country, as this benefits no one. History has proven that pressure does not foster engagement and relations; rather, it pushes nations and countries further apart.”

Previously, officials of the caretaker government have repeatedly emphasized the necessity of establishing good relations with other countries.

Human rights issues, the formation of an inclusive government, and the fulfillment of the Islamic Emirate’s commitments under the Doha Agreement are among the conditions set by the international community, especially Western nations, for normalizing relations with the caretaker government.

“Now is the time for countries to pave the way for positive engagement with the Islamic Emirate, considering mutual interests,” Moeen Gul Samkanai, a political analyst, told TOLOnews.

Over the past three years, the Islamic Emirate has managed to expand its relations with regional and neighboring countries. Some of these nations have officially accepted Islamic Emirate ambassadors; however, no country has yet announced the formal recognition of Afghanistan’s caretaker government.

Baradar Calls on Countries to Abandon Pressure Tactics
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Taliban confirm Pakistan’s new plan for swift mass eviction of Afghan refugees  

February 20, 2025
By Ayaz Gul
February 19, 2025

FILE – Afghanistan’s minister for refugees Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani, center, looks on as he arrives to inspect a refugee camp near the Afghanistan-Pakistan Torkham border in Nangarhar province on Nov. 2, 2023.

Islamabad — Diplomats from Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban reported Wednesday that neighboring Pakistan is implementing a plan for the “imminent” and swift mass deportation of nearly three million Afghan refugees from its territory.

The Taliban-operated embassy in Islamabad issued the statement, ending days of uncertainty about an ongoing police crackdown to arrest and remove Afghan citizens, including legal refugees, from the Pakistani capital and the adjoining city of Rawalpindi.

The Afghan diplomatic mission stated that Pakistan did not formally notify Kabul about its latest refugee deportation plans. It added that several attempts were made through diplomatic channels to seek clarification from the host government regarding the reasons behind the detentions and removals of Afghan nationals from the two cities.

“Ultimately, officials from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that there is a definitive and final plan to deport/remove all Afghan refugees not only from Islamabad and Rawalpindi but also from the entire country in the near future,” the Wednesday statement noted.

The Taliban reaction comes nearly three weeks after Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved a multistage plan targeting the Afghan refugee population in the country. They include more than 1.4 million legally declared refugees with UNHCR-granted proof of registration cards, or PoRs, who have been granted permission by Pakistan to remain in the country until June 30, 2025.

The rest of the population in question comprises nearly 900,000 documented economic migrants holding the Afghan Citizenship Card (ACC), an estimated 40,000 awaiting promised relocation to the United States or other Western countries, and individuals living in Pakistan without legal status or having exceeded their visa duration.

The Taliban embassy stated Wednesday that Pakistani officials informed it that only Afghan nationals with valid legal visas would be permitted to reside in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

“They further stated that the government has decided to immediately remove all Afghan refugees, including those holding ACC and PoR cards, from Islamabad and Rawalpindi and that their expulsion from the entire country is imminent,” the statement added.

The UNHCR has meanwhile also confirmed that the Pakistani government plans to relocate all Afghan refugees out of Islamabad and Rawalpindi by February 28, except for holders of valid visas.

The Afghan embassy noted that it expressed “serious concerns” to Islamabad and international organizations regarding “the mass expulsion of Afghan refugees within such a short timeframe and the unilateral nature of Pakistan’s decision.”

The spokesperson for the Pakistani Foreign Ministry rejected the Taliban embassy’s claims of mistreatment of Afghan nationals during the repatriation process as misplaced. “In this connection, we also extensively engaged the Afghan side to ensure smooth repatriation of Afghan nationals,” Shafqat Ali Khan stated in a brief statement.

The deportation plan, seen by VOA, requires authorities to relocate around 40,000 Afghans out of Islamabad and Rawalpindi by March 31 and subsequently arrange for their repatriation to Afghanistan if their relocation and resettlement cases to third countries are not processed expeditiously. These individuals fled their country after the Taliban militarily recaptured its control in 2021, primarily seeking shelter from potential retribution due to their affiliations with the U.S. and NATO forces.

Last month, President Donald Trump halted the U.S. Refugee Admission Program to assess whether reinstating it serves the interests of Washington, stranding thousands of Afghan allies in Pakistan approved for, or being evaluated for, relocation to the U.S.

The UNHCR says that more than 825,000 undocumented Afghans have already been forcibly repatriated from Pakistan since 2023, resulting from a government crackdown on foreigners living in the country without legal permission or whose visas had expired.

Islamabad has defended the crackdown, attributing a recent rise in crime in Pakistan and increased militancy to Afghan nationals.

Taliban confirm Pakistan’s new plan for swift mass eviction of Afghan refugees  
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