Trump’s Assassination: Suspected Gunman Wanted to “Take Afghan Troops to Ukraine”

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Afghanistan International: The New York Times has reported that Trump assassination suspect Ryan Wesley Routh said last year that he was looking to recruit former Afghan troops to fight in Ukraine. “We can probably purchase some passports through Pakistan, since it’s such a corrupt country,” Routh had said. On Sunday, media outlets reported a shooting near Trump’s residence in Palm Beach, Florida. Police officials said that the gunman was among the bushes near the golf course when Secret Service agents spotted the barrel of his rifle. Click here to read more (external link).

Anti-Shiism: A Battle Where the Taliban and ISIS Stand United

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8am: The massacre of Shia pilgrims at the border between the provinces of Ghor and Daykundi, for which ISIS has claimed responsibility, has once again highlighted the issue of Anti-Shiism among extremist Islamic groups. This event occurred in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, a group that has repeatedly demonstrated that it is no less anti-Shia than ISIS. Shias, as a religious minority in Afghanistan, face severe discrimination and systematic oppression from the Taliban, while ISIS systematically targets them for massacre. The recent incident is the latest example of such ISIS crimes, occurring at a time when the Taliban have recently spoken about the absence of ISIS in Afghanistan. Whenever the Taliban make such misleading claims, one must be wary of the deadly actions of ISIS. This kind of brutal massacre is, in fact, a sign of the reappearance of a terrorist group that, contrary to all the false claims of the Taliban officials, remains actively present in Afghanistan, and the Kabul regime can never completely eradicate it. Click here to read more (external link).

Related

Taliban Suspends Polio Vaccination Campaign in Afghanistan

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Child getting polio drops (file photo)

Afghanistan International: The Taliban on Monday suspended a polio vaccination campaign in Afghanistan, the Associated Press reported, citing the United Nations. The reason for the suspension of the campaign has not yet been announced, and Taliban officials have not publicly commented on the matter. Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only countries in the world which have not been able to stop the spread of this deadly and paralysing disease among children. Click here to read more (external link).

Claims of a Drug Crackdown: Hashish Demand and Supply Soar in Herat Province

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8am: Over the past three years, the Taliban have repeatedly claimed to have eradicated drugs and tobacco in the country. However, findings from Herat province by Hasht-e Subh Daily reveal an increase in the buying and selling of hashish, with the market for hashish sellers thriving. This is despite a decree by Hibatullah Akhundzada banning the sale and purchase of drugs, including hashish. Following this decree, the price of hashish has surged. This comes as international organizations have also reported that, despite the Taliban’s rhetoric about fighting drugs, the trade from opium reserves continues, and drug production factories remain operational. Click here to read more (external link).

Afghanistan impress in debut thriller at FIFA Futsal World Cup in Uzbekistan

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Ariana: If Afghanistan’s first match of the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2024 is anything to go by then fans across the country are in for a treat after the team thumped Angola 6-4 on Sunday afternoon in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Next up for Afghanistan are 2016 champions Argentina on Wednesday. Click here to read more (external link).

Other Sports News

Killed Three Taliban Members in Kabul, Claims NRF

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Afghanistan International: The National Resistance Front (NRF) claims to have killed three Taliban members and injured two others during a targeted operation on Friday evening in the ninth district of Kabul. In a statement, the NRF said that they attacked a Taliban patrol in the Hodkhel area of the city. Earlier, two local sources in Kabul had reported an explosion in the area. Click here to read more (external link).

Not all is well inside the Taliban

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Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada

Al Jazeera: While Akhundzada appears in control, signs of growing internal divisions have surfaced. In February 2023, Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani implicitly criticised him, saying, “Monopolising power and hurting the reputation of the entire system are not to our benefit. … The situation cannot be tolerated.” Click here to read more (external link).

War, deforestation, flooding: in Afghanistan they are all linked

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The Guardian (UK): Afghanistan has always been prone to natural disasters. Among low-income nations, it ranked second in the number of deaths caused by them between 1980 and 2015, according to one report. However, the frequency and extremity of disasters such as flash flooding is on the rise, and climate breakdown is not solely responsible for these changes. The country’s history of armed conflict has exacerbated the situation severely. Click here to read more (external link).