Category Archives: Ethnic Issues
President Ghani to Issue Legislative Decree on Recognizing ‘Sadat’ as Ethnic Group
Ariana: President Ashraf Ghani has announced that he will issue a legislative decree on Wednesday on recognizing “Sadat” as an ethnic group in the country. It comes as Afghanistan currently has 14 ethnic groups defined by the Constitution including Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, Aymāq, Turkmen, Baloch, Pashai, Nuristani, Gujjar, Arab, Brahui, Pamiri and Qezlbash. Click here to
Afghanistan’s persecuted Hazaras have little hope in peace talks
Al Jazeera: Comprising 15 percent of the population, the mostly Shia Muslim ethnic minority has long suffered targeted killings – The Hazara have long suffered oppression and persecution in Afghanistan. They are now often targeted by groups swearing allegiance to ISIL. In the 1990s, thousands were killed by al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters. The Taliban declared them as “non-Muslims” during their rule from 1996
Ghani expresses serious concern about violence against protesters in Pakistan
The Afghan government has serious concerns about the violence perpetrated against peaceful protestors and civil activists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. — Ashraf Ghani (@ashrafghani) February 7, 2019 1TV: Fresh protests by Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, which was founded a year ago to protest the death of Pashtun man killed by police, come following the death
Ethnic Uzbeks Flee Taliban in N. Afghanistan
VOA News | December 14, 2018: Hundreds of ethnic Uzbek residents were forced to flee their homes in northern Faryab province because of the recent expansion of Taliban in border areas with Uzbekistan. VOA’s Abdulbasir Ilg’or reports.
Pakistan Tightens Coverage of Pashtun Nationalist Movement
Ayesha Tanzeem VOA News December 11, 2018 ISLAMABAD — Pakistani authorities are scrutinizing media coverage of a Pashtun nationalist movement, blocking VOA websites and filing police cases against journalists covering local rallies. Sailaab Mehsud of RFE/RL’s Mashaal radio and Zafar Wazir of a local TV channel were identified in a police report as participants in a
The Fall of the Monarchy and Afghanistan
International Policy Digest: On the 11th of June, 2002, a Loya Jirga was held to transfer power to the Afghan Transitional Authority. While King Mohammed Zahir Shah had considerable support from the delegates, the United States decided to back Hamid Karzai instead. Had the Bush administration not sidelined the King, these last 15 years might have been
Alipoor Apologizes, Pledges to Lay Down Arms
Ariana: Commander Alipoor has apologized for his actions and asked for forgiveness from the government after he was released on bill with meditation of Second Vice President Sarwar Danish and elders. “If I made any mistake, I apologize for it and I ask the government officials to forgive me,” Alipoor said. “I am ready to register my weapons
The Hazaras are not safe
Lowy Institute: The neo-patrimonial state that developed under President Hamid Karzai and persists under President Ashraf Ghani has proved incapable of offering effective protection for vulnerable populations. The international community, too, has been ineffective in confronting the problem of “sanctuaries” in Pakistan from which the Taliban operate with impunity. The Hazaras in Khas Uruzgan, Jaghori, and
Commander Alipoor Released After Days of Violent Protest
Ariana: The Office of Second Vice President Sarwar Danish on late Monday confirmed that commander Alipoor has been released from the detention of NDS, following the two-day violent protest in the capital Kabul. “He [Alipoor] is currently at the office of Second Vice President along with a number of tribal elders,” the office confirmed in a