Khaama: The situation of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime is deteriorating as women’s voices have been silenced and their dreams shattered, reported Amnesty International. On Saturday, July 1, Amnesty International released a video on Twitter showcasing the desperate situation of Afghan women and girls and stated that “sidelining women and girls” from public life can be considered a crime against humanity, and the ruling regime should be accountable for it. Click here to read more (external link).
School Buildings Used as Military Outposts in Panjshir: Residents
Tolo News: “This is a reality, and it should not be ignored that they are settled in the schools. We are witnessing that the military has settled in the schools, and it affects the morale of the students and people,” said Samiullah Sadeqqi, a resident of Panjshir. “The military is in a school in Bazarak and thus there is less attention to schooling,” said Abid, a resident of Panjshir. A military commander in Panjshir, Shir Hamza, said that 700 checkpoints have been established in the province. Click here to read more (external link).
Northern Afghanistan Transforming into a Waziristan-like Situation: Insecurity in the Vicinity of Central Asia
8am: The Taliban’s transfer of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) forces to the northern provinces of Afghanistan, as agreed upon with Pakistan, has resulted in numerous national issues and exacerbated ethnic divisions. However, this development also poses a regional alarm for the security of Central Asian countries. With the resurgence of the Taliban, the security in Central Asian nations has become increasingly fragile and unstable, rendering them more vulnerable than ever. Compounding this fragility is the engagement of power-balancing forces in Central Asia in the ongoing war in Ukraine, diverting Russia’s energy and attention away from the escalating threat of fundamentalism and terrorism. Click here to read more (external link).
Amid Criticisms, Afghan Authorities Reluctant to Publicize Cash Aid on Media
Khaama: The international community’s $40 million cash aid packages are shipped to Kabul, however, the Taliban authorities do not publicize it on media anymore, a source in Afghanistan Central Bank on Saturday said. The sources added that international organizations and aid groups transfer their required money to Afghanistan, and there has not been any change in the procedure so far. Click here to read more (external link).
The Taliban’s Interference Takes Toll: UN Aid Distribution in Balkh Province Plunges by 50%
8am: Abdul Habib highlights the Taliban’s interference as a key factor in the decrease of aid distribution to vulnerable citizens by the United Nations. He reveals that the Taliban exert considerable effort to ensure that a significant portion of the aid reaches their own families. According to him, during aid distribution programs, they often encounter an extensive list of Taliban members, including their relatives and families, at the forefront. Due to the risks involved, they are unable to voice any objections. Abdul Habib personally witnessed cash assistance being provided to individuals in a district, only to see the Taliban, in collaboration with village elders, demand 2,500 Afghanis from each recipient, claiming it as the cost of their inclusion on the list. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – July 1, 2023
Biden’s remarks an ‘acknowledgement’ of no armed groups in Afghanistan: Taliban
Ariana: Late Friday, a defiant US President Joe Biden, said in answer to a question, on the report, that was shouted out by a journalist as he walked out of a press conference: “Remember what I said about Afghanistan? I said al-Qaeda would not be there. I said it wouldn’t be there. I said we’d get help from the Taliban. What’s happening now? What’s going on? Read your press. I was right.” With that, Biden turned and left the room – without elaborating. Click here to read more (external link).
Related
State Department Review of Afghanistan Evacuation Critical of Biden, Trump
US soldiers (file photo)
Reuters: A U.S. State Department report on Friday criticized the handling of the 2021 evacuation from Afghanistan, saying decisions by President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump to withdraw troops had “serious consequences for the viability” and security of the former U.S.-backed government. Click here to read more (externa link).
Locust timebomb looms in Afghanistan after insects lay billions of eggs in cropland
The Telegraph (UK): Afghanistan is facing a locust timebomb after billions of eggs were laid by the grasshoppers in the country’s breadbasket, raising fears that a plague of insects will devastate food supplies next year. For the first time in two decades, swarms of Moroccan locusts – described as the “bad boys” of the locust world because of their voracious appetite – arrived in northern Afghanistan in March. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – June 30, 2023