AFP: Musicians play behind closed doors despite a ban on music in Afghanistan and a maker of stringed instrument the rubab refuses to down tools. Click here to read more (external link).
Pakistan’s foreign minister blames predecessors for TTP resurgence
Faiz Hameed
Amu: Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, sharply criticized the country’s previous leadership on Thursday, alleging that hasty and informal decisions facilitated the return of thousands of members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) into the country..Speaking during a briefing, Mr. Dar attributed the re-entry of 35,000 to 40,000 TTP fighters to poorly considered policies, including decisions reportedly made “over a cup of tea.”. He cited a visit by Faiz Hameed, the former chief of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), to Afghanistan shortly after the collapse of the Afghan government in 2021 as a turning point. Click here to read more (external link).
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Kabul’s Air Pollution: Government failure and public apathy-with Images
Khaama: To tackle this crisis, the government must take responsibility for addressing air pollution, and the people must be mobilized to cooperate with the government. Initiatives such as proper waste management, regulation of vehicles, the use of non-polluting fuels, and the creation of more green spaces will help cleanse the city and improve the quality of life for its residents. Click here to read more (external link).
Plundering Mines by Taliban in Afghanistan: Consequences and Implications
8am: Top officials allot and divide mines among themselves, focusing on filling their pockets, and disregarding national resources and future generations. Remaining revenue funds terrorist plans, reinforcing the totalitarian and tribal regime, expanding terrorist activities in Afghanistan and the region, and even financing al-Qaeda and other terror groups. In return, al-Qaeda and other groups provide tens of thousands of people for mining and fighters for war fronts and terrorist activities. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – January 1, 2025
Insurgents Raise Afghan Taliban Flags at Five Checkpoints, Says Pak Official
Afghanistan International: Anwar Zeb Khan, a representative of Bajaur in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Assembly of Pakistan, has revealed that hundreds of insurgents from Afghanistan have entered the Bajaur region and seized control of five checkpoints. According to Khan, the insurgents have raised the flag of the Afghan Taliban in the area. Click here to read more (external link).
UK Special Forces face War Crime allegations in Syria and Afghanistan
Khaama: The UK Ministry of Defence has recently announced that ten special forces soldiers may face legal action for committing war crimes in Syria and Afghanistan. According to British media reports citing the Ministry of Defence, these soldiers could be prosecuted for actions such as the killing of civilians or the excessive use of force during operations. Click here to read more (external link).
Activists urge England to forfeit cricket match against Afghanistan
Amu: Women’s rights activists have called for England’s men’s cricket team to forfeit its scheduled match against Afghanistan in the ICC Champions Trophy group stage on February 26. The demand comes in response to the Taliban’s “systematic oppression” of women since taking control of Afghanistan in August 2021. The Women’s Rights Network (WRN) issued a statement on Monday urging England not only to forgo the February match but also to boycott all sporting competitions against Afghanistan’s national teams. Click here to read more (external link).
NRF Claims Attack on Taliban Minister’s Convoy in Kabul
Afghanistan International: The National Resistance Front (NRF) announced on Tuesday that it had targeted the convoy of Abdul Latif Mansour, the Taliban’s Minister of Energy and Water, in the Khair Khana area of northern Kabul. According to an NRF statement, the attack resulted in the death of one of the minister’s guards and injuries to two others. Click here to read more (external link).
Amid Rising Tensions with Taliban, Pakistan’s ISI Chief Meets Tajik President
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon
Afghanistan International: Emomali Rahmon, the President of Tajikistan, met with General Asim Munir, the Director-General of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), in Dushanbe. It is not yet clear whether the ISI chief met with the leaders of the National Resistance Front during his visit. Previously, some Pakistani diplomats had warned that if the Taliban failed to curb attacks by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Pakistan might consider forging ties with groups opposed to the Taliban. Click here to read more (external link).