WPR: Illegal mining has become so integral to the Taliban’s shadow government that it has established a fully functioning mining department, known as the Dabaro Comisyoon or “Stones Commission,” to manage the taxation of extracted minerals and ores. It even issues “official” Taliban-sanctioned mining licenses. Click here to read more (external link).
Press TV January 4, 2018 A bomb explosion claimed by the Daesh terrorist group has killed at least 11 people and injured 25 others in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, officials say. The bombing took place on Thursday, when an attacker detonated his explosives near a group of security personnel who were carrying out an operation against
Al Jazeera: The 2004 Afghan constitution invests the president with more powers than former Afghan kings had before the republican period. Among them is the power to appoint all government officials, political and professional, from the cabinet to the district levels. At the same time the office of the president, at least in practice, tends to
RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan January 4, 2018 Zalmay Khalilzad, the former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan and the United Nations, expressed support for President Donald Trump’s tough line against Islamabad and said the administration is likely studying various methods to put pressure on Pakistan for what he called its lack of cooperation in the fight against
Hasib Danish Alikozai VOA News January 3, 2018 WASHINGTON — Last year was the deadliest since 2016 for journalists in Afghanistan, with 21 reporters being killed in the line of duty, a new report, released by Nai, a nongovernmental organization advocating for open media in Afghanistan, claims. Abdul Mujib Khelwatgar, the chief executive officer of Nai told
Ayaz Gul VOA News January 3, 2018 ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — Pakistan has extended for one month the stay of about 1.4 million Afghan refugees who lost their legal residency status on Dec. 31, 2017. Under a trilateral agreement with Afghanistan and the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the host government was considering a proposed one-year
1TV: Afghanistan’s legspinner Rashid has finished 2017 as the second highest wicket taker of the year in the 50-over format. The young player has claimed 43 wickets in 16 matches he played during the years. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News: Atta Mohammad Noor, the ousted governor of Balkh, has ordered the removal of Engineer Mohammad Dawood, the newly-appointed governor of Balkh by President Ashraf Ghani. A letter obtained by TOLOnews shows that the order has been issued based on complaints by residents of Zaare district in Balkh. The residents claimed that Engineer Dawood had
Foreign Affairs: Although the Taliban has demonstrated a surprising ability to survive and conduct high-profile attacks in cities like Kabul, it is weaker today than most recognize. It is hamstrung by an ideology that is too extreme for most Afghans, a leadership structure that is too closely linked to the Pashtun ethnic group, an over-reliance on
Atlantic Council: Afghanistan’s first female-oriented, female-run station, Zan TV, started operations in May of 2017. It is the brainchild of media entrepreneur Hamid Samar, who provides 100 percent private funding. All reporters, anchors, and, most importantly, news content decision makers, are women. Click here to read more (external link).