Tolo News: US Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) has introduced a bill to prevent the Islamic Emirate from accessing American funds through the United Nations. According to this bill, US aid sent via the UN will be subject to the US State Department’s guarantee that Washington’s cash assistance will not be included in UN humanitarian shipments to Afghanistan. Click here to read more (external link).
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Shapoor Zadran
Ariana: Afghanistan left-arm fast bowler Shapoor Zadran has announced his retirement from international cricket. Zadran retires following a distinguished career that spanned for more than 10 years, with the veteran pacer playing a major role in the rise of Afghanistan cricket. A mainstay in the initial stages of Afghanistan’s cricketing journey, Zadran featured in three ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaigns and was the hero of the side’s first-ever victory at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2015 when he hit the winning runs against Scotland in Dunedin. Click here to read more (external link).
Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai
Afghanistan International: Three reliable sources told Afghanistan International that they met Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, the Taliban’s deputy foreign minister, in the city of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE). He was supposed to be arrested and hence, left Kabul. Other sources had previously said that Stanekzai was supposed to be tried in a military court. According to information provided by these sources to Afghanistan International, Mullah Baradar, Sirajuddin Haqqani, and Mawlawi Yaqoob asked Hibatullah Akhundzada to pardon Stanekzai, but the Taliban leader strongly opposed this request and insisted that he should be imprisoned. Click here to read more (external link).
Taliban militants (file photo)
Amu: Public employees in Taliban-controlled institutions say they have not received their overdue salaries for nearly two months, compounding financial hardships amid economic uncertainty. With the suspension of U.S. aid, Afghanistan’s currency has fluctuated sharply, with the exchange rate exceeding 80 Afghanis per U.S. dollar in recent days. Meanwhile, public employees are raising concerns over mounting economic pressure as wages remain unpaid. Some employees told Amu TV that they were informed their salaries could be delayed for one to two months. However, nearly two months have already passed since their last paycheck. Click here to read more (external link).
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Amu: Afghanistan has unveiled a new jersey for the 2025 Champions Trophy, drawing inspiration from the country’s rich cultural heritage and historic landmarks. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) described the jersey as a blend of Naskh calligraphy and geometric patterns from the Jam Minaret, an 800-year-old UNESCO World Heritage site in Ghor Province. Click here to read more (external link).
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Khaama: Following the closure of the Afghanistan’s Embassy in Oslo, a reliable source in Norway has revealed that the host country has handed over the care of the embassy building to someone approved by the Taliban. Both Norwegian and Taliban officials have yet to comment officially on the handover of the Afghanistan’s Embassy building. Click here to read more (external link).
Ayaz Gul
VOA News
January 29, 2025
ISLAMABAD — A senior World Health Organization official cautioned Wednesday that the eradication of polio in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the only countries where the paralytic virus persists, is threatened by the suspension of funding from the United States.
In an online news conference, Hanan Balkhy, regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, emphasized the crucial role of U.S. financial contribution to the organization’s surveillance efforts for polio and all other communicable diseases, particularly within her region.
Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered an unprecedented 90-day suspension of almost all foreign aid to give his administration the time to evaluate whether to continue funding the numerous humanitarian, development and security programs that receive U.S. assistance.
On his first day back in the White House, Trump announced he was withdrawing the United States from WHO.
His executive order accused the United Nations agency of mishandling the COVID-19 pandemic and other global health crises, as well as failing “to adopt urgently needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states.”
Balkhy referred to Trump’s announcement to withdraw from WHO as “very unfortunate” and highlighted that the U.S. has been a “major” supporter of her organization’s work in the Eastern Mediterranean region for decades.
“The U.S. funding was indeed decisive in fighting polio, eradicating polio. Currently, we are in the last round of eradicating polio in the last two countries in the world: Afghanistan and Pakistan,” the Saudi physician said through an interpreter.
“We hope that our collaboration with our partners will enable us to achieve our goal of fully eradicating polio in these countries during this final stage,” she added.
Balkhy emphasized WHO’s dedication to safeguarding the world against the resurgence of polio.
In 2024, Pakistan reported 73 cases of the paralytic poliovirus, while Afghanistan reported 25 cases. Although there have been no additional polio cases in Afghanistan so far, Pakistani officials confirmed the first poliovirus infection of 2025 last week.
Balkhy attributed efforts led by WHO to contain what she described as the “inevitable” spread of polio in Gaza due to the destruction of its sewage and sanitation services.
She stated they are prepared to discuss the reforms the United States plans to propose and carry out necessary internal assessments to help advance the organization’s work.
“Funding shortfalls in 2024 have already led to devastating cuts to lifesaving health operations. We ask for your support in amplifying our message — help us save lives, restore health systems and bring hope to millions,” Balkhy said.
Tolo News: Alan Pughsley, a former senior commander of the British police, has criticized the slow pace of the investigation into war crimes committed by the UK’s special forces in Afghanistan. Alan Pughsley, who was responsible for investigating “Operation Northmoor” conducted by British special forces in Afghanistan in 2014, stated that a three-year delay in the investigation of war crimes committed by British special forces in Afghanistan has resulted in the loss of crucial opportunities. “If Britain wants to find out who committed war crimes, it should first ask the prince of England how he killed Afghans like chess pieces. Alongside him, forty-seven NATO countries that were in Afghanistan have also committed war crimes,” said Zalmay Afghan Yar, a military affairs expert. Click here to read more (external link).