Khalid Warns Against Any Deal In Peace Process

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Assadullah Khalid

Assadullah Khalid

Tolo News: Addressing Army soldiers at a ceremony in central Maidan Wardak province, Acting Defense Minister Assadullah Khalid said the Afghan forces are fighting for peace and that any deal in the peace talks which will result in “transition of power” will not be acceptable to them.   His remarks come amid ongoing efforts by the Afghan government and the US for finding a political settlement to the problem in Afghanistan. As part of these efforts, the US Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad is on a multi-nation trip on Afghan peace. Click here to read more (external link).

Other Security News

Afghanistan’s Opener Shahzad Out Of World Cup

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Mohammad Shahzad

Mohammad Shahzad

Tolo News:  Mohammad Shahzad, the Afghanistan opener, is out of ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019, with wicket-keeper batsman Ikram Ali Khil called up as a replacement, according to a report by ICC website. The ICC has confirmed that the Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 has approved Khil as a replacement player for Shahzad in the Afghanistan squad for the remainder of the tournament. Click here to read more (external link).

FIFA aware of Afghanistan sexual abuse allegations two years ago, according to emails

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he Afghanistan FA president, Keramuudin Karim, has been suspended by Fifa since December 2018.

Afghanistan FA president, Keramuudin Karim, has been suspended by Fifa since December 2018.

The Guardian (UK): Fifa and Asian football’s governing body were made aware of sexual abuse allegations against senior Afghanistan football officials and a coach more than two years ago, according to emails seen by the Guardian. The Asian Football Confederation said late last year, after Afghanistan women’s national team players made detailed allegations of sexual and physical abuse, that it had received no complaints of abuse. Last November a Fifa source said that it began investigating claims of sexual abuse when it was told of the allegations in March 2018. The Guardian has been shown emails which suggest senior officials within Fifa and the AFC were informed in April 2017 of possible abuse of players within the Afghan federation. No action was apparently taken by either organisation… Click here to read more (external link).

Naderi Calls For Impartial Probe Into Allegations Against Arg

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Ashraf Ghani

Ashraf Ghani

Tolo News: A former advisor to President Ashraf Ghani and a women’s rights activist, Farkhunda Zahra Naderi, on Thursday, called for an independent investigation by an impartial “third party” into sexual abuse allegations against the Presidential Palace, Arg, which was followed by a big buzz among political elites, media and civil society activists. The allegations were made last month by a former Afghan government official who claimed that some members of Ghani’s administration were trading government positions for sexual favors. General Habibullah Ahmadzai, a former security adviser to President Ghani, leveled these allegations. The allegations were widely shared on social media, triggering an outcry in the country. Click here to read more (external link).

Afghanistan beats the world in depression, and it can barely cope

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mental_health_depressionFC: According to Afghanistan’s Health Ministry, one in two Afghans experiences stress due to the war in their country, while thousands suffer from diagnosable illness including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, schizophrenia, extreme anxiety, and bipolar disorder. Although some of these conditions can be inherited, beleaguered doctors have little doubt that four decades of armed clashes, suicide bombings, and airstrikes have reshaped the country’s mental health landscape. Click here to read more (external link).

Australia police raid ABC over report on killing of civilians in Afghanistan

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The body of an Afghan boy reportedly killed and left among rocks by Australian troops in Kandahar in 2012. (File photo)

The body of an Afghan boy reportedly killed and left among rocks by Australian troops in Kandahar in 2012. (File photo)

Press TV
June 5, 2019

Police in Australia have raided the headquarters of the Australian Broadcasting Corp. (ABC) over a report that used leaked information to reveal the killing of civilians in Afghanistan by Australian forces.

The police raided and searched the public broadcaster’s offices in Sydney on Wednesday, specifically targeting three journalists involved in preparing the report, according to ABC executives.

The investigative report by the public broadcaster revealed allegations of unlawful killings and misconduct by Australian Special Forces in Afghanistan. The Australian Federal Police merely said the search was “in relation to allegations of publishing classified material, contrary to provisions of the Crimes Act 1914.”

The report used information from secret defense documents obtained by the ABC in 2017, indicating that innocent men and children had been killed by Australian forces in the war-torn country.

ABC Managing Director David Anderson called the raid and how it was conducted “highly unusual.”

In a separate incident on Tuesday, police raided a journalist’s home in Canberra over a report that detailed a bid by authorities to gain powers to spy on Australian citizens’ communications at home.

The recent raids against media organizations reporting on national security issues have raised concerns about media freedom in Australia.

Critics Lash Out At Ghani Over Taliban Prisoners Release Decision

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Ghani

Ghani

Tolo News: Majority of the 887 prisoners who are expected to be released by the Afghan government are members of the Taliban, critics said, adding that it will have a possible impact on the country’s situation and that the decision has been made without wider consultations.  The Presidential Palace has said that these inmates will be released on the order of the president within the next ten days.  Some former government officials lashed out at President Ghani over the controversial order and said that the move looks like a “deal for peace”. Click here to read more (external link).

Afghan Peace Marchers Detained By Taliban, Supporters Say

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helmand_aq_mapBy RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan
June 5, 2019

Afghan peace protesters who went missing after marching through a Taliban-controlled area of Helmand Province have been detained by the militants, a supporter of the movement told RFE/RL on June 5.

The so-called People’s Peace Movement (PPM) attracted international attention last year with its peace marches across Afghanistan and in Kabul during which they warned about the record levels of violence across the country.

PPM member Bacha Khan Muladad told RFE/RL on June 5 that there is no news about the fates of 25 of their friends who traveled to the Taliban stronghold of Musa Qala, some 130 kilometers from the provincial capital of Laskar Gah four days ago in an attempt to meet with militants and plead with them to seek peace.

Almost 4,000 civilians — including more than 900 children — were killed in Afghanistan last year, with more than 7,000 wounded, according to the United Nations, making 2018 the deadliest year on record.

After 18 years of war, the Taliban and the United States have held several rounds of peace talks, but an agreement still appears far off, mainly because the militants refuse to hold negotiations with the Afghan government.

Copyright (c) 2019. 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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