Detention of Father and Son in Kabul: Taliban Demand Ransom for Prisoner Release

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Taliban militants (file photo)

8am: According to information obtained by the Hasht-e Subh Daily on Monday, February 5th, the Taliban apprehended the two individuals last Saturday in the vicinity of Kabul’s fourth district and subsequently transported them to an undisclosed location. The sources reveal that Mohammad Najim and his son Agha Shirin have no known affiliations with any group in the past. However, they are now held captive on the orders of a Taliban official. It’s reported that this Taliban commander has demanded a ransom of one million Afghanis in cash along with several firearms in exchange for the release of the detainees. Click here to read more (external link).

1.8 million people caught respiratory illness in one month: Afghanistan’s Health Ministry

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Khaama: After the World Health Organization reported on the increase in acute respiratory infections in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Public Health of the Taliban government also confirmed the rise of this disease in the country. The World Health Organization has warned that polluted and toxic air can lead to serious risks such as strokes, heart diseases, lung cancer, shortness of breath, and other chronic and acute respiratory illnesses. Click here to read more (external link).

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Tajikistan: Persistent Drug Trafficking Challenges Despite Taliban’s Claims

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8am: The Drug Control Agency of Tajikistan has refuted the Taliban’s assertion of a decline in drug trafficking from Afghanistan, stating that there is no concrete evidence to support such a reduction. According to a report from the TASS news agency on Monday, February 5th, the Drug Control Agency of Tajikistan (DCA) conveyed that recent intelligence indicates the initiation of drug production in covert laboratories within Afghanistan. Subsequently, these illicit substances are smuggled into Tajikistan before being transported to various other countries. Click here to read more (external link).

Rare snow leopard captured after killing dozens of animals in Afghanistan

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File photo

CBS: Afghan authorities captured a rare snow leopard in the country’s mountainous northeast and were preparing to release it back into the wild after it reportedly killed dozens of livestock animals, a conservation group said Sunday. The leopard was captured on Thursday night after becoming trapped in a livestock enclosure in the rural Zibak district of Badakhshan province, savaging some 30 animals, the district’s deputy governor Abdulrahman Kasra told AFP on Saturday. Click here to read more (external link).

Sri Lanka celebrate 10-wicket Test win against Afghanistan

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Ariana: Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan by 10 wickets with a day to spare in the one-off Test in Colombo on Monday with their opening batsmen chasing down an easy target of 56. Afghanistan were bowled out for 296 in their second innings, setting Sri Lanka the low goal, with Dimuth Karunaratne (32 not out) and Nishan Madushka (22 not out) finishing the job within 7.2 overs. Click here to read more (external link).

 

The Challenges of Decentralization in Afghanistan

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Mohammad Sarwar Danish

8am: Moving beyond the Taliban regime is inevitable, and the current situation will eventually come to an end. The Taliban acknowledges this and, therefore, relies on financial resources and inflicts suffering on the people to secure a position before the end of their regime. However, the post-Taliban order should not be a centralized government. The concentration of power in the hands of the president was a major factor in the corruption and ineffectiveness of the republic, ultimately leading to its downfall. Afghanistan should not repeat the same mistakes multiple times. Decentralization of power must be a non-negotiable focus. Efforts in this direction, including the formation of the Federalists Assembly of Afghanistan, can be successful, but it requires a long time and persistent struggle. Establishing a new movement, especially in exile, alone cannot contribute to improving the situation or clarifying the path for the future. Click here to read more (external link).

Several political figures advocate for Federal System in Afghanistan

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Khaama: In a virtual meeting held on Sunday, February 4th some former government officials and jihadist leaders delivered speeches and issued a statement titled the “Charter of the Federalists of Afghanistan.” It has been proposed that the new divisions of the “future government” be based on a federal structure, consisting of 11 provincial units, in addition to Kabul, the capital.

In this virtual gathering, former Vice President Sarwar Danesh, former National Congress Party leader Mohiuddin Mahdi, former members of the House of Representatives Niloofar Ibrahim, Masouma Khawari, and Zia Arya Nejad, as well as Abdulmak, Rasoul Talib, Faizullah Zaki, were in attendance.

Click here to read more (external link).

Surge in Mysterious Killings Across the Country: 12 Lives Lost in Five Provinces Within One Week

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8am: Concerns are growing among citizens about the increase in mysterious murders in the country. They say that most of these murders are carried out under the name of “unidentified armed individuals”. Political experts, however, accuse the Taliban of being involved in these incidents. They say that whether willingly or unwillingly, the Taliban are seeking revenge and killing their opponents. Click here to read more (external link).

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