Remembering President Daoud’s Coup: Lessons for Afghanistan’s Future

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Daoud Khan

Arwin Rahi: On July 17, 1973, former Prime Minister Mohammad Daoud Khan staged a coup against Afghanistan’s last king, Mohammad Zahir Shah, Daoud’s cousin and brother-in-law. Exactly what motivated Daoud to topple his cousin is a matter of contention. At the time neither Daoud nor his allies had the slightest idea that they were setting in motion a tidal wave, of which they would soon lose control. As a result Afghanistan would be plunged into the darkness of chaos and instability. Click here to read more (external link).

Kidnapped Sikh leader Nidan Singh released in Afghanistan

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Tribune News Service: India has thanked the Afghan government for the safe return of kidnapped Sikh Nidan Singh Sachdeva and has decided to facilitate the return of Afghan Hindu and Sikh community members facing security threats in Afghanistan to India, said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a statement. There are about 1,000 Sikh and Hindus left in Afghanistan…  Click here to read more (external link).

Negligence could hike up Covid-19 cases: MoPH

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Osmani

Ariana: According to the Ministry of Health, although the number of registrations of Coronavirus patients has been declining recently, the negligence of the people in dealing with it and the non-observance of the health points of this ministry are worrying. “The Coronavirus is not over. Although it has decreased, if we do not pay attention, we will not recover. We will face a new wave of the corona,” said Jawad Osmani, acting public health minister. Click here to read more (external link).

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90 percent of Afghans live below $2 poverty line: president

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Ashraf Ghani

1TV: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said on Saturday that 90 percent of the country’s population live below the $2 poverty line. The president made during a ceremony to launch Dastarkhan Milli, a $244 million aid distribution program. The president also suggested that Afghanistan cannot always be dependent on international donation. He said that the country was rich in natural resources which should be used for development. Click here to read more (external link).

Taliban reject changes in prisoners’ list: sources

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Previously released prisoners

Ariana: Following the Afghan government’s demand for providing a revised list of Taliban prisoners, the group rejected the offer and insisted on the release of all those inmates mentioned in the list already shared with the government. Sources close to the Taliban said the group has asked the Afghan government to clarify why the group’s remaining 600 prisoners have not been released, or for an impartial delegation to look into the demands of the Taliban and the government in connection with their release. Click here to read more (external link).

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9 wounded in bomb attack in N. Afghanistan

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PUL-E-KHUMRI, July 17 (Xinhua) — Six civilians and three police officers were wounded in a bomb attack in Afghanistan’s northern province of Baghlan on Friday, a local official confirmed. “Nine wounded people were admitted at a main provincial hospital Friday morning. Some of the affected people sustained serious wounds,” Haleem Ghafari from provincial health directorate told Xinhua. Click here to read more (external link).

Afghanistan Coronavirus update: 32 new death cases

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Ariana: Afghanistan has recorded 32 Coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours as the number of confirmed cases have been decreased in recent days. It brings the total fatalities to 1147 people in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, 159 new COVID-19 cases have been registered in the past 24 hours, bringing the total infections to 35889 in the country. So far, 23,208 have recovered from the virus in Afghanistan. Click here to read more (external link).

Taliban Expands Footprint Inside Afghanistan as US Vacates Key Bases

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Michael Hughes: The fact the Taliban established seven new training camps on Afghan soil in the past 30 days just as U.S. forces were exiting five military bases is likely not a pure coincidence. However, its significance will be impossible to weigh until more is known about the U.S. anti-terror posture after the conditions-based-in-name-only exit plan is fully executed.

The Pentagon, for its part, said the move was in line with the terms of the pact Washington forged with the insurgency earlier this year. The deal outlines a “conditions-based” withdrawal, albeit the conditions can, apparently, be loosely interpreted.

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