8am: Today morning (Wednesday, October 20) an explosion took place in Kabul’s Dehmazang area. Eyewitnesses have stated that the explosion killed 2 people and injured 7 civilians, including students. Click here to read more (external link).
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty October 20, 2021 Russia is hosting a high-level Taliban delegation for talks attended by officials from China, Pakistan, and eight other countries, as Moscow seeks to assert its influence on Central Asia amid worries about instability or violence spilling from Afghanistan into the region. The October 20 conference in Moscow is
By Ron Synovitz RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi October 19, 2021 Like hundreds of families in Ghor Province who once survived on payments from Afghanistan’s former government, 14-year-old Ahmad Zia and his relatives have been devastated by the Taliban’s seizure of power. The men in Ahmad Zia’s extended family were members of an ethnic-Tajik Popular Uprising Force that
By RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi October 19, 2021 The Taliban’s acting interior minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani, a wanted global terrorist and one of the country’s most senior officials, has praised suicide attackers and promised their relatives money and land. Haqqani, the leader of the notorious Haqqani network and listed as a terrorist by the United States with a
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty October 18, 2021 WASHINGTON — Zalmay Khalilzad, the top U.S. envoy to Afghanistan, is stepping down from his long-standing role following the Western military pullout from that war-ravaged country, the State Department says. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on October 18 said Khalilzad, who led U.S. negotiators in talks with the
Tolo News: The Islamic Emirate hopes the Moscow conference will pave the ground for an improvement of the political and economic relations with other countries and the recognition of the current government. Click here to read more (external link). Related Karzai Says Taliban’s International Recognition Requires Internal Legitimacy
8am: Although the Taliban has announced a general amnesty after seizing power, their armed forces still persecute people in some parts of the country, including Ghor province, a resident of Ghori said. The Taliban has forced these two villages to pay the ransom, he said. So far, the Taliban has collected 1 million and 500
Tolo News: Acting [Taliban] foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said Sunday that Daesh was not emboldened but there is rhetoric in favor of the group. He made the remarks in an interview with the Turkish news agency Anatolia. “It fortunately doesn’t have the military capacity and it doesn’t have a sanctuary in Afghanistan,” he said.
Patsy Widakuswara VOA News October 16, 2021 WHITE HOUSE — U.S. officials and independent analysts reacted skeptically Friday to a Taliban claim that China is ready to invest billions of dollars in Afghanistan. White House press secretary Jen Psaki indicated the United States is more concerned with helping the Afghan people as the nation’s economy collapses
8am: Officials in Mazar-e-Sharif say that 85% of manufacturing plants in the province are closed due to restrictions on monetary services and banks. They call on the Taliban to take action immediately to address their challenges while supporting domestic production. Click here to read more (external link). More Economic News Drought Has Affected Almond Harvesting