Patsy Widakuswara VOA News September 15, 2021 WHITE HOUSE — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivered to Congress this week an unwavering defense of the Biden administration’s exit from Afghanistan, in which he outlined the administration’s priorities for the country going forward. Here are those priorities and the challenges in meeting them. Assisting Americans and
Michael Hughes AOPNEWS September 15, 2021 A group of American senators, led by intelligence panel vice chair Marco Rubio, introduced legislation on Wednesday directing the U.S. Secretary of State to designate the Taliban movement as a state sponsor of terrorism as well as an illegitimate regime. The move comes as the U.S. and international community
By Ron Synovitz Abubakar Siddique Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty September 15, 2021 It has been just a month since Taliban militants seized control of Kabul and declared Afghanistan as an “Islamic emirate” that will uphold the militant movement’s interpretation of “Islamic rules and Shari’a law.” But already, the new Taliban regime is struggling to deal with
Ayaz Gul VOA News September 15, 2021 ISLAMABAD – The U.S. peace envoy for Afghanistan says he secured a last-minute deal with the Taliban in mid-August to keep the insurgents outside Kabul while they negotiated a political transition. But, he says, President Ashraf Ghani’s decision to flee the country scuttled that plan. Afghan-born envoy Zalmay
Press TV September 15, 2021 The Taliban are considering the creation of regular armed forces in Afghanistan in the near future. The group’s Chief of Staff Qari Fasihuddin said during a press conference in Kabul on Wednesday that consultations on the matter were ongoing. The Afghan army reportedly had more than 300,000 service members, in
Press TV September 15, 2021 Tajikistan has summoned the US ambassador over the offensive remarks President Joe Biden made about Tajik people during his recent visit to Pennsylvania. The Central Asian country took offense to a jibe Biden used to deflect criticism from his handling of the chaotic US withdrawal from neighboring Afghanistan. In a statement, Tajikistan’s
Radio Farda September 15, 2021 Iran has resumed regular commercial flights to neighboring Afghanistan following a monthlong hiatus. An Iranian Mahan Air aircraft landed in Kabul on September 15 with 19 passengers onboard after departing from the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad, the state-run al-Alam TV channel reported. “At present, this airliner is returning to
Hundreds of people marched in Kandahar on September 14 to protest against what they say are plans by the Taliban to evict them from their homes. Many of those said to be facing eviction are widows or wives of Afghan soldiers killed or wounded in action over the past 20 years in fighting against
By RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi September 15, 2021 A group of top Afghan girls soccer players, their coaches, and family members have fled across the border into neighboring Pakistan as questions linger over the status of female athletes under the newly installed Taliban-led government. “I am so happy to announce that today, more than 79 youth female