Tolo News: A number of retirees are once again demanding the payment of their pensions by the Islamic Emirate [Taliban]. Some of those who have gathered outside the Pension Fund office say they are facing various economic challenges in the current situation. Abdul Hakim, a retiree, said: “I need to be fed; they should give me my pension and also pay my other friends. When my friend beside me is hungry, what can I say?” Click here to read more (external link).
Afghan swimmer Anwari finishes eighth in 50m Freestyle heat
Ariana: Afghan swimmer Fahim Anwari swam in Heat 3 Thursday in the Men’s 50m Freestyle at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Anwari came in 8th place. First in this heat was Fakhroddin Madkamov of Tajikistan. Up next for Afghanistan is Kimia Yousofi who is set to compete in the 100-meter sprint on Friday. On Tuesday, Afghan judoka Mohammad Samim Faizad was beaten by his Austrian opponent. Click here to read more (external link).
Other Sports News
Global Peace impossible without Palestinian Freedom: Dr Abdullah Abdullah
Dr. Abdullah
Khaama: Abdullah Abdullah, the former Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation of Afghanistan, extended his deepest condolences to the family of Ismail Haniyeh and the people of Palestine. In a statement posted on his X account on Wednesday, July 31, Abdullah condemned the assassination as an act of terrorism and a violation of international laws and norms.” Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – July 31, 2024
Cronyism: The Dominant Culture in Taliban Governance
8am: Cronyism in the Taliban’s regime is openly practiced. When hiring, it has become a principle that the Taliban prioritize a Taliban member or their “crony” among the candidates for an administrative post. Within the Taliban group itself, cronyism among different factions maintains their relationships and determines their level of interaction. Even if someone is transferred from one post to another within the same faction, they gather their cronies from the previous office and take them to the new one. The person replacing them also brings their cronies to the office. This situation, due to the frequent transfers in the Taliban regime, is a significant obstacle to providing services and advancing routine administrative matters. In the Taliban regime, professional qualifications and expertise do not matter, and it is easy for a war commander to be appointed as the Minister of Public Health, as recently, Mullah Hibatullah appointed his deputy from the Ministry of Interior as the Minister of Public Health. Click here to read more (external link).
Diarrhea Outbreak in Bamyan; 5,000 Children and Adolescents Treated
Tolo News: Basiroddin Maroof, chief physician at Bamyan Provincial Hospital, said: “This summer, we had 5,432 diarrhea patients, most of whom came from the center, districts of Bamyan, and neighboring provinces.” Excessive heat, lack of hygiene, transmission of viruses, and poverty are said to be the main causes of the diarrhea outbreak. Click here to read more (external link).
Afghanistan and South Africa to meet in bilateral ODI series
Ariana: South Africa will take on Afghanistan in a three-match ODI series in UAE in September, 2024. Cricket South Africa (CSA) and the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced the first-ever bilateral series between them will be played from 18 – 22 September in the United Arab Emirates. This ODI series will be the first meeting between Afghanistan and South Africa outside of ICC tournaments, with all three games set to be hosted by ACB at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Click here to read more (external link).
Taliban Cuts Ties With 14 Afghan Diplomatic Missions Abroad
Notice for all Afghan Nationals residing in European countries! pic.twitter.com/AgJtQw5q5P
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Afghanistan (@MoFA_Afg) July 30, 2024
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
July 30, 2024
Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers have announced that they are cutting ties with 14 Afghan diplomatic missions abroad and will cease to accept consular documents issued by those missions, in a move likely to cause further difficulties for Afghan citizens living abroad.
Following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021 in the wake of the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces from Afghanistan, some diplomatic missions abroad continued to pledge allegiance to the former government.
The move, which takes effect immediately, was announced by the Taliban Foreign Ministry in a message posted on X on July 30.
It refers to passports, visas, and other consular documents issued by Afghan missions in London, Belgium, Berlin, Bonn, Switzerland, Austria, France, Italy, Greece, Poland, Sweden, Norway, Canada, and Australia.
The Taliban “has repeatedly urged the Afghan political and consular in European countries to engage with Kabul to at least address consular service-related issues of Afghans and provide better services for Afghan citizens,” the statement said.
“Unfortunately, the actions of most of the missions are carried out arbitrarily, without coordination, and in explicit violation of the existing accepted principles,” it said.
Afghans in the countries affected by the move were urged in the statement to seek consular and embassy services in the diplomatic missions controlled by the Taliban.
Afghan embassies in Pakistan, China, and Russia are among those controlled by the Taliban government. In October, Afghan diplomatic missions in Spain and the Netherlands publicly accepted to offer their services to the Taliban authorities in Kabul.
Afghanistan’s Taliban government has not been recognized by any country in the world, many of its leaders are under international sanctions, and the country’s seat at the United Nations is still occupied by former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s government.
However, countries such as China and Pakistan still have diplomatic missions in Kabul.
The UN has so far rejected the Taliban’s bid for Afghanistan’s seat in the organization three times.
Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.
Tolo News in Dari – July 30, 2024
Taliban and Linguistic Discrimination: Persian-Speaking Government Employees Face Job Insecurity
Taliban militants (file photo)
8am: Several Persian-speaking employees in government offices in the country have raised complaints about language discrimination by their superiors, many of whom are affiliated with the Taliban. They claim that their job security is jeopardized due to linguistic discrimination and that they could be dismissed at any time by the Taliban. These long-serving government employees note that key government positions, now predominantly controlled by Pashto-speaking Taliban, frequently pressure Persian-speaking employees to leave their jobs. Imposing ethnic and religious customs, such as wearing a cap, growing a beard, compulsory prayer attendance, forced Pashto communication, denial of essential leave, and excessive strictness, are some of the challenges specifically imposed on Persian-speaking employees. These government employees add that the poor economic conditions force them to endure all these pressures to keep their jobs, as their livelihoods depend on their government salaries, and they have no other means of survival in the current crisis if they lose their jobs. Click here to read more (external link).