Iranian official: Gemstones from Afghanistan smuggled into Iranian market
Lapis
Khaama: Qadir Qiafeh, deputy head of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce, stated that gemstones from Afghanistan are smuggled into Iran and sold illegally, as reported by Iranian media. In an interview with an Iranian media outlet, Qiafeh stated that gemstones mined in Afghanistan enter Iran through unofficial channels and trade in their markets. Click here to read more (external link).
Taliban Totalitarianism and the Effort to Homogenize Afghanistan
Taliban militants (file photo)
8am: Given the strong ethnic inclinations within the Taliban, their religious ideology has also taken on an ethnocentric hue. They are striving for the widespread promotion of the Pashto language and consider the Persian language, which historically served as a lingua franca facilitating understanding and communication among all the country’s inhabitants, as a foreign and secondary language. They seek to eradicate it from government offices, remove Persian-language signs, create official correspondences only in Pashto, and compel people to speak Pashto. On the other hand, the presence of other ethnicities in Taliban security forces is very rare, and if they are present, it is ineffective. Click here to read more (external link).
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Search For Victims Under Way As Death Toll Hits 315 In Afghan Flooding
By RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi
May 12, 2024
Emergency crews battled the elements as they searched for victims in hard-to-reach areas of northern Afghanistan, where at least 315 people have died in flash flooding caused by heavy rainfall. The Taliban, Afghanistan’s de facto rulers, on May 12 said at least 1,630 people were injured in Baghlan Province, the worst-hit area, and more than 2,660 homes destroyed. Badakhshan, Takhar, Ghor, Faryab, and other provinces have also been hit by the flooding. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement that the UN and “its partners in Afghanistan are coordinating with the de facto authorities to swiftly assess needs and provide emergency assistance.”
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.
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Tolo News in Dari – May 12, 2024
Taliban Cancels Pakistani Delegation’s Visit To Kandahar Following Air Strikes In Paktika
Afghanistan International: Information obtained by Afghanistan International reveals that the Taliban has cancelled a scheduled trip of a Pakistani army delegation to Kandahar, in response to recent air and missile strikes by Pakistan in Paktika province. Originally, the delegation was to travel from Rawalpindi to Kandahar on Sunday. Security sources from Pakistan, confirming to Afghanistan International, stated that the cancellation by the Taliban was officially attributed to “weather conditions”, although it is widely believed that the real reason was the air strikes on Paktika that occurred on Thursday. Click here to read more (external link).
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Ex-MP Allah Gul Mujahid arrested in connection with a murder
Ariana: Kabul police has announced that Allah Gul Mujahid, a member of parliament in the previous government, has been arrested in connection with a murder. Khalid Zadran, the spokesman of Kabul police, said on X that Mujahid is a suspect in the murder of an individual named Saeedullah who was killed almost three months ago. Click here to read more (external link).
Three Taliban Members Killed In Kabul, Says NRF
Afghanistan International: The National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRF) has announced that in an attack on a Taliban checkpoint in Kabul, three members of the group were killed and four others were injured. The front stated that this attack took place on Friday night in the 17th police district of Kabul city. Click here to read more (external link).
George W. Bush Institute Report: Taliban Relying on the Throne of Corruption and Theft
8am: The George W. Bush Institute, led by the former US President, has uncovered the involvement of Taliban members in extensive financial corruption and also identified the influential role of foreign actors in sustaining the financial corruption of this group. Click here to read more (external link).
Non-Pashtun Taliban Members Warn of Split Up If Insults Against Tajik Commander Continue
Khurasani
Afghanistan International: Following Abdulhamid Khorasani’s protest against “Taliban ethnocentrism,” several non-Pashtun Taliban members warned that if the insults against him continue, they will split up from the Taliban. This Tajik-origin commander, through a video, supported the protests in Badakhshan and opposed the suppression of protesters. Click here to read more (external link).