1TV: Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Twitter claimed that some media outlets have been disseminating NDS propaganda and are not maintaining impartiality. He warned of actions if this continues. Meanwhile, NDS chief Zia Siraj, speaking in a closed-door session of parliament, said that some TV stations spreading propaganda benefiting the Taliban is shocking and will not be tolerated. Click here to read (external link).
1TV Afghanistan Dari News – May 5, 2021
Deadly Blast Targets Health Workers In Kabul
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
May 5, 2021
A roadside bomb targeted a minibus carrying medical workers in the Afghan capital on May 5, killing one person, Kabul police and officials said.
Three medics were wounded and taken to hospitals, said Kabul police chief spokesman Ferdaws Faramarz.
The health workers were heading to their office in the central province of Panjshir, said Abdul Ghafoor Popalzai, governor of the Kalakan district, where the incident occurred.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, and Faramarz said police were investigating.
The attack comes as U.S. troops have officially begun leaving the country. The pullout, which must be completed by September 11 at the latest, comes amid an emboldened Taliban, which now controls or holds sway over half of Afghanistan.
U.S. General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on May 2 that there would possibly be “some really dramatic, bad possible outcomes” for Afghan forces after U.S. and NATO troops leave and they are left to counter the Taliban on their own. “We frankly don’t know yet,” he said.
Based on reporting by AP and TOLOnews.com
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
Afghanistan’s Moment of Risk and Opportunity
Ashraf Ghani
Ashraf Ghani via Foreign Affairs: President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw the remaining 2,500 U.S. troops from Afghanistan by September represents a turning point for the country and our neighbors. The Afghan government respects the decision and views it as a moment of both opportunity and risk for itself, for Afghans, for the Taliban, and for the region. Click here to read more (external link).
COVID-19: 365 New Cases, 10 Deaths Reported in Afghanistan
Tolo News: On Wednesday, the Ministry of Public Health reported 365 new positive cases of COVID-19 out of 1,993 samples tested in the last 24 hours. The ministry reported that the cumulative total of known COVID-19 cases is 61,162, the total number of reported deaths is 2,664, and the total number of recoveries is 53,750. Click here to read more (external link).
Thousands Of Afghans Flee Homes As The Taliban Launches Major Offensive
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
May 4, 2021
Thousands of people have fled their homes in Afghanistan’s southern province of Helmand as Afghan security forces fought back a large-scale offensive after the United States began to pull its forces from the war-torn country.
Provincial council head Attaullah Afghan said on May 4 that the Taliban launched an ample offensive the previous day, attacking checkpoints around the outskirts of the regional capital of Lashkar Gah, taking over some of them.
The Afghan army launched air strikes and deployed elite commando forces to the area and the insurgents had been pushed back but fighting was continuing on May 4, Afghan added.
About 1,000 families were forced to flee their homes to escape the fighting, and took refuge in Lashkar Gah, the province’s director for refugees said.
“Many who still have not found shelter in the city need urgent assistance,” according to Sayed Mohammad Rami.
Although the United States did not meet the May 1 withdrawal deadline agreed in talks with the Taliban last year, it did begin to pull its forces on that date after President Joe Biden announced all troops will leave by September 11.
The decision was criticized by some, who argue that the militants will try to sweep back into power.
As part of the pullout, U.S. forces handed over a base in Helmand to Afghan troops two days ago.
The Afghan Defense Ministry said more than 100 Taliban fighters had been killed in the fighting in Helmand. It did not provide details on casualties among Afghan security forces.
It also said that government troops have been responding to attacks by the Taliban in at least six other provinces, including southeastern Ghazni and southern Kandahar, in the past 24 hours.
The Taliban did not immediately respond to request for comment.
The May 1 deadline for U.S. troops to pull out was agreed last year under former President Donald Trump. The Taliban rejected Biden’s announcement that troops would instead withdraw over the next four and a half months.
The news of the militants’ offensive came a day after the Pentagon dismissed what it called “small harassing attacks” on withdrawing international forces.
“What we’ve seen are some small harassing attacks over the course of the weekend that have not had any significant impact, certainly not on our people or our resources there and bases,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters on May 3.
U.S. generals have expressed concerns in recent weeks that the pullout might lead to the collapse of the Afghan government or a new civil war, despite reassurances by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani who insisted last week that government forces were “fully capable” of keeping militants at bay.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in London on May 3 that the United States was “not disengaging” and that “we intend to sustain our assistance” to Afghanistan despite the pullout.
With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and TOLOnews.com
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
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1TV Afghanistan Dari News – May 4, 2021
One-third of Afghan population facing acute food insecurity
Ariana: One-in-three Afghans are acutely food insecure, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) assessment report released by the Afghan government and its partners on Tuesday. According to the IPC report, food insecurity in Afghanistan is attributed to the lingering impact of COVID-19, armed conflict, a rise in food prices, high unemployment rates and income loss, and the start of the complex and recurrent La Niña weather event. Click here to read more (external link).
44 Leave Pamir Area of Badakhshan, Obtain Kyrgyz Citizenship
Tolo News: Officials said 44 residents of Badakhshan’s Pamir area left the mountainous region in Afghanistan’s northeast and obtained Kyrgyzstan citizenship. They are seeking a better life by leaving their native living style, officials said. Pamir residents said they have been ignored by governments over the last several decades. Click here to read more (external link).
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234 New Cases of COVID-19, 6 Deaths Reported in Afghanistan
Tolo News: The Ministry of Public Health on Tuesday reported 234 new positive cases of COVID-19 out of 2,078 samples tested in the last 24 hours. The ministry reported that the cumulative total of known COVID-19 cases is 60,563, the total number of reported deaths is 2,648, and the total number of recoveries is 53,561. Click here to read more (external link).