September 20, 2021
Taliban changes name of university in Kabul
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan officially changed the name of a government university from University of Burhanuddin Rabbani-former Afghan President and founder of Afghanistan’s second-biggest political party- to Kabul Education University. An official directive released by the ministry of higher education reads, universities are the intellectual assets of Afghanistan and should be named after political or ethnic leaders. The previous name of the university was brought down on Monday, September 20, and will now be addressed by its first name- Kabul Educational University. (KHAAMA PRESS) (Big News Network)
WHO chief meets Taliban’s premier and officials
Head of the world health organization Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus arrived in Kabul on Monday, September 20, and met with the prime minister of Afghanistan Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund in Presidential Palace (ARG). The meeting was conducted between the head of WHO, his delegation, head of UNAMA Deborah Lyons, and the premier of Afghanistan, his deputy Mullah Baradar, acting foreign minister Amir Khan Motaqi. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has not disclosed details of the meeting until. (KHAAMA PRESS ) (Daily Sabah) (CGTN)
China to provide unconditional aid to Afghanistan by winter
Chinese ambassador to Kabul Wang yu said that his country is prepared to continue his country’s unconditional humanitarian aid to the people of Afghanistan. The Chinese ambassador has met the acting minister of refugees and repatriates Khaliluranman Haqqani on Sunday, September 19, and has pledged the Chinese assistance relief to arrive by winter this year. As per the statement of the ministry, China will provide the people of Afghanistan with $15 million in humanitarian aid and one million doses of the Corona vaccine. (KHAAMA PRESS) (DAWN)
ISIS-K claims responsibly for blasts in Nangarhar province
The Khurasan branch of Islamic State (ISIS-K) has claimed that they have conducted three blasts on Saturday, September 18 and one the following day in the capital city-Jalalabad- of eastern Nangarhar province. The explosions had targeted the Taliban and had inflicted casualties to more than 25 people among them women and children. The Taliban has not said anything about the causalities yet but eyewitnesses say that a number of Taliban fighters were rushed to hospital after being wounded in explosions. (KHAAMA PRESS) (WION)
Kabul Airport fully operational for domestic & international flights
Passengers trying to fly out of Kabul International Airport amid the Taliban offensive wait in the terminal in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. As a Taliban offensive squeezes in on the gates of the Afghan capital, there’s increasingly only one way out for those fleeing the war and one way in for the U.S. troops tasked with backing the American diplomats still on the ground: Kabul’s international airport. (AP Photo/Tameem Akghar) Over one month after the Taliban takeover and the deadly evacuation of nearly 150 thousand people from Kabul International Airport, the airport has officially been open and fully operational for both domestic and international flights from Sunday, September 19. (KHAAMA PRESS) (ANI)
September 21, 2021
Pakistan, China, Russia’s envoys meet Taliban premier, Afghan politicians
Special representatives of Russia, China, and Pakistan to Afghanistan met with the Prime Minister of Afghanistan Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund in the presidential Palace (Arg) on Tuesday, September 21. Zamir Kabulov, Yue Xiaoyong, and Sadiq Khan also met former Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah later in the day. Abdullah Abdullah in a statement said that the special envoys were also accompanied by their respective ambassadors to Kabul and discussed the ongoing situation in Afghanistan. (KHAAMA PRESS)
Only minister of Ashraf Ghani’s cabinet sacked by Taliban
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan sacked the only remaining acting minister of the previous government Waheed Majroh and appointed Qalandar Ebad as acting minister of public health on Tuesday, September 21. Waheed Majroh was the only minister left from the previous government who was still on his post since the Taliban’s takeover. The deputy minister of information and culture and spokesperson of the Taliban Zabiullah Mujahid announced two acting ministers of the remaining ministries 9 deputy ministers on Tuesday, September 21. (KHAAMA PRESS)
Taliban sacks Afghanistan Cricket Board CEO
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan sacked the Chief Executive Officer of the Afghanistan Cricket Board Hamid Shinwari and appointed Naseeb Haqqani as the new CEO. Officials of the IEA have not disclosed the reasons behind the appointment. Hamid Shinwari in his Twitter post said that Anas Haqqani- one of the prominent leaders of the Taliban- has come to ACB and verbally told me that my position as CEO is ended and Naseeb Haqqani will be appointed as new CEO. (KHAAMA PRESS)
September 22, 2021
BA degree holder replaces Ph.D. holder as V/C of Kabul university
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan sacked Muhammad Osman Baburi and appointed Muhammad Ashraf Ghairat as vice-chancellor of Afghanistan’s biggest university based in Kabul-Kabul University. The appointment has reacted wide reaction in social media as a young bachelor degree holder replaced an intellectual and experienced Ph.D. holder as head of the best and the very first university in Afghanistan. Muhammad Ashraf Ghairat was officially announced as the interim vice-chancellor of the Kabul University on Wednesday, September 22. (KHAAMA PRESS)
Taliban asks UN to accept their permanent representative
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in a letter to the United Nations said that the spokesperson of their political office in Doha, Sohail Shaheen to be accepted as the new permanent representative of Afghanistan to the UN. The letter has reasoned that the tenure of Ghulam Muhammad Ishaqzai-current and former Afghan government’s permanent representative to UN- has ended. Ghulam Muhammad Ishaqzai is still the PR of Afghanistan in the UN and was given time to deliver a speech on Monday, at the annual assembly of the UN. (KHAAMA PRESS) (DAWN) (The News)
Intl-Community should engage with Taliban, prevent its isolation: Qatar
Qatari Emir Sheik Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani called on the international community to get engaged with the Taliban and provide the country with humanitarian aid so that they prevent the country’s isolation. The Emir who was speaking at the UN’s annual gathering in New York said that this is the responsibility of the international community to help Afghanistan reach a political solution and ends its four-decade conflicts. The call on the international community comes as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has not been recognized by any country now after more than one month of rule over the entire country. (KHAAMA PRESS)
Female Afghan prosecutors detained in self-prison
As per the CNN report, the former female Afghan prosecutors have been self-detained for the fear of reprisal from those who were once jailed after their judgments and have now been released. Thousands of prisoners have been freed throughout Afghanistan by the Taliban after they took over the country. They claim that the ex-prisoners have been searching for them for revenge and one of the female judges has said that she has repeatedly been called by unknown numbers after the Taliban takeover.In the meantime, tens of female judges who managed to flee the country are now abroad but hundreds are hidden. (KHAAMA PRESS)
Afghan Taliban arrest officials who removed Pakistan’s flag from aid truck
The Taliban have decided to take action against officials who removed Pakistan’s flag from an aid truck that arrived in Afghanistan via the Torkham border carrying necessary food items. On Sunday, Pakistan had donated food items — loaded in 17 container trucks — on humanitarian grounds to the newly-formed Taliban government in Afghanistan. (DAWN)
332 Afghan students arrive via Torkham
Over 300 Afghan students studying in various Pakistani educational institutions arrived through the Torkham border here on Tuesday. Officials of the Khyber district administration received 332 Afghan students at the border, who were then sent in tight security to Peshawar, Abbotabad and Rawalpindi, where they are enrolled in different colleges and universities. (DAWN)
At least 3 killed in attack on checkpoint in Jalalabad
At least three people were killed on Wednesday by gunmen who attacked a checkpoint in eastern Afghanistan, a Taliban official confirmed. While the Taliban official said all the deceased the civilians, witnesses and a security source told AFP that two of the casualties were Taliban fighters. The latter added that the attack was carried out by unidentified gunmen in a rickshaw and targeted a checkpoint in Ghawchak district of Jalalabad. (DAWN) (The News)
September 23, 2021
Pakistan asks Intl-Community to be lenient with Taliban, release reserves
Pakistani foreign minister Mahmoud Qureshi has asked the US, IMF, and other countries to release billions of dollars frozen by them so that the situation gets better in Afghanistan. The foreign minister in his recent interview with AP reiterated that the international community should engage with the Taliban. Mahmoud Qureshi has said that if the Taliban fulfill the conditions set by the international community, they (the Taliban) will be recognized and have also called on the world to show creativity in negotiations with the Taliban and do not treat them as they used to have been treated. (KHAAMA PRESS) (DAWN)
Utmost poverty, former Afghan policeman commits suicide
A former Afghan policeman commits suicide in eastern Kunar province after he was left without a job and the previous government did not pay his three months’ salary. As per the report of TOLOnews- A local news channel-, Shaaker was a 16-year policeman and had 38 years of age who committed suicide on Thursday, September 23. Shaaker had two wives and seven children along with his mother and siblings who were all financially supported by him. (KHAAMA PRESS)
UNSC asks for inclusive government in Afghanistan: Guterres
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that the permanent members of the Security Council- the US, China, Russia, France, and the UK- unanimously asked the Taliban to establish an all-inclusive government in Afghanistan. The secretary-General, on the sideline of the UN annual assembly, told reporters that the permanent members of UNSC pleaded with the Taliban to shape a government set-up that is comprised of various ethnicities. The call from the five world powers comes as the Afghans themselves have been criticizing the current caretaker cabinet and have been asking the Taliban to shape an all-inclusive government and appoint people based on their intelligence and experience. (KHAAMA PRESS) (DAWN)
Bakhtarian Treasure is safe and preserved in Kabul: Taliban
Officials of the ministry of information and culture said that the Bakhtarian Treasure is kept in Kabul and assured of its full safety and security. The officials denied the Treasure being trafficked out of Afghanistan and added that the asset is kept under the surveillance of the Taliban in the Afghan capital. Bakhtarian Treasure is the biggest and most expensive treasure of the world and is Afghanistan’s biggest asset which was rumored to be trafficked after the Taliban took over the country on August, 15. (KHAAMA PRESS)
September 24, 2021
It’s general amnesty, don’t defame IEA: Taliban’s acting defense minister to his fighters
The acting defense minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob called on foot soldiers that general amnesty has been announced and no one should defame the IEA with their arbitrary actions. The acting defense minister has asked his foot soldiers to seriously implement general amnesty and does not mistreat people. A statement released by Yaqoob reads that some Taliban members have been seen in different provinces carrying out reprisal and have killed those who had worked for the previous government, which is not the policy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. (KHAAMA PRESS)
UK discloses payout for civilian deaths in Afghanistan
The United Kingdom (UK) Ministry of Defence paid out £688,000 for 289 civilian deaths between 2006-14, an average of £2,380, in Afghanistan, according to a media report on Friday. But in one case, a family was paid just £104.17, less than others received for the deaths of a herd of donkeys. The MoD said compensation was set by legal principles, including past and future losses and local customs. Almost 7,000 compensation claims paid out by the British military during combat operations in Helmand, in Afghanistan, up until 2014 were analysed by the charity Action on Armed Violence (AOAV). (Pajhwok Afghan News)
Plan for girls schools not finalized: MoE
Work underway on plan for the resumption of girls schools and any other rumors in this regard were wrong and baseless, according to a statement on Friday. “News regarding the beginning of girls education in social media are wrong and baseless, the Ministry of Education (MoE) want to assure the people that work on the plan for girls schools were underway and the outcome would be shared with masses at due course,” the statement said. (Pajhwok Afghan News)
We were not threat to world in past 20 years: Taliban
The acting foreign minister of Afghanistan Amir Khan Motaqi has said that the Taliban were no threat to the world in the past twenty years and added that they should not be pressurized now. Amir Khan Motaqi said that they have good relations with the world and added that the pressures of a number of countries will not work. Though the acting minister did not name any country, he indirectly addressed the US as it is putting pressure over the Taliban by freezing billions of dollars of the central bank of Afghanistan. “A developed and stable Afghanistan is in the favor of the region and the world and the international community now knows this.” Said Motaqi. (KHAAMA PRESS)
US asked to free Afghanistan’s frozen assets
Hundreds of residents in capital Kabul on Friday rallied asking the US and other international community members to released Afghanistan’s frozen funds. The rally was held after Friday prayer in downtown Kabul headed by the Najam Foundation. Participants chanted ‘death to America slogan’, ‘Nation’s rights’, ‘Nation’s voice.’ Najm Foundation Head Abdul Wahid Hemmat said the rally was held to convey the voices of the people of Afghanistan to the world. He said $3billioin in the total frozen assets belonged to Afghan business community, adding if these funds are not released it would have economic consequences for the country. (Pajhwok Afghan News)
September 25, 2021
Civilians, Taliban suffer casualties in Jalalabad blast
JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Two people were killed and six other injured in a roadside bomb blast in eastern Nangarhar province on Saturday, local authorities said. (Pajhwok Afghan News)
Current accredited Afghan envoy may address UNGA
The Taliban representative is unlikely to speak this year at the UN General Assembly as a nine-member credentialing committee is not expected to meet before the close of the ongoing session of the UN body, according to media report on Saturday. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres received a letter on Monday from the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan” – which the Taliban declared last month – signed by Amir Khan Muttaqi, who goes by the title “Minister of Foreign Affairs”. (Pajhwok Afghan News)
Pakistan PM urges world to incentivize Taliban
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has urged the world to rally behind Afghanistan’s nascent Taliban government for preserving the progress made by the war-ravaged country over the past two decades and preventing it from turning into a safe haven for terrorists. Speaking at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly via video link, Mr Khan said: “There is only one way to go. We must strengthen and stabilise the current government, for the sake of the people of Afghanistan.” (Pajhwok Afghan News) (DAWN) (Big News Network)
Afghanistan: Executions will return, says senior Taliban official
The Taliban’s notorious former head of religious police has said extreme punishments such as executions and amputations will resume in Afghanistan. Mullah Nooruddin Turabi, now in charge of prisons, told AP News amputations were “necessary for security”. He said these punishments may not be meted out in public, as they were under previous Taliban rule in the 1990s. But he dismissed outrage over their past public executions: “No-one will tell us what our laws should be.” (BBC News) (Pajhwok Afghan News)
Taliban kills and hangs four kidnappers in Herat province
The Taliban members in western Herat province said on Saturday, September 25 that four kidnappers have been killed after they had an armed confrontation with them. They said that the corpse was then hanged in the city so that it remains a lesson for others not to do so in the future. Members of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan have though punished and imprisoned criminals since their takeover, this is the first time they hang dead bodies inside a big city. As per the local officials of the Taliban in Herat province, the slain ones had recently abducted a businessman along with his son from Police District 12 of the Herat city. (KHAAMA PRESS) (BBC)
Current National IDs, passports valid, will change in future: Taliban
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has said that the national identity cards and the passports that are issued by the previous Afghan government are valid for the time being. Deputy Minister of information and culture and the spokesperson of the Taliban Zabiullah Mujahid said that the documents issued by the previous government, are still valid as legal documents of the country. Zabiullah Mujahid has said that it is possible for the Afghan passports and NIDs to have the name “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan” in them. (KHAAMA PRESS)
September 26, 2021
US condemns amputation, execution by Taliban
The United States strongly reacted to the recent statement of the Taliban over implementing the laws of their previous regime which includes amputation and execution of criminals. Spokesperson of the department of state Ned Price said the laws are a clear violation of human rights and they are working along with the international community to ensure human rights in Afghanistan. The spokesperson said that the US is standing beside Afghan journalists, civil activists, women, children, human rights advocates, and the disabled ones and asked the Taliban to ensure their rights. (KHAAMA PRESS) (Big News Network)
Recognition of Taliban not ‘on the table’, says Russian FM
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday said that the international recognition of the Taliban is currently not “on the table.”Speaking at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, Lavrov said, “The question of international recognition of the Taliban at the present juncture is not on the table,” Anadolu Agency reported. The publication further reported that the Russian Foreign Minister said they are in contact with the Taliban and that it is extremely important that the Taliban fulfil their promises. (Big News Network) (KHAAMA PRESS) (DAWN)
Taliban to be recognized by the world soon: Mujahid
Deputy Minister of information and culture and the spokesperson of the Taliban Zabiullah Mujahid has recently said that the world will soon recognize the Taliban. The deputy minister has said that representatives of a number of countries have visited Afghanistan and they (the Taliban) have also sent a letter to the UN Secretary-General for recognition. Mujahid said that this is their right to be recognized and added that the leaders of the Taliban are busy talking with the UN. It has been more nearly 45 days since the Taliban took over entire Afghanistan but they are not yet recognized by any country. (KHAAMA RESS)
Kabul residents facing trouble with rising food prices
The Kabul residents faced problems of earning money and supporting their livelihood and basic needs in the Taliban-led Afghanistan government’s regime. Afghans who are supporting their day to day needs by driving taxis and small shuttle buses complain that they hardly earn anything because of the fuel price hike, reported TASS”Gasoline prices gallop by 20 per cent or by 40 per cent against early August; no stability, queues at retail sites do not allow planning and counting on anything,” said TASS quoting a driver. (Big News Network)
Afghan female investor closes women’s driving center
The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan has resulted in the loss of work for Afghan businesswomen who are largely confined to their homes owing to the group’s harsh interpretation of Sharia law. An Afghan female investor, Nilab, has decided to close a driving training centre for a woman that was established a year ago in Kabul, reported Tolo News. “I face an unclear future,” Nilab said. (Big News Network)
G20 summit to discuss Afghanistan crisis on September 28
The summit of the Group of Twenty (G20) on Afghanistan is scheduled to be held on September 28, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin said. “On September 28, as far as I remember, thereabout,” TASS news agency said quoting an official. Vershinin did not respond to the question about the person to represent Russia at the summit. “This is still in process; they should sent an invitation,” he noted. (Big News Network)
US does not need to coordinate airstrikes with Taliban
The Pentagon on Saturday said that the US does not need to coordinate counterterrorism airstrikes with the Taliban in Afghanistan. Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said that there is no need to talk with the Taliban about the need to carry out air attacks on terrorists in Afghanistan, reported Tolo News.
“We retain all necessary authorities to execute over the horizon counterterrorism operations and we remain confident in these capabilities moving forward without speaking to specific rules of engagement surrounding airstrikes. There is currently no requirement to clear airspace with the Taliban and we do not expect that any future over the horizon counterterrorism strikes would hinge on such a clearance,” he said. (Big News Network)
Taliban to change Afghan passports, national identity cards
The Taliban on Saturday announced that Afghan passports, national identity cards (NIDs) will have the name “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan” in them. Deputy Minister of information and culture and the spokesperson of the Taliban Zabiullah Mujahid said that it is possible for the Afghan passports and NIDs to have the name “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan” in them, reported The Khaama Press News Agency. (Big News Network)
IS launches bombing attacks in Afghanistan’s eastern Jalalabad city
A blast rocked Jalalabad city, the capital of eastern Nangarhar province, on Saturday with no report on casualties, local media reported. The explosive device, according to local media reports, was placed in a flower base of a street and went off in the morning rush hour. Security officials in the province have yet to make comments. Since last Saturday, a series of bomb blasts shocked Jalalabad city and the hardliner Islamic State group has reportedly claimed responsibility. (Big News Network)
Taliban ask airlines to resume international flights to Afghanistan
The Taliban government in Afghanistan appealed on Sunday for international flights to be resumed, promising full cooperation with airlines and saying that problems at Kabul airport had been resolved. The statement from the foreign affairs ministry comes as the new administration has stepped up efforts to open up the country and gain international acceptance following the collapse of the Western-backed government last month. (DAWN)
Taliban minister appreciates Pakistan for supporting Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s Acting Deputy Information Minister Zabihullah Mujahid on Sunday appreciated Pakistan for supporting Afghanistan internationally. In an interview with Pakistan Television (PTV), he said Pakistan had asked the international community to establish better ties with Afghanistan. “Pakistan is our neighbouring country and Afghanistan is thankful for Pakistan’s stance regarding Afghanistan,” he added. (DAWN)
Taliban confirm killing of Daesh chief in Afghanistan
The Taliban have confirmed the death of Abu Omar Khorasani, leader of the Daesh terrorist group in Afghanistan. Khorasani had been appointed as Daesh head in Afghanistan after the killing of Sheikh Abdul Haseeb Logari in April 2017. In mid-August, unconfirmed reports said that Khorasani was released along with thousands of other prisoners. However, there were also claims he had been killed by the Taliban on August 17. (Pajhwok Afghan News)