Buzkashi (file photo)
Amu: A buzkashi tournament featuring 70 riders was held in Mazar-e-Sharif, the center of the northern province of Balkh, on Tuesday, according to the local buzkashi federation. The tournament concluded with Pahlawan Zakaria who successfully delivered the target—a goat carcass—into the “Circle of Justice,” securing victory as declared by the field judges. Click here to read more (external link).
Other Afghan Sports News
Amu: The Taliban’s ban on education for girls above sixth grade and women in universities has forced many young women into marriages they neither wanted nor consented to, as families struggle with the restrictive environment. Ziba, a 21-year-old former university student, is one such victim. Forced into marriage after the Taliban shut down universities, she endured a year of physical and emotional abuse from her husband and his family. She now lives in hiding, separated from her husband, with little hope of justice. “I was a student who worked hard to get into university,” Ziba said, speaking under a pseudonym. “But when the universities closed, my family arranged my marriage to the son of a tribal elder in our province of Badghis. For over 11 months, I faced beatings and violence because my dreams and way of thinking didn’t align with my husband’s.” Click here to read more (external link).
Rahmatullah Nabil
Amu: The Afghanistan National Liberty Party, led by Rahmatullah Nabil, the former chief of the National Directorate of Security, announced on Monday that it would not be joining the recently formed political coalition known as the National Assembly for the Salvation of Afghanistan. In a statement, the party cited differences in “political paths and approaches on key issues” as the primary reason for its decision to remain independent. The leadership council of the Afghanistan National Liberty Party opted against joining the coalition to preserve its political autonomy and to focus on initiatives aimed at inclusive engagement of all citizens, particularly influential and active groups in Afghan society, the statement added. The announcement comes amid the formation of the National Assembly for the Salvation of Afghanistan, a new political coalition of prominent anti-Taliban figures. The coalition, unveiled in a virtual meeting on December 6, includes key political leaders such as Ahmad Massoud, Atta Mohammad Noor, Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum, Karim Khalili, Salahuddin Rabbani, Mohammad Mohaqiq, Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf, Mohammad Ismail Khan, Yunus Qanooni, Sarwar Danish, Rahila Dostum, and several others. Click here to read more (external link).
Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada
8am: Over the past three years, numerous reports have highlighted tensions between Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban Supreme Leader, and Sirajuddin Haqqani, the group’s Interior Minister. Recently, Hasht-e Subh Daily obtained information indicating that Akhundzada summoned several local Taliban commanders from various provinces and warned them about their loyalty to Haqqani. Akhundzada reportedly told some of these commanders that they should go to Kandahar rather than Kabul if they sought positions and privileges. Click here to read more (external link).
8am: Farhad, a pushcart vendor, explained, “People don’t have money to buy things. Every morning, we leave home hoping for work, but there are fewer customers now. On top of that, the Taliban don’t let us work freely, and we’re forced to pay them bribes.” Shopkeepers in Kunduz are also grappling with reduced consumer spending power and the burden of unofficial taxes imposed by the Taliban. They report being required to pay substantial taxes, sometimes in advance. Rising prices, driven by increased taxes and customs duties, have worsened the situation, leaving shopkeepers unable to control costs. Click here to read more (external link).
As the academic year ends in Afghanistan, students are saying goodbye to their teachers and classmates. But for girls as young as 11, it’s the end of their education altogether, due to the Taliban’s prohibition on girls studying after the sixth grade. One top student, whose identity has been concealed for her safety, told RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi that she was giving up her dreams of becoming a doctor as she tearfully left school for the last time.
Khalil Haqqani
Amu: The funeral for Khalil Rahman Haqqani, the Taliban’s minister of refugees and a key figure in the Haqqani network, has drawn attention for its opulence, high-profile attendees, and political undertones, raising questions about unity within the Taliban leadership. Observers suggest the gathering was intended to project a united front amid growing speculation of divisions within the Taliban leadership. However, the ostentatious display of wealth and the visible presence of armed Taliban guards at the event have sparked further scrutiny of internal dynamics and security concerns. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News: Abdul Qader, a Kabul resident, said: “Our request to the government is to lower the price of firewood so that people can use it. Air pollution causes illnesses in both children and adults.”.Ahmad Jawad, another Kabul resident, stated:”People in Afghanistan cannot afford to buy firewood, so they burn plastic and tires instead.” Click here to read more (external link).