The Atlantic: America’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan added moral injury to military failure. But a group of soldiers, veterans, and ordinary citizens came together to try to save Afghan lives and salvage some American honor. Click here to read more (external link).
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty January 31, 2022 U.S. President Joe Biden on January 30 called on the Taliban to release American civil engineer and contractor Mark Frerichs as he reaches the two-year mark since his abduction in Kabul. Frerichs, a U.S. Navy veteran, is thought to be in the captivity of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network.
Tolo News: The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) called on the US Department of State to reconsider the decision to suspend the Fulbright program for Afghanistan, which provides talented Afghan youth opportunities to build their future. Sam Mort, Chief of Communication, Advocacy and Civic Engagement for UNICEF Afghanistan, on Twitter expressed disappointment over the suspension
Al Jazeera: Biden administration faces looming deadline to give position on matter regarding $7bn held at New York Federal Reserve. The US government has said that releasing frozen funds to the Taliban is currently a legal impossibility. Click here to read more (external link). Other Economic News As Hunger Spreads in Afghanistan, Hospitals Fill With
8am: The United States has informed Afghan diplomats in Washington that it is shutting down the Afghan embassy in the country, Al Arabiya English TV reported. According to Al Arabiya English TV, the US will close all Afghan diplomatic missions in the country. Click here to read more (external link).
8am: In an interview with Al Jazeera news channel, the Taliban acting interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani said that if the United States did not recognize them, they would continue to threaten the US. Haqqani said, “By refusing to recognize the Taliban, the US is keeping the doors of hostility against the Afghan people wide open.” Click
Akmal Dawi VOA News January 25, 2022 Diplomats of the former Afghan government who have held on to their jobs in the U.S. are grappling with a new problem: their official bank accounts have been suspended. Two senior Afghan diplomats, who did not want to be named because the issue is under discussion with U.S.
NYT: Commandos who played a key role in helping American forces are waiting for visas in the United Arab Emirates, and are among the last of the evacuated Afghans to get a chance to reach the United States. Click here to read more (external link).
Foreign Policy: Hamdullah Mohib, former Afghan national security advisor, spoke about what went wrong, who’s to blame, and what lies in store for his country. Click here to read more (external link).
CNN: The US military released videos Wednesday of the botched August 29 drone strike in Kabul that killed 10 Afghan civilians, including seven children. The newly released videos show the view from above Kabul as the military tracked a white Toyota Corolla through parts of the city, believing that it was an ISIS-K car laden