Afghanistan International: Julia Parsi, a women’s rights activist, has claimed that she lost hearing in one of her ears as a result of the Taliban’s torture in the group’s prison. Julia Parsi, who had been in Taliban custody for more than three months, said that she underwent surgery for a deep wound in her right ear. On Friday, January 10, Julia Parsi posted a picture which showed her in the hospital, and wrote, “The torture in prison has turned into incurable pain.” She said that her ears were deeply scarred by the Taliban officials’ slaps in prison. Click here to read more (external link).
ICC resists calls to ban Afghanistan from Champions Trophy: Report
Amu: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has no plans to ban Afghanistan’s men’s team from participating in the Champions Trophy, nor to demand that the Taliban reinstate a women’s cricket program, despite calls for action from politicians and activists, Sky News reported. The ICC, which mandates Test-playing nations to support women’s cricket, faces criticism for allowing Afghanistan to compete even though the Taliban has banned women and girls from sports since retaking power in 2021. The global cricket body has argued that punishing Afghanistan’s male players for government policies would be unjust. Click here to read more (external link).
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Alleged War Crimes by British Special Forces Spark Calls for Justice
Tolo News: An unnamed whistleblower has given evidence to a public inquiry into suspected war crimes in Afghanistan. The soldier said an allegedly rogue special forces unit had targeted all males of fighting age, including under 16, even if they posed no threat to troops. The whistleblower also stated that British special forces had carried out an “illegal” policy of targeting “everybody” on operations. The Telegraph reported: “The whistleblower – known only by the cipher N1799 – told the inquiry that he believed unit UKSF1 had carried out an ‘illegal’ policy of targeting ‘everybody’ on operations.” Click here to read more (external link).
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South Africa’s sports minister joins calls for Afghanistan cricket boycott
Al Jazeera: South Africa’s Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has given his support to calls for a boycott of Afghanistan at the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan, adding his voice to those of British politicians who have called on England not to play the South Asian nation at the tournament next month. “Cricket South Africa, the federations of other countries and the ICC (International Cricket Council) will have to think carefully about the message the sport of cricket wishes to send the world, and especially the women in sports,” he said in a statement on Thursday. Click here to read more (external link).
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Tolo News in Dari – January 9, 2025
Hundreds of veterans and others urge Trump to continue resettling Afghans
Donald Trump
Ariana: Hundreds of veterans and current and former U.S. officials want President-elect Donald Trump to preserve U.S. special visa and resettlement programs for Afghans at risk of retribution for working for the United States during the 20-year war against the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, according to a letter reviewed by Reuters. The letter, signed by the veterans, officials and others, will be sent to Trump and congressional leaders and was organized by #AfghanEvac, the leading coalition of groups that work with the U.S. government to help Afghans start new lives in the United States. Click here to read more (external link).
US warns citizens to avoid traveling to Afghanistan
Khaama: The U.S. State Department has issued a travel warning for its citizens, advising them not to visit 20 countries, including Afghanistan, due to “increased life-threatening risks.” On Wednesday, January 8th, the U.S. Consular Section shared the message on Facebook, urging American citizens to avoid traveling to these countries, especially those marked as “Level 4.” Previously, several countries, including the U.S., Australia, Canada, and the U.K., had issued similar travel warnings for Afghanistan due to “security concerns.” Click here to read more (external link).
India boosts diplomatic contacts with Afghanistan’s Taliban
Ayaz Gul
VOA News
January 8, 2025
ISLAMABAD — India pledged Wednesday to collaborate with Taliban-ruled Afghanistan to undertake development projects in the impoverished nation that has endured years of devastating war and natural disasters.
The pledge stemmed from a Wednesday meeting in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, between Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi as the two countries move to strengthen bilateral trade and political ties.
Misri conveyed New Delhi’s “readiness to respond to the urgent developmental needs of the Afghan people,” India’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said after he met with Muttaqi.
The Taliban said in a post-meeting announcement that the two sides reviewed the security situation in the region. Mutaqqi appreciated and thanked New Delhi for its sustained humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.
“In view of the current need for development activities, it was decided that India would consider engaging in development projects in the near future, in addition to the ongoing humanitarian assistance program,” said the Indian statement.
It added that in response to the Taliban’s request, New Delhi also agreed to provide additional material assistance to the health sector and the rehabilitation of refugees in Afghanistan.
The Afghan delegation “underlined its sensitivities to India’s security concerns.” Both countries agreed to remain in touch and continue regular contact at various levels, the Indian ministry stated.
The Taliban stated that Muttaqi assured the Indian delegation that his government is pursuing a “balanced and economy-oriented foreign policy.” He expressed his desire for political and economic relations with India, recognizing its significance as a prominent economic country in the region.
“[Our] foreign minister assured the Indian side that there is no danger to anyone from Afghanistan and expressed hope for strengthening diplomatic relations and creating facilities related to visas for businessmen, patients, and students,” said the Taliban statement.
It added that the Indian foreign secretary “praised the Islamic Emirate’s fight against drugs and corruption in the country,” referring to the Taliban’s official name for Afghanistan. Misri said India was willing to expand relations with Afghanistan in political and economic areas and to promote trade through the port of Chabahar in neighboring Iran.
The Taliban returned to power in August 2021 when all U.S.-led international troops withdrew from the country.
No countries have formally recognized the Taliban as legitimate rulers of Afghanistan, but several neighboring and regional countries, including China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran and Qatar, have retained their embassies. India recently reopened its diplomatic mission in Kabul, manned by lower-level diplomats.
New Delhi’s stepped-up engagement with de facto Afghan leaders is expected to raise tensions with neighboring archrival Pakistan, as noted by analysts.
Kabul’s ties with Islamabad have lately been strained over allegations that the Taliban harbor and support fugitive militants linked to the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, in carrying out “terrorist” attacks against Pakistani civilians and security forces.
Last month, the Pakistani military allegedly carried out airstrikes against suspected TTP hideouts in an Afghan border province, drawing strong condemnation from the Taliban. Kabul claimed the bombardment took the lives of nearly 50 “refugees” from Pakistan.
Islamabad has publicly refrained from acknowledging the cross-border attack, but Pakistani officials anonymously confirmed it and reported the death of more than two dozen TTP commanders and operatives.
India also objected to Pakistan’s military aggression against Afghanistan.
“We unequivocally condemn any attack on innocent civilians. It is an old practice of Pakistan to blame its neighbors for its own internal failures,” an Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said while responding to Pakistan’s aerial attack on Dec. 24.
Several days later, Taliban security forces said they launched retaliatory fire against multiple locations on the Pakistani side of the border that they claimed were servicing “as centers and hideouts for malicious elements and their supporters who organized and coordinated attacks in Afghanistan.”
Pakistani officials reported the death of one security personnel and injuries to several others due to the Taliban military action, marking a sharp escalation in bilateral tensions.
ISIS Claims Responsibility for Attack on Pro-Taliban Religious Figures in Baghlan
Afghanistan International: Local sources from Baghlan province report that armed assailants carried out an attack on Tuesday night in the Baghlan-e-Markazi district, killing a pro-Taliban cleric and wounding another individual. The attack was claimed by ISIS. According to reports received by Afghanistan International, the attack targeted Abdul Razzaq, an imam and religious teacher, while Hamdullah Mohammadi, the district’s Friday prayer cleric, sustained critical injuries. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – January 8, 2025