Nikkei: The alternative policy of shunning Afghanistan’s rulers would virtually ensure less Taliban concern about anti-India terrorism and allow Chinese and Pakistani influence to grow unchecked. A pivot completely in the other direction, whereby India might become the first state to diplomatically recognize the Taliban, would also be a mistake since it would compromise New Delhi’s democratic values and bestow a benefit on the Taliban that is unlikely to be reciprocated. Click here to read more (external link).
Blast in northwestern Pakistan mosque injures local Islamist party leader, three others
Ariana: A blast tore through a mosque on Friday in northwestern Pakistan, police said, injuring an Islamist party leader and three others, including children. Abdullah Nadeem, a local leader of the Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) political party, was believed to be the target of the blast and had been hospitalised with serious injuries, said Asif Bahadar, a district police chief in South Waziristan. He said two children were among the injured. This week in southwestern Balochistan, separatist militants hijacked a train and held passengers hostage in a day-long standoff with security forces. Pakistan has vowed to crack down on growing militancy and has said the militants are finding safe haven in neighbouring Afghanistan, a charge the Islamic Emirate denies. Click here to read more (external link).
Afghanistan needs a ‘new narrative,’ opposition leaders say
Qanuni
Amu: Three prominent opponents of the Taliban—Mohammad Yunus Qanooni, Atta Mohammad Noor, and Latif Pedram—have called for a “new narrative” to shape Afghanistan’s future, emphasizing the need for a more inclusive political structure. Speaking in a virtual discussion hosted by Noor’s faction of the Jamiat-e-Islami party, Qanooni, a senior figure in the National Resistance Council and former vice president, said Afghanistan requires a new framework that clearly defines the relationship between power and ethnicity, religion and the state, and the government and its people. He stressed the importance of recognizing the country’s religious, ethnic, political, and gender diversity in any future system. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – March 13, 2025
Pakistan Army Blames Afghan-Based Militants For Balochistan Train Attack
Afghanistan International: The Pakistan Army has claimed that the mastermind behind the Jaffar Express train attack in Balochistan was operating from Afghanistan. On Wednesday, army spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry announced that the hostage rescue operation had been completed, with all Baloch separatist militants killed. Chaudhry stated that the attack was planned and directed by Baloch separatists based in Afghanistan. He revealed that the militants used satellite phones to communicate with their handlers in Afghanistan. He warned that this attack had “changed the rules of the game” and vowed to bring those responsible to justice. Click here to read more (external link).
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Horrific Child Killings and Public Outrage: Taliban Remain Silent
8am: In recent days, three shocking and horrifying incidents in the northeastern part of Afghanistan have sparked deep concerns among citizens. Kidnappers have removed the organs of a child in Badakhshan province and abandoned the body in a mountainous area. Meanwhile, in the Kunduz province, a man has beheaded his own child with a knife. Additionally, a Taliban fighter in Takhar province raped an 11-year-old girl and then killed her by stabbing her with a knife. While the Taliban consistently claim to ensure law and order in society, they have failed to prevent criminal activities. Human trafficking, child abduction, and other crimes have surged, and in some cases, members of the group themselves have been involved in kidnappings and murders of civilians. Click here to read more (external link).
Doctors Without Borders: Measles-Related Deaths in Afghanistan Triple
8am: Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has reported that, on average, one child dies daily in Afghanistan due to measles. In a report published on Wednesday, March 12, the organization stated that more than 4,000 suspected measles cases have been recorded in hospitals under its coverage in the provinces of Herat, Balkh, and Helmand since the beginning of this year. Click here to read more (external link).
Taliban Interior Minister Plotted Coup, Now in Hiding, Says Former Afghan Spy Chief
Sirajuddin Haqqani
Afghanistan International: Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s Interior Minister, has gone into hiding over fears of assassination, according to Ahmad Zia Saraj, former head of Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS). Saraj told Afghanistan International that Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada suspects Haqqani and several officials of plotting a coup. He believes foreign countries may have backed the alleged plot. To counter the threat, Akhundzada has stripped Haqqani of his powers and transferred his authority to Deputy Interior Minister Ibrahim Sadr. Similarly, Mullah Yaqub, the Defence Minister, has been sidelined. His powers were handed to Qayyum Zakir, a close ally of Akhundzada. Click here to read more (external link).
China, Pakistan Voice Concerns Over Presence Of Militant Groups In Afghanistan
Afghanistan International: China and Pakistan have expressed concern about militant threats from terror groups such as Treek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), and ISIS-Khorasan in Afghanistan. On Wednesday, Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, met with Yue Xiaoyong, China’s Special Representative for Afghanistan in Islamabad. They discussed regional security and geopolitical developments. Click here to read more (external link).
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Tolo News in Dari – March 12, 2025