Taliban raise death toll to 6 in gun attack on Western tourists

May 19, 2024

By Ayaz Gul

Voice of America

UPDATE 

ISLAMABAD — The Taliban government said Saturday that the death toll from an overnight gun attack on Western tourists in central Afghanistan had risen to at least six, including three Spaniards.

Interior Ministry spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qani said in a video statement that the Friday evening shooting in Bamiyan city by unknown assailants left three Afghans dead.

He said that four foreigners and three Afghans were among those wounded. Qani said that Taliban security forces had apprehended seven suspects in connection with the attack, reiterating his government’s resolve to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Spain’s government confirmed the fatalities of its three nationals, saying another was among the injured tourists.

The Spanish foreign ministry said Saturday a group of its diplomats was traveling to the Afghan capital, Kabul, to assist Spaniards affected by the attack.

On Friday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez posted on X that he was “shocked by the news of the murder of Spanish tourists in Afghanistan.”

Nationals from Norway, Australia and Lithuania were also among the group of foreigners that were targeted by gunmen.

EMERGENCY, an international humanitarian organization, said in a statement Saturday that five wounded people were being treated in its Kabul surgical hospital, and “all patients are now stable.”

It stated that the “group consists of nationals from Spain, Lithuania, Norway, Australia, and Afghanistan.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the deadly shooting.

A spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy at the European Union condemned the armed attack against the tourists visiting Bamiyan.

“Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the victims who lost their lives and those injured in the attack,” Nabila Massrali said in a statement Friday.

The United States said it was “deeply saddened to hear about the shooting attack” in Bamiyan. “Our thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones. Violence is not the answer,” Thomas West, the U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan, said on X.

Friday’s attack on foreign tourists was the first of its kind since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021.

According to the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Bamiyan, one of the poorest regions in impoverished Afghanistan, is a popular destination for foreign tourists because it contains Buddhist monastic ensembles and sanctuaries.

The scenic city was also the spot where the Taliban destroyed two large Buddha statues in March 2001 during their previous rule in Afghanistan. The group said the statues were blasphemous under Islam.

Taliban raise death toll to 6 in gun attack on Western tourists
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Tribal Jirga in Paktia Brokers Ceasefire Along Durand Line

May 19, 2024
TOLOnews
TV Network
18 May 2024, 7:37 PM

The jirga called on both sides to ensure the safety of civilians during any clashes.

After four days of clashes along the Durand Line in Paktia, a ceasefire has been reached through the mediation of tribal elders from both sides, bringing the fighting to an end.

Members of this joint jirga have stated that, after a week, the tribal elders from both sides agreed to form a 40-member committee to address issues arising on both sides of the Durand Line.

This jirga was held in the Dand-e-Patan district with the participation of senior officials from the Islamic Emirate and the Pakistani side. It was decided that the route for commercial activities would also be reopened.

Mohammad Anwar Sediqi, a tribal elder, said: “A joint meeting was held between the officials of the Islamic Emirate and Pakistan, and the outcome was shared. Three main issues were discussed: first, a ceasefire was declared; second, the road will be reopened.”

Wali Mohammad, another tribal elder, said: “An agreement was reached between the governments and tribes that we will no longer fight and will not allow any opportunities for conflict.”

The jirga called on both sides to ensure the safety of civilians during any clashes.

Khial Mohammad Samkani, a tribal elder, said: “Discussions took place between the governments, and we, the tribes from both sides, wanted to understand what this conflict was about and who was harmed.”

It has been reported that since last Monday, clashes between the forces of the Islamic Emirate and Pakistani soldiers occurred in the Aryob Zazi and Dand-e-Patan districts, resulting in the deaths of five civilians and injuries to five others due to rocket fire from Pakistan, causing significant financial losses to local residents.

Tribal Jirga in Paktia Brokers Ceasefire Along Durand Line
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Flash floods due to unusually heavy seasonal rains kill at least 68 people in Afghanistan

May 19, 2024
BY RAHIM FAIEZ
Associated Press
Updated 12:33 PM EDT, May 18, 2024

 

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Flash floods from heavy seasonal rains have killed at least 68 people in Afghanistan, Taliban officials said Saturday, adding the death toll was based on preliminary reports.

Afghanistan has been witnessing unusually heavy seasonal rains.

In the hard-hit western province of Ghor, 50 people were reported dead, said Abdul Wahid Hamas, spokesman for the provincial governor. He also said the province has suffered significant financial losses after thousands of homes and properties were damaged and hundreds of hectares of agricultural land destroyed following Friday’s floods, including the capital city Feroz Koh.

Meanwhile, 18 people in the northern province of Farayab were killed and two others injured on Friday, according to Esmatullah Moradi, the provincial governor’s spokesman. Damages to property and land were reported across four districts and over 300 animals were killed, he added.

The Taliban’s government chief spokesman mourned “the loss of our fellow Afghans,” and urged “responsible authorities … to provide all necessary support to alleviate the suffering,” in a post on X. He also called on “our benevolent donors” to help and humanitarian organizations to provide the affected communities with aid.

Last week, WFP said the exceptionally heavy rains in Afghanistan have killed more than 300 people and destroyed thousands of houses, mostly in the northern province of Baghlan, which bore the brunt of floods on May 10th.

Survivors have been left with no home, no land, and no source of livelihood, the World Food Organization said. Most of Baghlan is “inaccessible by trucks,” said WFP, adding that it is resorting to every alternative it can think of to deliver food to the survivors

The latest disaster came on the heels of devastating floods that killed at least 70 people in April. The waters also destroyed about 2,000 homes, three mosques and four schools in western Farah and Herat, and southern Zabul and Kandahar provinces.

 

Flash floods due to unusually heavy seasonal rains kill at least 68 people in Afghanistan
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The Azadi Briefing: New Leaks Reveal The Luxury Dubai Properties Of Ex-Afghan Officials

May 19, 2024

By Abubakar Siddique

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

May 17, 2024. 12:26 GMT

Dubai’s lax regulations make it an attractive market for investments by alleged criminals, struggling politicians, and sanctioned individuals.

Welcome to The Azadi Briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter that unpacks the key issues in Afghanistan. 

I’m Abubakar Siddique, senior correspondent at RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi. Here’s what I’ve been tracking and what I’m keeping an eye on in the days ahead.

The Key Issue

Leaked data has revealed that some officials of the former Western-backed Afghan government own luxury properties in Dubai.

The Dubai Unlocked project, a joint investigation by more than 70 media outlets, named 10 ex-officials or their relatives as holders of multimillion-dollar apartments, houses, or villas in Dubai.

They include former parliament speaker Mir Rahman Rahmani and his son, Ajmal Rahmani. The pair own more than $15 million in real estate in Dubai, according to the documents.

Others named in the leaks include ex-intelligence chief Asadullah Khalid, who owns a villa worth around $5.4 million, and the brother and son of Mohammad Qasim Fahim, the late former defense minister and vice president, who own luxury properties worth more than $4.6 million.

Former ministers Amirzai Sangin, Atiqullah Baryalai, Ratib Popal, a cousin of ex-President Hamid Karzai, and former Ambassador Ahmad Wali Masud also own expensive Dubai properties, according to the leaks.

Why It’s Important: After the U.S.-led invasion in 2001 that toppled the first Taliban regime, Washington allocated billions of dollars for the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Many ex-Afghan officials and U.S. contractors, some of them members of the new Afghan political elite, were accused of skimming some of those funds.

The Dubai Unlocked project has revealed that at least some of them purchased luxury properties in the United Arab Emirates.

The leaks have put the spotlight on the widespread corruption that was endemic under former Afghan administrations.

“Corruption was one of the factors that led to the collapse of the republic,” Khan Zaman Amarkhel, an Afghan anti-corruption expert, told RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi.

What’s Next: It is unclear if all the former U.S. contractors and Afghan officials named in the leaks and accused of corruption will be held accountable.

In December, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned the Rahmanis for “misappropriation of millions of dollars.”

In January, the Rahmanis filed a lawsuit in Washington, D.C. But in April, a court rejected their efforts to lift the Treasury sanctions until the case was settled.

The lawsuit revealed that the Rahmanis continue to hold Cypriot passports and own more than $212 million worth of real estate in Germany.

What To Keep An Eye On

The emergency situation in areas of Afghanistan hit by flash floods that have killed hundreds of people remains dire, according to rescuers and aid organizations.

Relief efforts have been hampered by the floods, which have made many roads inaccessible to trucks transporting food, medicine, and tents.

Twenty-five of the country’s 34 provinces have been affected by the recent floods, which were triggered by heavy rains on May 10. The northern province of Baghlan, where more than 300 people have died, remains the worst-affected region.

Some of the flood victims in Baghlan said they have received little help.

They include the family of Mohammad Alam, a resident of Baghlan. “The flood didn’t last long, but it came over me like a mountain,” he told Radio Azadi. “It took my son and wife. We have lost a total of six people.”

Why It’s Important: Thousands of people continue to be displaced and urgently need food, shelter, and medicine.

International groups and Taliban officials have warned that the death toll could rise significantly. Hundreds of people are missing and feared dead.

The flash floods have exacerbated the devastating humanitarian crisis in the country, making thousands of people homeless and robbing many in agricultural areas of their livelihoods.

That’s all from me for now.

The Azadi Briefing: New Leaks Reveal The Luxury Dubai Properties Of Ex-Afghan Officials
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Atlantic Council Suggests Conflict Prevention Mechanism for Afghanistan

May 18, 2024
TOLOnews
TV Network
18 May 2024

The council described regional efforts to prevent conflict, including regional meetings on Afghanistan, as temporary and ineffective.

The Atlantic Council presented recommendations to the UN Secretary-General for preventing conflict in Afghanistan, urging the UN to establish a conflict prevention mechanism led by the UN Special Representative.

In its recommendations, the council noted that since the “Taliban’s” rule in Afghanistan, the country’s relations with its neighbors have reached a critical point due to issues related to drugs, terrorism, and water.

The council pointed to issues such as water-related matters, drugs, the maneuvers of terrorist groups including the re-establishment of al-Qaeda, TTP attacks on Pakistan, and the increasing complexity of ISIS-Khorasan’s attacks, which have strained Afghanistan’s relations with its neighbors.

The council described regional efforts to prevent conflict, including regional meetings on Afghanistan, as temporary and ineffective.

“Afghanistan’s neighbors have different concerns, for example, the northern neighbors are worried about ISIS; however, we have repeatedly witnessed that the Islamic Emirate has dismissed these concerns,” said Zakiullah Mohammadi, a university scholar.

The Atlantic Council titled its recommendations: “Establish a UN conflict prevention mechanism for the Afghanistan region” and added that this mechanism should include a UN Special Representative, a UN Preventive Diplomacy Center for the Afghanistan region led by the Special Envoy, and a regional advisory council with Afghanistan’s neighbors, including Pakistan, Iran, China, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

“The appointment of a UN Special Representative for Afghanistan is essential, and we hope that the current rulers of Afghanistan will show flexibility and allow this to happen because it is in Afghanistan’s interest,” said Najib Rahman Shamal, a political analyst.

So far, the Islamic Emirate has not commented on the recommendations but has consistently denied the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan and considered the appointment of a UN Special Representative for Afghanistan unnecessary.

Atlantic Council Suggests Conflict Prevention Mechanism for Afghanistan
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Killing of Tourists in Bamyan Sparks Intl Reactions

May 18, 2024
Naweed Samadi
Tolo News
18 May 2024

The president of Spain also expressed sorrow over the death of Spanish citizens in Afghanistan.

Yesterday’s armed attack on civilians and foreign tourists in Bamyan has elicited both domestic and international reactions.

The former president of Afghanistan and the former chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation condemned the attack. The president of Spain also expressed sorrow over the death of Spanish citizens in Afghanistan and mentioned ongoing efforts to assist those affected and to investigate the incident.

Hamid Karzai, the former president of Afghanistan, wrote: “I condemn the armed attack in Bamyan, which resulted in the deaths of three Spanish citizens and one of our compatriots, and injured several other foreign tourists and civilians. This is a terrorist incident.”

Abdullah Abdullah, the former chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, wrote: “According to international law and the accepted customs of the Afghan people, targeting foreign tourists and civilian citizens is condemnable and reprehensible.”

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the U.S. special representative, the chargé d’affaires of the U.S. embassy for Afghanistan, the European Union, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Japanese embassy for Afghanistan also condemned the attack.

The United Nations representative in Afghanistan wrote on X: “UNAMA is deeply shocked and appalled by the deadly terrorist attack on unarmed civilians and tourists in Bamyan, central Afghanistan.”

Thomas West, the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan, reacted to the attack by stating: “The United States is deeply saddened to hear about the shooting attack in Bamiyan, which killed and wounded Afghan civilians and foreign nationals. Our thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones. Violence is not the answer.”

Nasser Kanaani, the spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said: “We condemn yesterday’s (Friday) terrorist act in Bamyan, Afghanistan, against foreign tourists and ordinary citizens.”

Saaduddin Saeed, the deputy minister of tourism for the Ministry of Information and Culture, told TOLOnews: “This was a group of 13 foreign tourists, including 8 from Spain, along with Afghans and people from other countries. An Afghan company had brought them as a group.”

Kamran Aman, a military analyst, said: “This attack was deliberately carried out to show the world that Afghanistan is an unstable country and to prove that the lives of tourists and foreigners in Afghanistan are at risk.”

Zalmai Afghanyar, another military analyst, said: “The aim of this attack is to create a rift between Afghanistan and the international community and to share Afghanistan’s horrifying image with the world.”

In the armed attack on Friday in Bamyan, six people, including three Spanish citizens and three civilians, were killed, and seven others, including three Afghans and four foreign citizens, were injured.

Killing of Tourists in Bamyan Sparks Intl Reactions
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Sayed Amin Hamta
Tolo News
18 May 2024
According to local officials, four of the injured foreign tourists are women.
The Ministry of Interior reports that the death toll from yesterday's (Friday) armed attack in Bamyan has risen to six. Abdul Mateen Qani, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, also stated that seven people have been arrested in connection with this incident. Qani said: "Unknown armed individuals opened fire on civilians in the center of Bamyan city. Unfortunately, in this incident, three Afghan citizens and three foreign tourists lost their lives, and three Afghan citizens and four foreign tourists were injured. The Ministry of Interior, while condemning this criminal act, assures that the incident will be thoroughly investigated, and the perpetrators will be identified and brought to justice." The armed attack on civilians and foreign citizens occurred around 6 PM on Friday in the Bamyan city market. So far, no individual or group has claimed responbility for the attack. According to local officials, four of the injured foreign tourists are women. Abdul Razaq, who lost a relative and whose brother was injured in the attack, called on the interim government: "My brother has a shoe shop here. He was standing here when the incident occurred, and unfortunately, he was injured in the leg, and one of our family members was killed in this incident." Abdul Ali Shafaq, a resident of Bamyan, told TOLOnews: "Our expectation from the Islamic Emirate is that such incidents should not be repeated, and they should work on ensuring the security of both foreign and domestic citizens." Meanwhile, the relatives of the victims have called on local authorities to arrest and prosecute those responsible for this incident.

Six People Killed in Bamiyan Shooting

Women in Afghanistan struggle with soaring mental health issues: Report

May 17, 2024
Khaama Press

Officials from the Mental Health Department of the Herat Regional Hospital have reported a concerning increase in the number of women suffering from mental illnesses.

According to the report, at least eighty per cent of those seeking help at the Herat Psychotherapy Hospital are women and girls.

According to a United Nations report, since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, women in Afghanistan have been grappling with deep and increasing psychological issues.

A doctor at the Herat psychotherapy hospital, who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons, said: “Every day, 100 people come to the Herat psychotherapy centre, and 80 per cent of them are women.”

Sources at the Herat Regional Hospital say that they have cared for 400 people in a month, but the number of patients is increasing daily.

Economic problems, domestic violence, a bleak future, and restricted educational and employment opportunities under the Taliban regime are cited as factors contributing to the rise in women’s mental illnesses.

With the Taliban’s return to power, women face widespread restrictions. Girls are prevented from attending schools and universities, and women are barred from working.

Since the Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan, they have prohibited girls from attending school beyond the sixth grade. This restriction has contributed to mental health issues among young girls, leaving them with a bleak future.

Additionally, the severe humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan has pressured families into consenting to underage marriages. Reports indicate a significant increase in the incidence of such marriages across the country.

Women are concerned that in such a situation, the Taliban regime in Afghanistan might be recognized.

Women in Afghanistan struggle with soaring mental health issues: Report
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UNDP: 73% of Afghan women face travel restrictions without male escort

May 17, 2024
Khaama Press

The United Nations Development Programme has published a report on the resilience of women entrepreneurs in Afghanistan, stating that 73% of Afghan women face travel restrictions without a mahram or male escort.

The detailed report by the United Nations Development Programme, titled “Listening to Afghanistan’s Women Entrepreneurs; Their Resilience and Struggle,” was released on Thursday.

This report is based on interviews with 3,100 women and group discussions.

The organization noted that 73 women interviewed said that without a male family member, they could not even go to local markets in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

According to the organization, requiring women to travel with a male family member places an additional burden on women and doubles travel costs for women entrepreneurs.

The report states that women entrepreneurs in Afghanistan face numerous obstacles, including discrimination, operational restrictions, and a severely weak financial system.

The UNDP wrote that the restrictions on women’s mobility exacerbate the challenges women entrepreneurs face.

According to the report, in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, where 15.8 million people need humanitarian aid and women’s employment has halved to 6%, entrepreneurship has emerged as a lifeline.

The UN has reported that according to their discussions, 80 women-led companies rely on their businesses as their sole source of income and have created job opportunities for other women.

Over the past nearly three years, the Taliban have imposed extensive restrictions on women in various areas, including education, work, and travel.

UNDP: 73% of Afghan women face travel restrictions without male escort
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China, Pakistan Emphasize Inclusive Political Framework in Afghanistan

May 17, 2024
TOLOnews
TV Network
17 May 2024
Pakistan and China, in a joint statement, called for coordinated international efforts to help Afghanistan address its economic development challenges and encouraged Afghanistan to establish an inclusive political framework.

Adopting moderate policies, pursuing good neighborly relations, and resolutely combating terrorism, as well as preventing terrorist activities from Afghan soil, are other points emphasized in this statement.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate has not yet commented on this joint statement.

“The agreement between Pakistan and China regarding strengthening relations and coordination concerning Afghanistan is a good move, provided that coordination also involves the people and the current government of Afghanistan,” said Aziz Maarej, a political analyst.

The two sides have agreed to play a positive and constructive role in helping Afghanistan achieve sustainable development and integrate into the international community.

“Demonstrating readiness to cooperate and continue relations with Afghanistan, both politically and economically, is a good initiative by Afghanistan’s neighboring countries. It is important not only for expanding relations but also for strengthening peace and stability in Afghanistan,” said Najib Rahman Shamal, an international relations analyst.

Earlier, Pakistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Asif Ali Durrani, once again claimed that India, using its proxies in Afghanistan, financially supports the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan; claims that are always denied by Kabul.

China, Pakistan Emphasize Inclusive Political Framework in Afghanistan
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