Princes India, daughter of King Amanullah Khan, passes away in Rome
Princess India
Khaama: Princess India, daughter of King Amanullah Khan and Queen Soraya, has passed away in Rome, as confirmed by her daughter Soraya Malek via her social media on Saturday evening. Click here to read more (external link).
Islamic State Claims Responsibility For Deadly Suicide Bombing At Mosque In Afghanistan
By RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi
October 14, 2023
The Islamic State extremist group claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing on October 13 that Taliban police said killed seven Shi’ite worshippers and wounded 15 others during Friday prayers.
The group issued a statement claiming responsibility after the bombing and saying the death toll was 50 with dozens more injured. Islamic State’s regional affiliate, Islamic State in Khorasan, has targeted Afghan minority Shi’a in many past large-scale attacks.
The attack on October 13 happened at the Imam Zaman mosque in the city of Pol-e-Khomri, the capital of Baghlan Province, according to the Taliban-led government’s police command in the province.
In a statement on October 14, the Shi’a Scholars’ Council of Afghanistan demanded that the perpetrators be found and punished.
The statement said the Taliban should protect the security of religious and cultural centers in order to prevent similar incidents, which have escalated since the Taliban seized power in August 2021.
Naseer Ahmed Faiq, acting head of the Afghan UN mission, who has not been recognized by the UN, said on X, formerly Twitter, that the attack on civilians has no religious or humanitarian justification.
The United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, condemned the attack, saying on X that dozens of Shi’ite worshippers were killed.
Rina Amiri, the U.S. special envoy for the rights of Afghan women and girls, expressed her condolences to the victims’ families, saying on X that the attack was “a threat to the diversity that defines Afghanistan.”
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA, also responded on X, posting a statement saying that it was investigating the incident and expressing “deep sorrow and condolences to all those killed and wounded.”
Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai and the head of the High Council of National Reconciliation in the previous government, Abdullah Abdullah, said in separate statements that the bombing was against Islamic and human values and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.
Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.
Dead, Wounded In Afghan Mosque Blast During Friday Prayers
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
October 13, 2023
A number of people have been killed and wounded in an explosion that occurred during Friday prayers on October 13 in a Shi’ite mosque in Pol-e-Khomri, the capital of Afghanistan’s northern Baghlan Province, local officials and sources told RFE/RL.
Sources in Baghlan Province, who requested anonymity for security reasons, have quoted health officials as saying that the bodies of nearly 30 people were transferred to the hospital in Pol-e-Khomri.
The explosion occurred during Friday prayers at the Imam Zaman Mosque, sources told Radio Azadi.
Taliban officials have not yet provided information regarding the number of casualties, however they confirmed that a blast occurred.
“I condemn it strongly, but currently I don’t have all the information,” deputy government spokesman Bilal Karimi told the AFP news agency.
Mawlawi Hashimi, a Taliban official in Baghlan Province, told Reuters that the dead and injured were being taken to the hospital. Hashimi said authorities were probing what type of blast it was.
No group has claimed responsibility. In the past, Islamic State, which considers Shi’ites heretics, has taken responsibility for similar attacks on Shi’ites in various provinces of Afghanistan.
Since the Taliban retook control of the government in Kabul in August 2021, Islamic State has staged attacks on diplomatic missions and ministry buildings in the capital and assassinated two provincial governors.
The Taliban and Islamic State share an austere Sunni ideology, however, Kabul’s new rulers have pledged to protect ethnic and religious minorities.
According to a UN Security Council report in May, Islamic State seeks to “provoke sectarian conflict and destabilize the region” and since 2022 has conducted more than 190 suicide bombings, leaving some 1,300 injured or dead.
The presence of Islamic State fighters in Afghanistan has also stoked tensions with Pakistan, which claims they are crossing the border to strike targets on its soil.
With reporting by AFP and Reuters
Copyright (c) 2023. 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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Afghanistan earthquakes: Taliban interference in aid efforts is affecting disaster response
Taliban militant (file photo)
The Conversation: Over 1,000 people are thought to have been killed in the latest earthquake to hit Afghanistan. Humanitarian aid agencies are scrambling to help the affected villages. But the realities of Taliban rule are starting to have an impact on the ground, as relations between the authorities and NGOs fray. Taliban policies and governance style also directly contribute to the problem by hurting the economy. The World Bank’s latest assessment warns of “economic uncertainty”. Initial Taliban performance, in funding a national budget, without external support, was impressive. But now the Taliban’s aggressive tax collection is depressing demand. And in a replay of the “guns v butter” problem, the Taliban are channelling resources to their security forces leaving little for the civilian population. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – October 13, 2023
Putin expresses support for Tajikistan amid growing threats from Afghanistan
Putin (left) and Rahmon (right) – file photo
Khaama: Vladimir Putin stated that significant threats emanate from Afghanistan, and Russia supports Tajikistan’s concerns regarding the threats from Afghanistan. In September of this year, the National Security Committee of Tajikistan announced that three terrorists had been targeted and killed near the border with Afghanistan. Tajikistan stated that these individuals were members of the “Jamiat Ansarullah” group and were planning terrorist attacks in the country. Additionally, over the past two years, ISIS has launched multiple rocket attacks from Afghan territory into Tajikistan and carried out a suicide attack in front of the Russian Embassy in Kabul, resulting in the deaths of two Russian diplomats. Click here to read more (external link).
Thousands of people in Afghanistan protest against Israel’s Gaza bombardment
Ariana: Thousands of people in Afghanistan demonstrated on Friday in support of the Palestinians and against the intensifying Israeli bombardment of Gaza. Participants of a rally in Kabul asked the Islamic countries to join hands and counter the actions of Israel and its allies. Abdulhaq Hammad, a political activist, called the recent developments in Gaza “tyranny and terrorism by the world of infidels”. Click here to read more (external link).
Taliban Decline Pakistan’s Quake-Related Aid Over Controversial Tweet
Kakar
Ayaz Gul
VOA News
October 12, 2023
ISLAMABAD — Afghanistan’s Taliban have blocked earthquake-related relief assistance from Pakistan over a controversial social media post by the country’s prime minister amid an already strained bilateral relationship, VOA learned Thursday from highly placed official sources.
A senior Taliban official, speaking on condition of anonymity while not being authorized to discuss the matter publicly, confirmed that Pakistani Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar’s post on X (formerly Twitter) was behind their refusal to accept the aid.
The controversy started after a strong 6.3-magnitude quake struck parts of the western Afghan province of Herat. Islamabad immediately announced it would urgently dispatch a transport plane loaded with 5,000 winterized tents, 15,000 blankets, food items, medical supplies and a team of medical doctors for victims of the deadly calamity.
The National Disaster Management Authority prepared the consignment, sharing details on its official website. Hours later, Kakar claimed in a post on X that the aid was being dispatched at the request of the Taliban government, even though Kabul has to date formally not asked foreign countries to send relief.
Kakar also posted inaccurate details of the items his government had planned to send to Afghanistan.
“I have instructed @NDMAPk to send maximum support to the affected,” the prime minister wrote, adding, “Afghanistan government has specifically asked for sending medical team, field hospital, 50 tents and 500 blankets. … all the requested items are being dispatched in the afternoon today, with more relief goods to follow,” Kakar added.
But the Pakistani plane has since not taken off, and neither side has officially cited reasons for the delay.
“Although no such request was made and our government was ridiculed for it,” the Taliban official said in written comments shared via a Whatsapp messaging platform when asked about their refusal to accept Pakistani aid. He criticized Kakar’s statement as “irresponsible” and advised the Pakistani leader to be extremely careful while issuing statements about Afghanistan.
A top Pakistani official privy to the matter questioned the Taliban assertions when asked to explain why Islamabad could not send the relief goods to Afghanistan.
“Kabul neither says yes nor a no; they have made a formal request for assistance and told us that they will let us know when to send,” the official said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to interact with the media publicly.
Earlier on Thursday, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson, at her weekly news conference, avoided directly commenting on the controversy when asked for progress on sending Afghan relief aid.
“Pakistan expresses deep sympathy with its Afghan brothers and sisters, as they face a very difficult situation following the earthquake that took place a few days ago,” Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said.
“Pakistan also stands in solidarity with its Afghan brothers and sisters and remains in contact with the interim Afghan government to meet any needs they may have during the relief and recovery efforts,” she added.
Relations between the two neighboring countries have been strained over allegations that militants sheltering on Afghan soil are responsible for a dramatic uptick in deadly attacks in Pakistan since the Taliban seized power two years ago, charges Kabul rejects.
Tensions increased after the Pakistani government gave all foreigners, including an estimated 1.7 million Afghans, a one-month deadline to leave or face deportation after November 1.
Taliban leaders have severely criticized the decision and repeatedly urged Pakistan to review it, warning it could “seriously hurt” bilateral ties.
However, spokesperson Baloch reiterated Thursday that Islamabad was determined to enforce the policy to make sure individuals overstaying their visas or possessing no documentation leave Pakistan. She said the deportation would be completed orderly and in line with local immigration laws.
“This requirement pertains to all nationalities and is not specific to any nationality. … There are different prescriptions within these laws, including deportation. This process will be completed in a phased and orderly manner.”
Pakistan has repeatedly clarified that the November 1 deadline is not meant for 1.4 million officially designated Afghan refugees and more than 800,000 Afghan citizenship card holders living lawfully in the country.
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Afghan Officials Lower Earthquakes’ Death Toll
Ayaz Gul
VOA News
October 12, 2023
ISLAMABAD — Afghanistan’s Taliban government Thursday lowered the death toll from a series of recent earthquakes that struck western districts to about 1,000, revising the previous figure of more than 2,000 fatalities.
The Afghan Public Health Ministry posted the latest toll on X, formerly Twitter, saying around 2,400 people had been injured since Saturday, when the first 6.3-magnitude quake rattled several districts in the western Herat province, bordering Iran.
A UNICEF spokesperson told VOA Thursday that “over 90% of those reported killed” were women and children, saying casualty “numbers are still in flux.” The United Nations documented the death of around 1,300 people and nearly 1,700 injured as of Thursday. VOA reached out to U.N. officials to seek a clarification about the discrepancy but did not receive a response immediately.
Repeated aftershocks hit the Afghan disaster zone before it was shaken by another 6.3-magnitude quake Wednesday that was followed by three substantial tremors.
The latest United Nations situation report said that Wednesday’s earthquake and aftershocks affected villages in the Injil, Gulran, and Kushki Robat-e-Sangi districts of Herat, injuring at least 140 people. “Chahak village in Injil district, with 1,250 residents, has been completely destroyed along with five neighboring villages,” it said.
Provincial officials reported at least one death and injuries to over 150 people from the latest quake.
Siddig Ibrahim, UNICEF field officer for western Afghanistan, told VOA earlier this week that when the first earthquake hit, people thought it was an explosion and ran into their homes.
“Unfortunately, the earthquake continued, and houses started collapsing,” Ibrahim said. “Women and children are often at home, tending to the household and caring for children, so when structures collapse, they are the most at risk.”
UNICEF launched a new appeal for Afghanistan on Wednesday, calling for an initial $20 million to respond to the quakes.
The World Health Organization has reported damage to 21 health facilities in 10 districts, with half caused by the October 11 tremors. So far, WHO and other agencies have provided health care services to more than 5,600 people in several highly affected districts, mainly in Zindajan, which was close to the epicenter of Saturday’s quake.
Afghan hospitals, already severely underequipped and underfunded, were quickly overwhelmed. Providing shelter to quake victims on a large scale would be a challenge for the Taliban government.
“That area suffers from extreme cold, and staying outdoors for affected families after the evening is tough,” Public Health Minister Qalandar Ebad told reporters Wednesday.
“They can live in tents for one month, but beyond that, it would probably be very difficult,” he said.
The government has provided medicine, equipment, food, drinking water, tents, and other necessities for the victims but they still need more help, Ebad said. He praised international aid organizations for supporting his government in bringing much-needed relief goods to quake victims.
Taliban chief spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that several countries had also sent relief items to displaced families in Herat.
This story has been updated to include U.N. estimates of the number of earthquake casualties.
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