Taliban Shuts Down Kabul’s Women-Run Bakeries, Leaving Families in Crisis

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8am: Several female bakers in Kabul say the Taliban have recently shut down their bakeries without prior warning and prevented them from continuing their work. They add that the Taliban halted their operations under accusations of employing male co-workers, failure of some customers to observe hijab, and visits by men. These women emphasize that they had established their bakeries through loans and by overcoming numerous challenges, but now they have lost this source of income and are grappling with severe economic hardship. Click here to read more (external link).

Afghan Women’s Groups Seek Legal Action Against Cheryl Benard Over Taliban Remarks

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Bernard

Afghanistan International: Dozens of Afghan women’s civil society organisations have demanded that international bodies launch legal proceedings against Cheryl Benard, wife of former US special representative Zalmay Khalilzad, for comments they say downplayed the Taliban’s gender-based repression. Benard, an author and researcher, recently asserted that Afghan women have not been excluded from society, continue to live and work normally, and that it is safe for refugees to return. Click here to read more (external link).

Taliban Detain 12-Year-Old Son Of Outspoken Cleric Mawlawi Qanit In Kabul Raid

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Qanit

Afghanistan International:  Taliban forces have detained the 12-year-old son of prominent cleric and vocal Taliban critic Mawlawi Abdul Qadir Qanit during a raid on the family’s home in Kabul, sources close to the family told Afghanistan International. Qanit himself was arrested two days earlier from the same residence. Mawlawi Qanit is one of the few religious scholars who have consistently and publicly criticised the Taliban’s rule, frequently speaking out against the group’s policies and consolidation of power. Click here to read more (external link).

Related

Iran, India No Longer See Group As Pakistan Proxy, Says Taliban Envoy

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Taliban Sohail Shaheen

Afghanistan International: Suhail Shaheen, the Taliban’s ambassador in Qatar has claimed that Iran and India no longer regard the group as a proxy of Pakistan. Speaking in an interview with Al Jazeera, Shaheen stated that both New Delhi and Tehran have come to recognise that this perception was inaccurate. He asserted that regional powers have begun to accept the Taliban as the de facto rulers of Afghanistan, engaging with them as a matter of pragmatism. Click here to read more (external link).

Pakistan, Afghanistan move towards ‘restoring ties’ in talks with China

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Al Jazeera: As Pakistan remained embroiled in a war of words with its archrival India – following a dramatic exchange of missiles and drones nearly two weeks ago – it this week advanced diplomatic efforts with two other neighbors: China and Afghanistan, which could lead to the formal resumption of diplomatic ties between Islamabad and Kabul after nearly four years. Click here to read more (external link).

Pakistan, Taliban To Elevate Diplomatic Ties To Ambassador Level

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Afghanistan International: China has announced that Pakistan and the Taliban have agreed to elevate their diplomatic relations to the level of ambassadors. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi welcomed the development, stating that Beijing supports the strengthening of ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Although neither Pakistan nor China has formally recognised the Taliban government, both countries have maintained close working relations with the group. Click here to read more (external link).