Ayaz Gul VOA News January 21, 2025 Islamabad — Taliban authorities in Afghanistan announced Tuesday the release of two American nationals as part of a prisoner exchange for one of their members, who was held in the United States on narcotics-terrorism charges. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul identified the freed Afghan as Khan Mohammad
Tolo News: The Russian foreign ministry has accused Britain and other NATO member states of concealing war crimes and imposing restrictions on investigating war crimes committed by their forces in Afghanistan. Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated that existing evidence demonstrates brutal actions by NATO member states against Afghan civilians. She said:
Khaama: The UK Ministry of Defence has recently announced that ten special forces soldiers may face legal action for committing war crimes in Syria and Afghanistan. According to British media reports citing the Ministry of Defence, these soldiers could be prosecuted for actions such as the killing of civilians or the excessive use of force
8am: Residents of Farah province have reported a sharp and unprecedented rise in armed robberies, sparking widespread concern among the population. They claim that many of these thefts occur near Taliban checkpoints and bases, yet the group has failed to address the issue. Some residents allege that Taliban fighters are directly involved in these incidents,
Afghanistan International: The US Department of Justice announced that it has sentenced Abdul Sattar Barakzai, 59, to 30 years in prison for “participating in narcoterrorism for the benefit of the Taliban and the Haqqani Network.” Barakzai is also charged with importing heroin into New York and forging documents. He was found guilty after a two-week
Amu: Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), met with Afghan women’s rights activists on Friday to underscore the court’s focus on addressing gender-based crimes in Afghanistan. In a statement posted on X, the ICC said, “Alongside victims and civil society, the Office of the Prosecutor has prioritized action on gender-based
Afghanistan International: Following the referral of Afghanistan’s case to the International Criminal Court, the court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, announced that he would soon request arrest warrants for Taliban officials. He said that investigations into human rights violations, particularly women’s rights, in Afghanistan were ongoing. Click here to read more (external link).
Khaama: Prosecutor Karim Khan confirmed that his office has already launched investigations into the alleged crimes in Afghanistan, including human rights violations against women, and will continue these efforts. The Prosecutor emphasized that investigations have been independent, impartial, and focused on allegations of gender-based discrimination and harassment. Click here to read more (external link).
Afghanistan International: Sources claimed that the five perpetrators of the gangrape are members of Niloufar’s husband’s family. According to them, one of the perpetrators has been identified as “Mayel Agha” and is a member of the Taliban in Kapisa. Earlier, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in a report in December quoted some
Afghanistan International: Sources from the Taliban’s Prisons Regulatory Authority confirmed to Afghanistan International that 150 foreign nationals are currently being held in the group’s prisons in Afghanistan. According to these sources, at least 10 of these prisoners are Iranian. According to statistics provided by the agency, a total of nearly 12,000 prisoners are held in