Left Behind: ‘They Married My Daughter Off at Gunpoint’

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Taliban militants (file photo)

8am: The [Taliban] commander pointed his weapon at us and shouted, ‘Will you be quiet, or should I silence you myself?’ My daughters’ voices quieted, but they were trembling and silently crying. We sat down without speaking as they ordered. My children tried to hide in my arms out of fear. The commander’s gaze was fixed on my daughter, and he said to me, ‘We are here for a marriage. You shouldn’t obstruct us, as it will be to your detriment.’ Click here to read more (external link).

Pakistan Summons Diplomat Of Taliban-Led Government Over Bannu Attack

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By RFE/RL’s Radio Mashaal
July 17, 2024

Islamabad summoned a senior Afghan diplomat over a deadly militant attack on the Bannu garrison in northwest Pakistan, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said on July 17.

Pakistani officials said the attack on July 15 led to the deaths of eight soldiers after a militant rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the outer wall of the garrison.

The army said that its forces opened fire and killed all 10 suspected militants in the encounter.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it summoned the deputy minister of the Taliban-led government’s Afghan Embassy to the ministry and strongly protested.

The ministry blamed the Afghanistan-based Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group for the attack and said in its statement that it had asked Kabul to take “immediate, robust, and effective action against the perpetrators.”

The ministry also said the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group and the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, an ally of the Afghan Taliban, are responsible for killing “hundreds of civilians and multiple members of law enforcement agencies” throughout Pakistan.

On the day of the attack, a previously unknown group called Jaish-e Fursan-e Muhammad claimed responsibility in a WhatsApp message to media outlets. RFE/RL could not independently confirm the existence of any such armed group.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry statement on July 17 said it asked Kabul to fully investigate the bombing and take immediate action against the perpetrators.

There was no immediate reaction from the Taliban-led Afghan government.

Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant attacks in recent years, mainly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, where Bannu is located. Residents of the province have protested the lack of security provided by Islamabad against the actions of extremists.

Pakistani security forces have said that they have conducted targeted operations against militants in several parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

With reporting by AP

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.

Taliban Disarms & Imprisons Tajik Commander In Takhar

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Afghanistan International: The Taliban has disarmed and imprisoned one of their Tajik commanders in the Chah Ab district of Takhar province. Local sources told Afghanistan International that Haji Ghulam Hussain had been arrested six days ago, and 350 of his forces had been disarmed. Bashir was a former commander of the Hizb-e-Islami who later joined the Jamiat-e-Islami Party. Bashir and his forces played a significant role in the Taliban’s fight against former government forces in Takhar. This is not the first time the Taliban group has arrested one of their local commanders in the northern provinces. Previously, several Uzbek commanders in Faryab and Takhar had also been arrested and disarmed. Click here to read more (external link).

Crippling Poverty and Sleeping Hungry: Taliban’s Lack of Plans for Poverty Alleviation and Job Creation

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8am: Widespread poverty and persistent unemployment have severely affected the majority of the citizens of Afghanistan, drastically reducing their purchasing power. Many citizens report that poverty and unemployment have deprived students and university attendees of continuing their education, with numerous families going to bed hungry each night. Over the past three years, the Taliban have not implemented any programs for poverty alleviation, job creation, or service provision for citizens. On the contrary, by imposing heavy taxes and religious levies (Ushr and Zakat), they have made living conditions increasingly difficult. Economic experts assert that the reduction in investments, educational restrictions imposed by the Taliban, and women’s unemployment directly contribute to the rising poverty and unemployment in the country. Click here to read more (external link).

Afghanistan’s premier futsal league season three to begin in two days

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Khaama: The Afghanistan Football Federation announced that the third season of the national futsal league will commence on Friday, July 19. The tournament will feature 10 teams competing at the Afghanistan Football Federation Futsal Committee Gymnasium. The third season of Afghanistan’s Premier Futsal League coincides with the national futsal team’s qualification for the 2024 Futsal World Cup. Click here to read more (external link).

Health Fears Over Leprosy Fuel Anti-Afghan Sentiment In Iran

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By Kian Sharifi
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
July 16, 2024

An unsubstantiated claim on social media linking an alleged rise in leprosy cases in Iran to the country’s Afghan community has resulted in renewed calls for the expulsion of Afghan migrants.

Iranian media have cited the Health Ministry as reporting nine new cases of leprosy over the past year. The reports said three of those afflicted were Afghans.

The same day, a freelance Iranian journalist who advocates for the expulsion of Afghan refugees alleged without evidence that “Afghan migrants” were responsible for spreading leprosy in Iran.

He incorrectly charged that “no cases of leprosy had been seen in Iran in years” — a claim that is easily debunked by data available on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) website.

On July 9, another journalist who often writes in support of expelling Afghan migrants went as far as calling the alleged rise in leprosy cases “bioterrorism” and demanded that the incoming government of President-elect Masud Pezeshkian “start deporting Afghans.”

“Afghans are bringing and spreading the leprosy virus,” he wrote without offering evidence, falsely claiming that leprosy, which is caused by bacteria, is a viral disease.

Both posts on the social media platform X have received nearly half a million views, been shared more than 1,000 times, and liked by over 7,000 accounts.

What Does The Data Say?

Leprosy in Iran has never been eliminated, but it has declined sharply since 2005, dropping from 79 to six in 2022, according to WHO data. No certified health authority has ever declared leprosy an epidemic in Iran or Afghanistan.

Leprosy is a chronic bacterial infectious disease that mainly affects the skin and peripheral nerves. It is curable but leaving it untreated may cause permanent disabilities.

The disease spreads via droplets from the nose and mouth through close and frequent contact with untreated individuals.

Rising Anti-Afghan Sentiment

Afghans fleeing the Soviet invasion in the 1980s were welcomed in Iran, thanks in large part to the anti-Soviet views of the recently established Islamic republic. But animosity toward the growing Afghan community has only worsened since.

In recent years — especially after an influx of migrants following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021 — there have been more frequent displays of anti-Afghan sentiment.

Over the past several months, a Persian hashtag that calls the “expulsion of Afghans” a “national demand” has been trending, often boosted by anonymous accounts.

The UNHCR, the United Nations’ refugee agency, says Iran hosts 780,000 Afghan refugees, in addition to 2.6 million undocumented Afghan nationals.

But the authorities in Tehran claimed last year that 5 million Afghans were living in Iran illegally, and vowed to deport them. Afghan migrants were later banned from living or working in half of the country’s 31 provinces.

In recent months, Afghan migrants in Iran have complained to RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi about rising harassment, even during deportation.

Iran has long said that it does not receive enough financial assistance from international bodies to deal with the number of refugees on its soil.

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.

UCI bans Afghanistan Cycling Federation President Fazli for abusing fleeing athletes

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Cycling News: After an investigation spanning almost three years, the UCI announced on Tuesday that it has suspended Afghanistan Cycling Federation President Fazli Ahmad Fazli for 15 months for breaches of the UCI Code of Ethics. Fazli was accused of sending abusive and threatening messages to athletes during and after the mass evacuation from the country following the Taliban takeover of the government. Click here to read more (external link).

The Taliban’s Rampage And The People’s Apathy

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Taliban militants (file photo)

8am: Since the Taliban’s takeover on August 15, 2021, the group has become increasingly audacious and confident in its assaults on the fundamental rights of the citizens of Afghanistan. From the severe suppression of women’s protests and widespread violations of their rights to imposing severe restrictions on the rights of ethnic and religious minorities, the Taliban have pursued a form of exclusivist tribal politics favoring Pashtun chauvinism, showing no tolerance or flexibility. This indicates that the Taliban’s policy of repression and intimidation grows harsher and more brazen with each passing day. They seem to have no fear of the possibility of igniting popular rebellion and insurrection. The Taliban are so reliant on and assured of the destructive power of their regime of fear that they believe no one can stop them and that they can remove any obstacle in their path. Click here to read more (external link).