Taliban Sends Letters to Afghan Leaders Calling for Direct Talks
Tolo News: The Taliban has sent letters to a number of Afghan political leaders, calling on them to enter into direct talks with the group… Meanwhile, the office of Abdullah Abdullah, the head of the High Council of National Reconciliation (HCNR), confirmed that it had received a letter from the Taliban, however Abdullah’s office said that the letter is aimed to create discord on the republic side. Click here to read more (external link).
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206 New Cases of COVID-19, 7 Deaths Reported in Afghanistan
Tolo News: The Ministry of Public Health on Wednesday reported 206 new positive cases of COVID-19 out of 1,877 samples tested in the last 24 hours. The ministry reported that the cumulative total of known COVID-19 cases is 59,576, the total number of reported deaths is 2,618, and the total number of recoveries is 52,974. Click here to read more (external link).
Afghanistan’s GDP to expand by 3% in 2021: ADB
Ariana: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) forecasts that Afghanistan’s gross domestic product GDP growth will increase by 3% in 2021 and 4% in 2022 after the normalization of business activity and market sentiment. Click here to read more (external link).
State Department Orders Some U.S. Staff Out Of Afghanistan
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
April 27, 2021
The State Department has issued a travel advisory ordering U.S. government employees out of the Afghan capital, Kabul, if their work can be done elsewhere.
“Travel to all areas of Afghanistan is unsafe because of critical levels of kidnappings, hostage taking, suicide bombings, widespread military combat operations, landmines, and terrorist and insurgent attacks, including attacks using vehicle-borne, magnetic, or other improvised explosive devices (IEDs), suicide vests, and grenades,” according to the advisory, which was issued on April 27.
”On April 27, 2021, the Department ordered the departure from U.S. Embassy Kabul of U.S. government employees whose functions can be performed elsewhere,” it said.
A State Department spokeswoman told Reuters by e-mail that the order affects ”a relatively small number of employees at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul effective immediately,” but declined to discuss the exact number of staff affected.
“We do not anticipate any changes to our operations and capabilities resulting from this action,” she added.
President Joe Biden this month set a deadline for withdrawing all 2,500 U.S. troops remaining in Afghanistan on September 11, the 20th anniversary of Al-Qaeda’s attacks on the United States that triggered the war.
With reporting by Reuters
Copyright (c) 2021. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036
Pentagon: US Will not Provide Air Support after Withdrawal
Tolo News: John Kirby, US Pentagon spokesman, said that the US will not provide air support to the Afghan security forces after the American forces withdraw from the country. He said that the US will continue its financial cooperation and will provide aid for the repair and maintenance of Afghan aircraft after September. Click here to read more (external link).
Afghan interpreters rejected for resettlement fear death after UK exit
BBC News: AJ has been scared to leave his home in Kabul for months – he fears the Taliban want him and his family dead. Now in his early 30s, he is one of hundreds of Afghans who worked with British forces as interpreters and support staff, and who may now be targeted by the militants as a result. They fear the risk will only increase when foreign forces pull out this year. Click here to read more (external link).
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Afghanistan says it has over 400 IS prisoners from 14 countries
ISIS trainees
1TV: A total of 408 IS militants from 14 countries are in Afghanistan’s jails, Afghan intelligence chief said on Tuesday. Most of the prisoners (299) are from neighboring Pakistan, Zia Siraj, head of National Directorate of Security, told reporters. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – April 27, 2021
Two Afghan Buses Crash Head-On, Killing 7 And Injuring Dozens
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
April 27, 2021
Afghan officials say at least seven people were killed and more than 70 others were injured in an overnight traffic accident near the capital, Kabul.
The accident involved two passenger buses that crashed head-on in the Paghman district along the Kabul–Kandahar highway, Interior Ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said on April 27.
Arian said the injured were transferred to hospitals for treatment.
The cause of the accident was not immediately known.
Last week, at least 15 people were killed and a dozen were injured when a truck and passenger bus collided in the southern province of Zabul.
Afghanistan’s poorly maintained roads, as well as reckless driving by motorists, cause dozens of deaths annually.
Based on reporting by AP and dpa