1/5 The Taliban’s letter to Congress earlier this week misconstrued the facts re Afghanistan’s economic & humanitarian crisis. Afghanistan was unfortunately already suffering a terrible humanitarian crisis before mid-August, made worse by war, years of drought, & the pandemic. — U.S. Special Representative Thomas West (@US4AfghanPeace) November 19, 2021 Tolo News: In a series of
8am: Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid says that the first humanitarian aid cargo of Russia which has 36 tons weight was transferred to Kabul today Thursday morning. The humanitarian aid contains oil and blanket[s] which were transferred by three planes, and the total of Russian humanitarian aid to Afghanistan is 108 tons and will be transported
Tolo News: Health officials said that thirty-four hospitals and centers treating COVID-19 patients have been closed after international aid was cut off in Afghanistan. This comes as the Afghan-Japan Hospital officials and staff announced on November 10 that the center will be closed if the medical staff does not receive five months’ worth of unpaid
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty November 17, 2021 Afghanistan’s illegal opium production increased by 8 percent in 2021 compared to last year, the United Nations said, as the opiates from the war-torn country continue to dominate the international black market, supplying 8-in-10 users worldwide. Afghanistan harvested 6,800 tons of opium in 2021, the UN Office on
Ayaz Gul VOA New November 17, 2021 ISLAMABAD — The Taliban foreign minister Wednesday penned an “open letter” to the U.S. Congress, warning of a mass refugee exodus from Afghanistan unless the United States unblocks more than $9 billion in Afghan central bank assets and ends other financial sanctions against the country. Amir Khan Muttaqi wrote
By RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi Ron Synovitz November 16, 2021 When Qudratullah lost his family’s farm in northern Afghanistan earlier this year, it was not because of war. It was due to a severe drought — one of the extreme weather conditions in Afghanistan that is blamed on global climate change. The displaced 58-year-old once supported an
8am: According to information provided to Hasht-e Subh, Afghanistan has signed a new contract “against the principles and procurement policies” with an Emirati company by the order of Mohammad Ashraf Ghani after the cancellation of the contract with Olive Group, which was responsible for securing Afghanistan’s airports. The company had no experience in aviation security
Michael Hughes: Former U.S. diplomat Carter Malkasian in his recent book on the war in Afghanistan says Ashraf Ghani as president had felt “centralized reform” was the strategy to defeat the Taliban and raise the country into modernity. Malkasian also points out what turns out to be quite a prescient passage in Ghani’s own book, Fixing Failed States
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty November 15, 2021 Afghanistan’s national currency has reached its lowest level in the past two decades against the U.S. dollar as the war-ravaged country’s economy struggles to stay afloat following the Taliban takeover. The November 14 exchange rate on the foreign-exchange market Sarai Shahzada was quoted at 95 afghanis for one dollar. Two
8am: This USD price against the national currency is one of the highest prices over the past two decades. The US dollar has risen against the afghani currency which 1 USD costs 95 afghanis. The dollar significantly rose against the national currency today (Sunday, November 14), according to Sarai Shahzada Exchange Market, the biggest exchange