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Religious Scholars, Tribals Call For Reopening Of Schools For Afghan Girls

By LokMarg 14th January 2024

The Taliban has been called upon by religious scholars and tribal leaders to open the country’s institutions and universities to women right away, as their basic right to attain education continues to remain compromised, TOLOnews reported.

At a meeting in Kabul they said that women should have access to education and that their presence is essential to the country.

A meeting on “The role of scholars and tribal elders in strengthening relations between the nation and the system” was held on Saturday at Qasre Sapidar (Sapidar Palace).

According to TOLOnews, it was attended by over two hundred religious scholars and tribal elders from various provinces in Afghanistan, as well as members of the Taliban’s cabinet.

“The committee’s view regarding education is that the Islamic Emirate has paid attention to the needs of religious and contemporary sciences, but it should open schools and universities to girls and women,” TOLOnews quoted Mohammad Hashem, representative of the southern zone of Afghanistan as saying.

Meanwhile, a few participants requested that the Taliban consider the justifiable requests of the Afghan people about growth, the economy, and the employment of qualified officials.

“We ask the Islamic Emirate to build water dams throughout Afghanistan so that it can raise the water level and alleviate the problems of the people,” said Abdul Hadi, a representative of the South East zone of the country, according to TOLOnews.

Afghan people have been leaving their homes because of poverty, insecurity and conflicts in the country.

Moreover, Afghanistan’s women have faced numerous challenges since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.

Taliban leaders have also disregarded international calls for women and girls to be given access to education and employment. They have also issued warnings to other nations not to meddle in Afghanistan’s domestic affairs. (ANI)

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Taliban Refuses To Accept Pakistan’s Aid For Earthquake Victims

By LokMarg 13th October 2023

Taliban in Afghanistan has refused to accept aid from Pakistan for earthquake victims, Pakistan-based The Express Tribune newspaper reported.

Afghanistan was struck by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake last Saturday, leaving at least 1,000 people dead and affecting many villages. There was further damage when another quake hit the region on Wednesday.

Pakistan offered support to the country as Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar announced sending rescue and relief teams along with essential aid. However, the consignment and rescuers were not dispatched to Afghanistan after Kabul refused to give clearance. Although there was no official word from either side, the current tension between the two countries seemed to be the main reason for the Afghan rejection.

As per The Express Tribune, the main reason Pakistan did not send rescue and relief teams and the aid was because of the Afghan Taliban’s reluctance to accept them.

The development was seen in the context of ongoing tension between the two countries over the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Pakistan’s recent series of moves that include the deportation of all illegal Afghan immigrants, visa policy for Afghans and restrictions imposed on Afghan imports, further complicated relations between the two countries.

At a weekly news briefing on Thursday, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Pakistan expressed deep sympathy with its Afghan “brothers and sisters, as they face a very difficult situation following the earthquake that took place a few days ago”.

“Pakistan also stands in solidarity with its Afghan brothers and sisters and remains in contact with the Interim Afghan Government to meet any needs that they may have during the relief and recovery efforts,” she added without further sharing details as to why Pakistan did not dispatch aid to the neighbouring country yet.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson strongly condemned the “indiscriminate and disproportionate” use of force by Israeli authorities against the civilian population in Gaza and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

“We are deeply concerned about the fast-deteriorating and dire humanitarian situation in Gaza due to the inhumane blockade and collective punishment by Israeli forces. The decision to cut off electricity, fuel and water supplies is unjust and should be reversed, as it would severely impact the lives of the Palestinians residing in the enclave,” she stressed, as per Dawn. (ANI)

Women And Men Are Not Equal: Taliban Education Minister

By LokMarg 1st October 2023

Taliban-appointed acting minister of Higher Education, Neda Mohammad Nadim emphasized that based on Sharia, men and women are not equal, reported TOLO News.

During a meeting at Baghlan University, he said that attempts are being made to demolish the current system under the pretext of concerns related to women.

The acting minister of higher education, Neda Mohammad Nadim, said in a meeting at Baghlan University that there are now attempts being made to demolish the current system under the excuse of concerns related to women.

According to TOLO News, he noted that despite Western nations trying to demonstrate that men and women have equal rights, women and men are “not equal”.

“The Almighty Allah has distinguished between men and women. A male is the ruler, he has the authority, he must be obeyed, and the woman must accept his world. A woman is not equal to a man; however, they (Western nations) have placed her above a man,” said Nadim.

He further said that the duties of the current government are to behave well towards the people and provide security and justice, reported TOLO News.

“This is the responsibility of the Islamic Emirate: to treat the people well. It should bring ease, it should bring good news, there should be no hatred, there should be no differences among the officials, and the second thing is to ensure security,” he said.

Whereas, some professors and students of Baghlan University asked the acting Higher Education Ministry to create a suitable educational environment in universities, especially Baghlan University.

Sayed Sati, a lecturer at Baghlan University said, “The most crucial requirements and conditions that can make a university grow in terms of science and research are the provision of facilities and equipment.”

Moreover, one of the students Yama Barna said, “The lack of regular transportation for students is the first issue. It should be taken care of because the distance between the city and the institution is great. The second issue is the lack of a dorm, which students have experienced for years.”

In a speech at Kunduz University, the acting higher education minister, Neda Mohammad Nadim, stressed the ministry’s efforts to address these issues and expand resources for universities, reported TOLO News.

However, Afghanistan’s women have faced numerous challenges since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Girls and women in the war-torn country have no access to education, employment and public spaces.

A startling 80 per cent of Afghan girls and young women, who are of school-going age, are currently denied access to education under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, a new report by Care International stated, according to Khaama Press.

It has been more than two years since girls above grade six have been prohibited from attending schools in Afghanistan, and it is unclear when those doors will reopen, Tolo News reported.

Afghanistan remains the only country to ban girls’ and women’s education, resulting in a substantial economic toll of approximately USD 5.4 billion. (ANI)

Afghan: Young Girls Voice For Education Through Global Campaign

By LokMarg 16th August 2023

The campaign, AfghanGirlsVoices, was launched on Tuesday to elevate the voices of young Afghan girls deprived of their basic right to education, precisely came two years after the de facto Taliban authorities seized control of the country.

The United Nations released a statement on Tuesday which stated that the campaign was developed in collaboration with Education Cannot Wait (ECW), a UN fund dedicated to enabling continuous learning for children during emergencies and prolonged crises, Champion Somaya Faruqi, former captain of the Afghan Girls’ Robotic Team, with compelling artwork by a young Afghan female artist.

“The courage of these girls in Afghanistan gives me the strength to use my own voice as an ECW Global Champion to amplify their voices to the world,” said Faruqi.

“The situation is taking an immense toll on girl’s mental health and rates of suicide for girls has gone up in the last two years. It’s more urgent than ever to act now, and I hope that next year, we celebrate their freedom rather than mark their oppression,” she added.

As per a recent report by UN experts, the condition of women and girls in Afghanistan is the ‘worst globally’.

The systematic curtailment of their human rights, coupled with the profound bias they face under the regime of the de facto Taliban authorities, could potentially qualify as “gender apartheid” and “gender persecution,” the report said.

“The international community must hear this poignant call from the heart from Afghan girls and young women and mobilise in greater numbers and with renewed strength of purpose to condemn the violation of their rights,” said UN Special Envoy for Global Education and Chair of ECW’s High-Level Steering Group, Gordon Brown.

Afghanistan’s women have faced numerous challenges since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Girls and women in the war-torn country have no access to education, employment and public spaces.

Taliban has imposed draconian restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, association, assembly, and movement for women and girls.

Not only this, Taliban leaders have also disregarded international calls for women and girls to be given access to education and employment. Apparently, they have also issued warnings to other nations not to meddle in Afghanistan’s domestic affairs.

The Taliban have barred girls from attending secondary school, restricted women and girls’ freedom of movement, excluded women from most areas of the workforce and banned women from using parks, gyms and public bath houses. (ANI)

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Taliban Appeals To Pak For Peace Talks With Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan

By LokMarg 22nd July 2023

The Afghan Taliban has renewed its call for peace talks between Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and Pakistan as Islamabad’s efforts to persuade Kabul to take action against the terrorist group failed, reported The Express Tribune.

This week, Pakistan sent a special envoy on a three-day mission to Kabul to make it clear that the interim administration must act swiftly to stop the TTP. But after several talks, the Afghan Taliban told him that Pakistan should choose the route of peace rather than using force, as per The Express Tribune.
The Express Tribune is an internationally affiliated newspaper in Pakistan.

During his visit, Ambassador Asad Durrani had meetings with the acting foreign minister and deputy prime minister of Afghanistan, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi and Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, as per The Express Tribune.

Quoting official sources, familiar with the matter, The Express Tribune reported that the Afghan Taliban leadership was told clearly that Pakistan’s patience was wearing thin vis-à-vis the TTP.

In her weekly news briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said, “The issue of terrorism, as I’ve said in the past, including in the last briefing, is an issue of serious concern to Pakistan. And Pakistan has raised this issue with the Afghan authorities on multiple occasions and at every important engagement that takes place between Pakistan and the Afghan interim authorities.”

“We have discussed the threat of terrorism emanating from the Afghan soil,” she added when asked whether Ambassador Durrani took up the issue of cross-border terrorism with the Afghan authorities.

However, the Afghan Taliban administration is not prepared to follow that course, despite Pakistan’s insistence on taking action against TTP.

According to sources, cited by The Express Tribune, the deputy prime minister of Afghanistan advised the Pakistani ambassador to choose the “path of peace” rather than “use of force”. They said that it was obvious the Afghan Taliban had no interest in attacking the TTP. Instead, Kabul once rejected a request from Pakistan to begin peace negotiations with the TTP.

The TTP increased attacks and exploited the prior rounds of negotiations, leading Pakistan to give up on the peace effort.

Pakistan will no longer pursue negotiations with the TTP, the civil and military leadership determined. In any case, though, negotiations can only begin until the TTP gives up.

The deputy prime minister of Afghanistan asked Durrani that Pakistan should choose peace over war. He claimed that given Afghanistan’s bitter experiences of war, he would advise Pakistan to pursue a diplomatic solution instead.

As a Muslim nation, Afghanistan does not desire fighting or disturbance in Pakistan, according to Maulvi Kabir, who also believes that peace in Pakistan is in Afghanistan’s best interests. He also sees acts of violence in Pakistan as a loss for Afghanistan.

The Afghan Taliban government, he informed the Pakistani envoy, had a policy of refraining from meddling in the domestic affairs of other nations. He asserted that Afghanistan would not permit Pakistan or any other nation to exploit Afghan land against them.

According to the sources, after returning from Kabul and providing his assessment, Ambassador Durrani would update the administration. According to the reports, Pakistan is unlikely to accept the offer from the Afghan Taliban.

The sources also said, Pakistan would plan its strategy while considering the special envoy’s suggestions, The Express Tribune reported. (ANI)

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Afghan Refugees Continue To Undergo Suffering, Mistreatment In Pakistan

By LokMarg 24th June 2023

The Afghan refugees who migrated to Pakistan after the Taliban took over fearing persecution are undergoing continuous suffering and an extremely “inhuman and hateful” mistreatment, the Khaama Press reported.

Ever since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021, Pakistan is one of the primary destinations where Afghan refugees have migrated in search of better conditions.
New waves of Afghan refugees moved to Iran and Pakistan due to several reasons including fear of death threats and persecution by Afghanistan’s de facto regime.

However, in Pakistan, the migrants have continued to suffer numerous challenges including arbitrary detentions, harassment, and imprisonment by Pakistani police, because of being unable to provide valid residential permits and visas.

Notably, Pakistani police and other relevant agencies have continued to detain and incarcerate Afghan refugees in different parts of the country, including the capital city of Islamabad, despite having refugees having United Nations Higher Commissioner for Refugee’s (UNHCR) certificate, the Khaama Press reported.

Maniza Kakar, an attorney of Afghan prisoners in Karachi earlier claimed that Pakistani police tore the residential documents of some Afghan nationals while they were arrested.

The alleged mistreatment of Afghan refugees by the Pakistani government has been labelled “inhuman and hateful”, leading to widespread criticism not just in Pakistan and Afghanistan, but beyond.

“In less than two years, I have been detained three times by the police – harassed, humiliated and bitten due to not having a valid residential permit. Life has become extremely difficult for me in Pakistan. Every time, I come across police, I keep running from one ally to another to avoid possible imprisonment and forceful deportation to Afghanistan,” the Khaama Press quoted an Afghan refugee.

Another Afghan refugee who has freshly moved to France said to Khaama Press that, “Pakistan does not offer you anything other than countless sufferings. He asked other immigrants to follow up on their immigration cases, otherwise, they will continuously face mistreatment, harassment and humiliation”.

Most Afghan refugees currently residing in Pakistan, are undergoing an extremely lengthy process, causing ambiguity and hopelessness

According to Amnesty, over 3.7 million Afghans who fled Afghanistan for political and economic reasons now reside in Pakistan. Moreover, only 1.4 million people have official registration.

Meanwhile, The Afghanistan Embassy in Islamabad also requested Pakistan to cease detaining Afghans earlier this month after 250 people were held for lack of travel documents by counterterrorism officials and other agencies, as per Khaama Press. (ANI)

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IS Claims Responsibility of Badakhshan Mosque Bombing

By LokMarg 11th June 2023

The Islamic State group or Daesh has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing on Thursday inside a mosque in the northern Badakhshan province of Afghanistan, Afghanistan-based Khaama Press reported.

At least 13 people were killed and 30 others were injured in the explosion that took place inside Nabawi Mosque in Badakhshan province on Thursday. The explosion occured during a memorial service of Taliban provincial deputy governor Nisar Ahmad Ahmadi.

In a statement, the Islamic State in Khorasan Province said that the attacker had targeted the service near the Nabawi Mosque in Faizabad city of Badakhshan province on Thursday, Khaama Press reported.

Daesh in a statement claimed that at least 20 senior Taliban officials were killed and 50 others were injured. Daesh’s statement has indicated higher casualties than those announced by Taliban authorities.

Taliban’s provincial deputy governor Nisar Ahmad Ahmadi was killed in a car bombing in Faizabad on Tuesday. A memorial service was organized in his honour on Thursday. The Islamic State also claimed responsibility for the incident, which claimed the life of a Taliban official’s driver and injured ten others.

Since the Taliban took control over Afghanistan in August 2021, the Daesh group has increased its attacks on Taliban officials, foreign nationals and ordinary people, Khaama Press reported.

The Islamic State has taken responsibility for several attacks in Afghanistan, particularly on Pakistani missions, Chinese travellers and the Russian embassy in Kabul.

In December last year, the provincial police commander of Badakhshan was killed in a car bombing while he was heading to his work. Daesh has claimed responsibility for the attack, according to an Afghan publication.

In May this year, at least 16 people were injured after a heavy explosion rocked the Baghlan province of Afghanistan, Khaama Press reported.

The explosion, took place in Pole-Khomri city of Baghlan province in northern Afghanistan, according to the report. The injured were sent to a local hospital for treatment.

Taliban officials have not commented on the blast yet, according to the Afghan publication. No individual or group has claimed responsibility. (ANI)

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Taliban Announces 4-Day Polio Vaccination Programme

By LokMarg 15th May 2023

Afghanistan’s Taliban-led Ministry of Public Health on Monday announced a four-day polio vaccination campaign across 23 provinces of Afghanistan, Khaama Press reported.

The campaign, which got underway on May 15, intends to immunize 6.4 million kids in 23 provinces of Afghanistan.

Afghanistan on Sunday reported its first death due to poliovirus in 2023 in Nangarhar, reported Tolo News.

The Ministry of Public Health reported two cases of polio in Nangarhar. A spokesman for the Health Ministry, Sharafat Zaman Amerkhail said that these two cases have been reported in the Koot and Batikoot districts of Nangarhar province. One polio-stricken child has died.

“In these two cases, one child is four years old and the other is 11. One of them lost their life,” said Amerkhail.

Family members of the child who died in Batikoot district said that one year ago, their child was infected with polio and was paralyzed from the neck down and after severe diarrhoea died in the hospital. The child was named Nazo, reported Tolo News.

“Her neck became paralyzed. She couldn’t control it. We took her to the hospital and on the night of Eid she died,” said Iqbal Shah, the grandfather of Nazo.

“After this disease (polio), her feet become tiny. Her stomach become acidic, she lost control of her neck and she couldn’t digest food,” said Zarmina, the mother of Nazo. (ANI)

Iran To Handover Afghan Embassy In Tehran To Taliban

By LokMarg 24th February 2023

The Iranian Foreign Ministry is set to hand over the Afghan Embassy in Tehran to the Taliban, citing unofficial sources reported Khaama Press.

Iran will officially hand over the embassy to the Taliban in the coming days according to an Afghan diplomat who has been in contact with the officials of the Iranian foreign ministry.
This comes after the Taliban-run foreign ministry stated in a letter that it had appointed Mohammad Afzal Haqqani as designated ambassador to Tehran, reported Khaama Press.

The letter noted that Haqqani, as the first secretary of the embassy, will be in charge of the diplomatic mission in Iran.

Initially, Haqqani had travelled from Tehran to Kabul and then returned with his letter of appointment as head of the Afghan Embassy in Tehran. However, the Iranian Foreign Ministry had not accepted Haqqani as the new ambassador to Tehran, reported Khaama Press.

Now, a serious decision has been taken in this regard the Afghan diplomat said.

The Taliban-run administration has neither internal legitimacy nor international recognition. So far, no single country in the world has recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.

Iran is the third country to join Pakistan and Russia which handed over the Afghan embassies to the group a few months ago.

Meanwhile, Taliban has called on the international community to recognise the “Islamic Emirate” of Afghanistan, claiming that if recognised, the concerns and complaints of the world community will be addressed in a better way, Afghanistan-based Tolo News reported.

“The Islamic Emirate will be paying more attention to its responsibilities and the complaints we have among ourselves or from other countries will be addressed in a good way. Because one side will feel itself responsible regarding the laws and regulation,” Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said, as quoted by Tolo News.

According to analysts, forming an inclusive government, countering terrorism, not allowing the use of Afghan soil against other countries, and ensuring human rights, especially the rights of women and girls, will pave the ground for recognition of the Islamic Emirate.

“To earn recognition, the Taliban should refer to the people first. They should observe law, politics and governance. They should recognize the rights of the people,” said Sayed Jawad Sijadi, a political analyst, according to Tolo News.

While, the Taliban have prohibited co-education in universities, separating morning classes for girls and afternoon classes for boys. Recently, the group also banned secondary education for female students. Although this decision has been withdrawn, the schools are yet to be reopened. (ANI)

At Least 10 Dead, 8 Injured In Blast At Kabul Military Airport

By LokMarg 1st January 2023

At least 10 people were killed and eight others seriously injured in an explosion that rocked the Kabul military airport on Sunday, Khaama Press reported citing the Taliban Interior Ministry spokesperson.

Abdul Nafee Takkur, a spokesman for the Taliban Interior Ministry, reported that an explosion caused injuries close to the military airport’s main gate in Kabul.
No one has taken responsibility for the attack as of yet.

This explosion comes three days after four people were injured in a blast that rocked Taluqan city, the capital of northern Takhar province on Wednesday.

Taliban security commander Abdul Mubin Safi in Takhar confirmed the explosion and stated that a bomb was placed under a local administrative staff’s desk, The Khaama Press reported.

In the past few months, the war-torn county has witnessed increasing security incidents including explosions. (ANI)