Afghanistan Reacts to Suleimani’s Death

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Soleimani

Soleimani

Sayed Jalal Shajjan via The Diplomat:  In Afghanistan, the death of General Suleimani left politicians divided. The government of Afghanistan opted for a neutral position; however, the second vice president of President Ashraf Ghani called Suliemani a “prominent figure in the fight against ISIS in the Middle East.” The Taliban are yet to issue any statement on the drone strike that killed Suliemani, and it is likely that they will remain silent to keep their chances of signing a peace deal alive. Click here to read more (external link).

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Taliban to Share Results of Internal Talks with Khalilzad: Source

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Khalilzad

Khalilzad

Tolo News:  Sources familiar with the peace talks said that the Taliban will share the results of their discussions about the reduction of violence with US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad over the next few days. The source said Khalilzad has returned to Qatar and held an informal meeting with the Taliban’s deputy leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. “Mullah Baradar Akhund and Mr. Khalilzad had an informal meeting yesterday (Sunday),” a journalist in Qatar, Sami Yusufzai, said. “What we found from the two sides today, so far, is that the Taliban has not given a clear response on the ceasefire.” Click here to read more (external link).

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U.S. Ambassador Leaves Kabul After Two-Year Tenure Ends

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John Bass

John Bass

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
January 6, 2020

The U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, John Bass, left Kabul on January 6 as his two-year tenure at the post ended.

The U.S. State Department says Washington is appointing a charge d’affaires to serve as a temporary replacement for Bass until a new ambassador is agreed upon.

In a statement, the State Department said Bass “skillfully advanced the Trump Administration’s goal of reaching a political settlement in Afghanistan that ensures terrorists can never again threaten the United States from Afghan soil while leading a large diplomatic mission in the face of numerous security threats.”

The on-again off-again talks between the United States and the Taliban currently appear to have stalled.

The latest problem in the talks appears to be the issue of what a cease-fire or reduction of violence might look like if Taliban fighters agree on a truce.

In a tweet bidding Afghanistan farewell, Bass said he hoped “leaders and citizens” across Afghanistan will “find strength in unity, put aside their differences, and work together to negotiate a political settlement with the Taliban.”

“Afghans and this beautiful country deserve nothing less,” Bass said.

The departure of Bass from Afghanistan comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States since a U.S. air strike in Baghdad on January 3 killed Iran’s top military general, Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters

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.

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Ghani Speaks to Rouhani over Soleimani’s Death

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Soleimani

Soleimani

Tolo News: President Ashraf Ghani, in a phone conversation with President Hassan Rouhani of Iran, assured his Iranian counterpart that based on the Afghan-US security pact, Afghan soil will never be used against any other country, the Presidential Palace said. In this conversation, President Ghani extended his condolences and sympathy with the people and the president of Iran over Soleimani’s death. Click here to read more (external link).

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Probe Team Finds Evidence in Logar Sex Abuse Case

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logarTolo News: A probe team by the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) has found evidence to support allegations of sex abuse of children and teenagers at some schools in Logar province, according to a member of the rights organization. The commission plans to keep the details secret until the probe team completes its investigation. The allegations were first brought to light last November. Click here to read more (external link).

Up to 8,500 Electoral Complaints Are ‘Serious’: IECC

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IECC-1

Tolo News: The Independent Electoral Complaints Commission (IECC) said up to 8,500 complaints from 31 provinces are “serious” and can impact the total number of votes – which is more than 1.8 million. The preliminary presidential election results were announced on December 22 and the IECC received over 16,500 complaints mainly from three campaign teams – of Abdullah Abdullah, President Ghani and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. Click here to read more (external link).

Bomb Blast In Northern Afghanistan Kills One Civilian, Wounds Two Others

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balkhBy RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan
January 4, 2020

An explosion during the morning rush hour in the northern Afghan province of Balkh has killed a local resident and wounded at least two others, police said, adding the victims were civilians.

The blast was caused by an improvised explosive device attached to a vehicle, Balkh police spokesman Adel Shah told RFE/RL on January 4. He said the bomb went off near a public bathhouse in the provincial capital, Mazar-i Sharif.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast.

The incident comes a day after the Interior Ministry reported that 2,219 civilians were killed and 5,172 were wounded by Taliban militants during 2019.

“Taliban fighters often carry out terrorist assaults on civilian populations,” Marwa Amini, a spokeswoman for the ministry said on January 4, adding that killing civilians is “tantamount to a war crime.”

The Taliban has in the past said that most civilian casualties in Afghanistan were caused by Afghan security forces and international troops.

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.