Khalilzad Thinks U.S. Can Leave ‘Very Positive Legacy’ in Afghanistan

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Khalilzad

Khalilzad

Michael Hughes: U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has shamelessly suggested that if he can help broker a ceasefire and ensure women are involved in intra-Afghan peace talks U.S. involvement in Afghanistan should be seen as a net benefit. This is quite audacious coming from a man who about 17 years ago single-handedly destroyed any chances for peace in Afghanistan. Moreover, today the country – women especially – would be much better off if the United States had never intervened in Afghan affairs in the first place. Click here to read more.

Afghanistan: how to widen access to justice

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scales_of_justiceThe Conversation: Getting justice in Afghanistan is a complicated business. Two main justice systems – state laws based on the civil law tradition and Islamic jurisprudence – combine with non-state institutions, such as traditional village jirgas (circles) or shuras (councils), to resolve local disputes and deal with offences. Click here to read more (external link).

Afghanistan’s Forests Are Turning a Profit for the Islamic State

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ISIS in Afghanistan

ISIS members in Afghanistan – photo by PBS

FP: Wood smuggling is big business for the terrorist group. Small numbers of fighters for the Islamic State of Khorasan Province, the Afghan branch of the militant group, have been in Kunar since 2015. But the group’s new stronghold is in Kunar’s deep forests, inheriting a booming wood industry previously controlled by the Taliban that is now generating a growing income for Islamic State militants. Click here to read more (external link).

Taliban Insurgents Capture 20 Villages in Baghlan

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baghlanAriana: The Taliban insurgents occupied the Yaram Olia area, which has over 20 villages, of the Jolga district in Baghlan province without any clashes on Monday. Mohamad Sarwar Akbari, district governor of the Jolga district, confirms the fall of the area by the Taliban and stresses that more forces from the central Baghlan are needed in addition to the district’s police to jointly prevent the Taliban’s progress in the district. Click here to read more (external link).

Over 590 Civilians Killed In Afghanistan In Three Months

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civilian_deathTolo News: New figures by Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) indicate that 596 civilians were killed and 1,892 others were wounded in clashes between government forces and the Taliban and other attacks by militants in Afghanistan since the beginning of the current solar year which coincides with March 21, 2019.  The CEO of the AIHRC, Musa Mahmoodi, told TOLOnews that 733 of the victims are children who have either been killed or wounded in the conflicts during the period. “Unfortunately, measures were not taken to reduce the number of civilian casualties,” he said. “In some areas, we saw a sharp rise among vulnerable victims.” Click here to read more (external link).

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Radio Journalist Killed In Eastern Afghanistan

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paktia_mapRadio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
July 14, 2019

Afghan police say a radio journalist has been killed in the eastern province of Paktia.

The body of Nader Shah Sahibzada, a newsreader for Radio Gardez, was found on July 13, a day after he disappeared.

Police chief Mohammad Hosman Jahnbaz said it was not immediately clear if the killing was linked to his work or a personal dispute.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the killing.

The Taliban and the extremist group Islamic State have both attacked reporters in the past.

Afghanistan was the deadliest country for journalists worldwide last year, with at least 13 of them killed in relation to their work, according to the New York- based Committee to Protect Journalists.

Based on reporting by AP and Tolonews

Copyright (c) 2019. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.

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