Taliban urges ‘realistic’ engagement from incoming Trump administration

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Donald Trump

Amu: Following Donald J. Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election, Taliban expressed hopes that his administration would adopt “realistic” policies toward Afghanistan. In a statement from the Taliban-run Ministry of Foreign Affairs, spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi voiced optimism about improving relations, calling for a new chapter of “mutual engagement” between the two countries. Click here to read more (external link).

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Poppy Cultivation in Afghanistan Rises by 19% Despite Taliban Ban, UNODC Report Reveals

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Afghanistan International: Despite the Taliban’s official ban on poppy cultivation, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has reported a 19% increase in Afghanistan’s poppy cultivation for 2024 compared to the previous year. According to the United Nations, the Taliban have struggled to control poppy production effectively this year. Click here to read more (external link).

UNESCO Report: 251 million children still out of school, urges global investment in education

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Khaama: In a report titled “The Global Education Status,” UNESCO revealed that 129 million boys and 122 million girls around the world are unable to attend school. The findings indicate that over the past decade, children’s access to education has improved by only one percent globally. UNESCO’s report shows that 33 percent of children in low-income countries are deprived of schooling, while in high-income countries, only 3 percent of children lack access to education. Click here to read more (external link).

If Trump Wins: For or Against the Taliban?

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Donald Trump

8am: At first, Trump will likely adopt a stance of neutrality toward the Taliban, essentially disregarding the current situation in Afghanistan. If forced to engage, his most straightforward and effective option would be to approach the Taliban for negotiation. It seems unlikely that he would engage with the anti-Taliban forces; after all, when the Democrats didn’t take that route, neither would Trump. The option of applying pressure would only come into play if the situation in Afghanistan were assessed as a serious threat to U.S. interests. Click here to read more (external link).

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Afghan athlete wins two medals at karate tournament in eastern France

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Amu: Afghan karate athlete Abulfazl Warasta won a gold and a bronze medal in the East Zone Karate Cup held in eastern France, showcasing his skills in both the kumite (sparring) and individual kata divisions. Warasta, a former member of Afghanistan’s national karate team, competed in the adult categories, where he faced a series of formidable opponents. Grateful for his victories, he expressed hope that he will continue to represent Afghanistan in both national and international competitions. Click her e to read more (external link).

Pakistan: Border forces kill several militants trying to infiltrate from Afghanistan

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Ayaz Gul
VOA News
November 4, 2024

Islamabad — Pakistan reported Monday that its border security forces killed at least five insurgents who were attempting to cross over from Afghanistan.

The predawn encounter occurred after Pakistani troops detected the “movement of a group of khwarij” in the volatile South Waziristan border district and “effectively engaged” them to foil their infiltration attempt, according to a military statement.

The term “khwarij” in official Pakistani documents refers to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an outlawed organization waging deadly attacks within the country from its alleged sanctuaries in Afghanistan.

Separately, the military said an intelligence-driven operation in the nearby North Waziristan border district killed a key TTP commander.

The statement reiterated Islamabad’s call for the Taliban government in Kabul “to fulfill its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by khwarij” to stage acts of terrorism against Pakistan. It urged Taliban authorities to ensure “effective” management of the Afghan side of the nearly 2,600-kilometer border between the two countries.

Pakistani authorities say the TTP has found sanctuaries in Afghanistan and intensified cross-border attacks since the Islamist Taliban seized power in the neighboring country three years ago, killing hundreds of civilians and security forces.

The United Nations has labeled the TTP as “the largest terrorist group” on Afghan soil.

Taliban authorities in Kabul reject the charges, saying they are not allowing any foreign group, including TTP, to use Afghan soil to threaten neighboring countries.

Increased Restrictions and Inclination to Suicide; Women Find Life Under Taliban Rule Unbearable

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8am: With the Taliban intensifying restrictions on women in Afghanistan, women are more constrained than ever by the group’s ignorance and backwardness, finding life in these conditions intolerable. In a recent move, Khalid Hanafi, the Taliban’s Minister for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, has prohibited adult women from hearing the voices of other adult women. He declared that women are not allowed to recite or chant loudly in the presence of other women. Many women and girls have condemned this restriction as shameful and contrary to human dignity, saying that the Taliban are mocking both themselves and the women of Afghanistan. These women and girls, worried about their future under the Taliban’s flag, fear that the restrictions may lead to permanent confinement within their homes. Psychologists, too, are concerned about the mental and emotional state of girls under such harsh conditions, noting that increased restrictions have heightened the inclination towards suicide among girls deprived of education. Click here to read more (external link).

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