Kenyan Court Approves Extradition Of Former Afghan Lawmaker To US

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Zahir Qadir

Afghanistan International: A court in Nairobi has approved the extradition of Zahir Qadir, former deputy speaker of Afghanistan’s House of Representatives, to the United States, according to his family. Qadir’s lawyer has requested a 14-day stay on the ruling, seeking time to file an appeal. The appeal is expected to be submitted within the next two weeks, the lawyer confirmed. Jalal Qadir, the former lawmaker’s nephew, told Afghanistan International that the decision was made on Tuesday. Click here to read more (external link).

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UK General Accused of Blocking Asylum for Afghans Witnessing War Crimes

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Tolo News: A British special forces general is accused of playing a role in halting Afghan asylum cases in order to prevent Afghans who served with UK special forces from testifying about war crimes in Afghanistan. The BBC’s Panorama program reported that Gen Sir Gwyn Jenkins, former commander of British special forces in Afghanistan, played a role in rejecting asylum applications of Afghan commandos at the same time as an inquiry was launched in Britain into alleged war crimes, and for failing to report potential war crimes committed by UK special forces. Click here to read more (external link).

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Ex-UK Special Forces break silence on ‘war crimes’ by colleagues

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BBC: Former members of UK Special Forces have broken years of silence to give BBC Panorama eyewitness accounts of alleged war crimes committed by colleagues in Iraq and Afghanistan. Giving their accounts publicly for the first time, the veterans described seeing members of the SAS murder unarmed people in their sleep and execute handcuffed detainees, including children. “They handcuffed a young boy and shot him,” recalled one veteran who served with the SAS in Afghanistan. ”He was clearly a child, not even close to fighting age.” Killing of detainees “became routine”, the veteran said. “They’d search someone, handcuff them, then shoot them”, before cutting off the plastic handcuffs used to restrain people and “planting a pistol” by the body, he said. Click here to read more (external link).

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Can the Leaders of the Mujahideen Serve as an Alternative to the Taliban?

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8am: Now, nearly four years into the Taliban’s rule, occasional physical and virtual meetings on Afghan affairs are held. Alongside these, alliances and forums have emerged, composed primarily of Mujahideen leaders, former government officials, and individuals who directly intervened in Afghanistan’s politics over the past twenty years. Much like in the past, these alliances lack stability and often fracture after a short period. The most recent example of such a split can be seen in the break between the Resistance Front and the Jamiat-i-Islami Party from the National Council for the Salvation of Afghanistan. According to their statements, this separation was a disagreement with the National Council’s plans for Afghanistan’s salvation. However, the underlying reality might be rooted in conflicts over vested interests. Click here to read more (external link).

China aims to dominate Afghanistan’s Rare Earth Resources, Says Expert

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Khaama: An American expert warns that China is seeking to dominate Afghanistan’s untapped rare earth resources to strengthen regional influence and control. Scott Worden, an American researcher, highlights China’s efforts to cement its dominance over Afghanistan’s rare metals. Worden also criticizes the Trump administration’s closure of the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), suggesting this move could benefit China in the Middle East. Click here to read more (external link).

Taliban Officially Bans Chess, Declares the Game ‘Forbidden’

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Afghanistan International: The Taliban’s Sports Authority has formally suspended the Afghanistan Chess Federation, declaring the game of chess “haram” (forbidden under Islamic law), Afghanistan International has learned. The game has now been officially banned, following in the footsteps of other sports such as mixed martial arts, which were previously outlawed under similar justifications. Click here to read more (external link).

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Afghan retirees in Kabul hold weekly protests over unpaid pensions

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Khaama: On Saturday, May 10, retired government employees once again protested in front of the Pension Treasury building, demanding their overdue pension payments. This marks the latest in a series of weekly protests, but the retirees say their grievances have been ignored by the authorities..Despite repeated requests, the retirees claim that relevant Taliban institutions have not responded to their demands. Click here to read more (external link).

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