Ex-Football Chief Ready to Defend Allegations Against Him

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Karim

Tolo News: Former president of Afghanistan’s Football Federation, Keramuddin Karim, who is accused of sexual and physical abuse of woman footballers on Friday appeared at a public gathering in his hometown Panjshir province and said he is ready to respond to allegations against him at an “impartial” court. He said the government has exploited his case politically. Click here to read more (external link).

Watchdog highlights ‘serious flaws’ in Afghanistan Cricket Board

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1TV: Afghanistan Cricket Board lacks transparency, accountability, governance and corruption prevention measures, the Integrity Watch said in a report released Saturday. The report said that the board faces allegations of allegations of nepotism and favoritism as it identified 19 cricket players who had relatives in the cricket administration. Click here to read more (external link).

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Study finds released Taliban prisoners returning to battlefield

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Previously released prisoners

Ariana: Taliban prisoners released by the Afghan government over the past few weeks are returning to the battlefield as commanders and fighters in contravention of the Doha agreement between the United States and the Taliban, Foreign Policy reports. According to the article, the majority of Taliban prisoners released are taking up arms to fight Afghan forces in a bid to overthrow the government. Click here to read more (external link).

Taliban Delegation Arrives In Qatar, Paving The Way For Start Of Afghan Talks

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RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan
September 5, 2020

A Taliban delegation has arrived in Qatar, paving the way for the start of the long-delayed intra-Afghan talks that are expected to take place in the Gulf state.

“All members of our negotiating team have arrived in Doha. The talks will begin once some small technical issues are resolved,” Suhail Shaheen, a spokesman for the militant group, told the AFP news agency on September 5.

In Kabul, Faraidoon Khawzoon, a spokesman for the High Council for National Reconciliation, said the government was ready to start direct negotiations.

“The process of releasing the prisoners is over and there is no excuse for delaying the talks, but the Taliban are still not ready to take part in the talks,” Khawzoon tweeted on September 5, without further elaboration.

The talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban are a crucial part of a peace deal the United States signed with the Taliban in February.

Until the deal with the United States, the Taliban refused to directly negotiate with the Afghan government.

The talks were initially due to begin in March, but disagreements over ongoing violence and the prisoner swap have seen the start repeatedly pushed back.

The United States has ramped up pressure on Afghans on both sides of the conflict to open up negotiations over what a postwar Afghanistan might look like, how the rights of women and minorities would be protected, and how the tens of thousands of Taliban fighters and progovernment militias are disarmed and reintegrated.

Based on reporting by AP, AFP

Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.

Related

Abdullah says “lasting ceasefire” first issue to be discussed in intra-Afghan talks

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Ariana: The Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah says that a lasting ceasefire will be the first issue that the Afghan delegation would negotiate with the Taliban once the intra-Afghan talks are started. In an interview with Al Arabiya, Abdullah said: “ The first issue to be discussed will be the issue of ceasefire a sort of long term ceasefire or lasting ceasefire which creates the environmentally better environment for the continuation of negotiations.” Click here to read more (external link).

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No Aid Delivered by Govt in Kapisa: Residents

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Tolo News: Flood-hit residents in Nijrab district of Kapisa province on Friday blamed the government for not providing any aid to those affected due to recent flooding in the province. The residents said they have lost all their belongings. Roads and infrastructures were also badly damaged in Nejrab, according to residents. “They took our phone numbers and ID cards, but nothing was given to our families,” said Qamar Gul, a Nijrab resident. Click here to read more (external link).

Afghan Company Introduces Locally Made Vehicles

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VOA News
September 3, 2020

A Kabul-based company this week unveiled a fleet of locally made solar- and battery-powered passenger vehicles, as well as hybrid and conventional gas-powered cars and trucks, designed to give Afghans an alternative to imports.

At a ceremony Wednesday in the Afghan capital, Amin Noor Industrial Companies introduced 11 vehicle models ranging in price between $1,200 and $2,500 (USD). They include several electric vehicles, charged by solar energy.

A spokesperson from the company said that the goal is to open a new market for the cars in Afghanistan, which heavily relies on imported and mostly secondhand Japanese and Canadian models.

Afghan Economy Minister Mustafa Mastoor, who attended the ceremony, said a less expensive, more environmentally friendly vehicle was a welcome addition to the Afghan market.

Amin Noor company manager Ahmad Zia Ahmadyar said it took three years to produce 80% of the vehicle parts. The company still imports parts for the engines, tires and glass for windows but hopes to produce those itself in the next five to 10 years.

The company has not established a production goal, but the spokesman said the plan is to manufacture vehicles according to orders. Company officials are discussing the sale of up to 30 vehicles to the Afghan presidential palace, but the hope is to expand to other Afghan government ministries before making them available to the general public.