The Taliban Promises and Neighbors’ Despair: Terrorist Groups Threaten the Region from Afghan Soil
8am: The head of the Center for Afghanistan & Central Asia Strategic Studies (ACASS) adds that the concentration of terrorist groups at northern Afghan borders, especially along the border with Tajikistan, and the expansion of drug trafficking, are perennial concerns… Mr. Iskandar also expresses concern about the relocation of migrants expelled from Pakistan to northern Afghanistan… According to him, the migration to the north, in addition to exacerbating ethnic tensions, poses a serious challenge to the Central Asia region… Mr. Ghiasi adds, “Taliban occasionally cooperate with terrorists in destabilizing northern neighboring countries, especially Tajikistan. According to an unverified report, the Taliban leadership, led by Qari Fasihuddin, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of this group, has requested cooperation with ISIS, stating that they are our Muslim brothers and we should collaborate with them.” These concerns in northern Afghanistan came to light after the Jaish ul-Adl group attacked a military base in Iran. An analysis in the Islamic Republic newspaper suggests that Jaish ul-Adl has a base with Taliban support in Afghanistan. The Iranian newspaper adds that since Jaish ul-Adl secured “logistic and political support” from the Taliban, it was suspected that they would engage in malicious actions. Click here to read more (external link).
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US warns citizens against traveling to Afghanistan
Khaama: The US State Department of State has warned all its citizens against travelling to Afghanistan. The warning emphasizes the risk of U.S. citizens being arrested in Afghanistan. On Monday, the Department issued a statement noting the active presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan. The statement claims that foreign activities in Afghanistan are viewed with suspicion and humanitarian aid workers have faced harassment and arrest by the Taliban administration. The U.S. State Department added that there is a high risk of arrest even for those registered for business purposes. Click here to read more (external link).
Afghanistan: ‘I have to sedate my hungry baby due to aid cuts’
BBC News: “The last time I was able to buy milk for my baby was two months ago. Normally I just fill the [feeding] bottle with tea. Or I soak bread in tea and then feed it to her,” Sohaila Niyazi says, sitting on the floor of her mud brick home up a hill in eastern Kabul. Under Taliban rule, Sohaila says she can’t go out to work and feed her family. “There have been nights when we have had nothing to eat. I say to my children, where can I go begging at this time of night? They sleep in a state of hunger and when they wake up I wonder what I should do. If a neighbour brings us some food the children scramble, saying ‘give me, give me’. I try to split it between them to calm them down,” Sohaila says. Click here to read more (external link).
Extremists attempted to infiltrate Tajikistan from Afghanistan throughout the year: Russia
Ariana: Throughout this year, attempts by extremists to infiltrate Tajikistan have been recorded at the Afghanistan border, Russia’s ambassador in Tajikistan, Semyon Grigoryev, said. “We do not see much progress in the fulfillment of the Taliban’s (IEA) promises regarding ensuring the security of states neighboring Afghanistan,” Grigoryev said in an interview with TASS news agency released on Monday. “Throughout this year, attempts by extremists to break into the territory of Tajikistan have been recorded on the Tajik-Afghan border. Fortunately, all these attacks were promptly suppressed by the Tajik security forces.” Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – December 18, 2023
Taliban’s Opposition to Islamic Sects; Nadeem: “All Afghans Are Followers of the Hanafi Denomination”
Nadeem
8am: Afghanistan is recognized for its diverse social, linguistic, and religious structure. The country encompasses multiple Islamic sects, various ethnic groups, and diverse languages, each with its believers and advocates. The religious freedoms of the Afghan people were officially acknowledged in the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Still, since the Taliban’s return to power, they have disregarded the country’s diverse values, emphasizing forced homogenization and the negation of others. Recently, the acting Minister of Higher Education for the Taliban has denied the existence of other religions in Afghanistan, stating, “All Afghans follow the Hanafi school of thought.” He claims that there are no other religions in Afghanistan. Political activists and religious affairs experts argue that the Taliban do not believe in diversity and plurality in the country, persisting in their mono-ethnic, mono-religious, and mono-linguistic behaviors. Previously, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) reported that the Taliban had restricted religious freedoms. Additionally, the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) has expressed concern over the prohibition of religious freedom for Shiites by the Taliban. Click here to read more (external link).
Increasing mental health issues among women due to restrictions in Afghanistan
Khaama: Women and girls in Afghanistan describe their lives under the rule of the Taliban administration as ‘a gradual death.’ According to human rights defenders, the current situation in Afghanistan is not desirable for any human being, and they ask the Taliban to modify its policies towards women. Still, after more than two years, no change has occurred in the Taliban’s approach to women’s freedoms. The group has openly refused to accept women’s freedoms and has increased its restrictions against them. The growing restrictions have led to an increase in suicides among women and girls, nearly doubled their mental and psychological problems, and severely limited their access to open environments and medical centres. Click here to read more (external link).
While Ukrainians Welcomed, Poland’s Afghans Say They Face Hardship And Exclusion
As many as 1,500 Afghans were airlifted to Poland after the Taliban retook Kabul in August 2021, and many say they face economic hardship in the country and are no longer receiving help from the state. They say Poland has prioritized support for the 1.6 million Ukrainians taken in since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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Rising Poverty and Taliban Oppression: One in Three Children Faces Hunger Crisis
Taliban militants (file photo)
8am: With the Taliban’s control over Afghanistan, the United Nations and other relief agencies have described the economic situation in the country as dire. Meanwhile, residents of the country are concerned about the continued unemployment, the spread of poverty, and the Taliban’s indifference to providing services. They say that with the arrival of the winter season, their problems have multiplied, and many children are forced to engage in difficult work alongside the streets. Click here to read more (external link).
Life under Taliban Rule