HRW Calls For Women’s ‘Full’ Participation In Afghan Peace Talks

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Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
April 8, 2021

Human Rights Watch (HRW) says women should be “full participants” in the upcoming conference in Turkey meant to give new impetus to the Afghan peace process.

Human rights advocates in Afghanistan have raised concerns that women and victims’ organizations will be sidelined in the talks, tentatively scheduled to begin in Istanbul on April 16.

The gathering is to be held under United Nations auspices with participation of Afghan government officials and the Taliban, with the discussion expected to touch upon proposed peace plans aimed at putting an end to decades of war in Afghanistan that include a possible interim government.

In a statement on April 7, HRW urged senior UN officials to make a public commitment to “fully include” Afghan women in the main talks, and not only in “parallel” side events devoted to civil society groups.

The United States, which has promoted the Istanbul talks in an effort to accelerate intra-Afghan peace negotiations before a U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, has an important role to play in promoting full participation by women, according to the New York-based human rights watchdog.

HRW noted that the Afghan government delegation at a meeting in Moscow last month meant to advance peace talks included only one woman.

Meanwhile, the government’s official delegation on intra-Afghan talks that have been ongoing in Qatar includes four women among its 20 members.

In both settings, the Taliban delegations have been entirely male.

The UN has repeatedly stated its commitment to ensuring the full participation of Afghan women in the peace process amid concerns among rights activists that the government in Kabul will trade away women’s rights to reach an accommodation with the Taliban.

“UN officials should make clear that women should not be relegated to side discussions but need a central role in determining Afghanistan’s future,” while the United States “should not stay silent if the Afghan government shuts women out of peace talks,” said Heather Barr, interim women’s rights co-director at HRW.

“It’s critical for the [administration of U.S. President Joe Biden] to be clear that Afghan women need to be full participants in all talks, and that women’s rights are not a bargaining chip,” Barr added.

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

Rashid discusses local cricket and ‘dreams’ of playing for a home crowd

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Rashid Khan

Ariana: One of Afghanistan’s star cricketers, Rashid Khan, said this week that despite the national team’s success on the international circuit, local cricket would benefit from more academies, more standardized grounds and more qualified coaches. Speaking to The Cricketer on his rise to fame as one of the world’s best bowlers, Rashid said: “Currently, our cricket relies mainly on natural talent. Click here to read more (external link).

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Afghanistan: 76 New Cases of COVID-19, 5 Deaths Reported

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Tolo News: The Ministry of Public Health on Thursday reported 76 new positive cases of COVID-19 out of 2,559 samples tested in the last 24 hours. The ministry reported that the cumulative total of known COVID-19 cases is 57,019, the total number of reported deaths is 2,521, and the total number of recoveries is 51,956. Click here to read more (external link).

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UNHCR Funds Health Care for Thousands More Afghan Refugees in Iran

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Lisa Schlein
VOA News
April 7, 2021

GENEVA – The U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) reports it is covering the cost of health insurance for an additional 20,000 Afghan refugees in Iran. This boosts the number of refugees to 120,000 who will be able to access medical care for COVID-19 and other illnesses under Iran’s national health plan.

Iran hosts nearly 800,000 Afghan refugees.  Over the past year, the UNHCR has paid insurance premiums for 100,000 of the most vulnerable refugees. Given the dangers posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, it now has boosted that number by another 20,000.

UNHCR spokesman Babar Balloch says Iran is one of only a handful of countries in the world that allows refugees to sign up for its national health insurance and receive the same treatment as its nationals.

“The national insurance scheme allows for free COVID-19 treatment and hospitalization.  It also subsidizes the cost of surgeries, dialysis, radiology, laboratory tests, out-patient care and more.  However, many refugees are not able to afford the premium costs,” he said.

Balloch said the pandemic has severely affected the ability of refugees to earn a living as they usually rely on precarious and unstable jobs. The cost of health care, he said, is unaffordable for most refugees as it represents about 40% of a refugee family’s monthly expenses.

And, yet, in the time of COVID, accessing treatment could be a matter of life or death. The World Health Organization reports Iran is the most COVID-affected country in the Eastern Mediterranean region. The latest data show more than 1.9 million cases, including 63,000 deaths.

The UNHCR warns fewer refugees are likely to seek treatment for urgent health needs if they are unable to afford health insurance. The agency says it may not be able to continue subsidizing the cost of insurance premiums for the refugees due to its tight budget. The agency notes this year’s UNHCR funding appeal of $97 million is only 7% funded.

Taliban Claims Attack Against International Forces In Southern Afghanistan

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Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
April 7, 2021

A Taliban spokesman says insurgents targeted an airbase in southern Afghanistan where international troops are based.

If confirmed, it would be the first attack against foreign forces that the Taliban has claimed responsibility for since the United States signed a deal with the Taliban in February 2020.

Kandahar Airfield, where international troops in NATO’s Resolute Support mission are based, was “targeted with multiple missiles” on April 7, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah wrote in a tweet.

“Missiles have hit targets, causing heavy human & material losses,” he added.

Neither the U.S. military nor NATO has commented on the claim.

According to the U.S.-Taliban agreement, reached under the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump, the militant group agreed to end attacks against international troops.

All foreign forces are also to leave Afghanistan by May 1 in exchange for security guarantees from the militant group such as severing ties with Al-Qaeda and refusing to harbor any foreign terrorists.

But Trump’s successor, President Joe Biden, has warned the withdrawal deadline will be difficult to meet, raising the prospect the entire agreement with the Taliban will unravel.

Afghanistan has seen a nationwide spike in bombings, targeted killings, and violence on the battlefield as common ground evades peace negotiators in Qatar.

Later this month, Taliban and Afghan government representatives are expected to gather for a U.S.-backed international conference in Turkey meant to give new impetus to intra-Afghan peace talks.

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

Taliban cell behind killing of former TV presenter Siawash arrested: Saleh

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Yama Siawash

1TV: Kabul police arrested an 11-member Taliban cell behind the killing of former TV presenter Yama Siawash, Afghan First Vice President Amrullah Saleh said Wednesday. Siawash, who formerly worked at the private TOLO News channel, was killed when the vehicle carrying him was bombed in Kabul in November last year. Click here to read more (external link).

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