Khaama: The United States special envoy for Afghanistan Thomas West said he fears Afghanistan “could see a return to civil war in time”, calling the need for “political dialogue” in national level. Without a serious “national political dialogue” about the future of the country among Afghans who have “genuine support in their community, I really do fear…. we could see a return to civil war in time,” West made the remarks at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Click here to read more (external link).
11 People Found Dead, Mutilated in Eastern Nangarhar Province
8am: 11 people with severed heads were found in the Pachiragam district of eastern Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province. Sources say that these bodies were found on Wednesday (September 30th) in the Barghuli area, Pachiragam district, Nangarhar province. Another source, who does not want to be identified, reports that the number of these bodies is 23. According to the source, the Taliban do not allow local people to collect the bodies. Click here to read more (external link).
Taliban Says Suicide Attack In Predominantly Shi’ite Area Of Kabul Kills 19
By RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi
September 30, 2022
A suicide bombing struck an education center in a predominantly Shi’ite neighborhood of the Afghan capital on September 30, killing 19 people and wounding 27, a Taliban-appointed spokesman for the Kabul police chief said.
The explosion inside the center in the Dashti Barchi neighborhood populated by Hazaras, a mostly Shi’ite ethnic minority, occurred in the morning hours, said spokesman Khalid Zadran. The explosion occurred in a classroom packed with students, he added.
Witnesses told RFE/RL that the assailant targeted the guard of the educational center before blowing himself up in the classroom.
Around 150 students were reportedly present inside the center.
The victims included high school graduates who were taking a practice university entrance exam when the blast went off, Zadran said.
The Kaaj Higher Educational Center coaches mainly adult male and female students ahead of university entrance tests.
Zabihullah Haidari, a teacher at the center, told RFE/RL that “a suicide attacker came and fired at guards at the gate. The attacker also fired at people inside the educational center and several people were killed in the shooting. Then he entered a class where students were taking an exam and blew up his explosive vest. Most of the victims were girls.”
The bombing is the latest incident in a continuous stream of violence since the Taliban seized power last year in August. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
The extremist Islamic State group has in the past targeted the Hazara community, including in Dashti Barchi.
“Our teams have been dispatched to the site of the blast to find out more details,” Abdul Nafi Takor, a Taliban-appointed spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said earlier.
With reporting by AP and AFP
Copyright (c) 2022. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.
Related
NRF Attacks in Takhar Kill Taliban Commander and Injure Seven Others
8am: Local sources in Takhar report two attacks by the Resistance Front forces on Taliban’s positions in this province. According to local sources, in the first attack carried out on Wednesday night, September 28, in Mashabah Qishlaq village of Dasht-e-Qala district of Takhar, as a result of which, Qari Khelan, one of the local Taliban commanders, has been killed and five fighters under his command are wounded. Click here to read more (external link).
More Resistance News
Iran warns about rise of terrorist groups in Afghanistan
Mehr News Agency: Addressing a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Afghanistan, Zahra Ershadi expressed concern over the reports on the resurgence of ISIL-affiliated terrorist groups in Afghanistan. “The de-facto authorities must commit to fighting terrorism and ensure to take all appropriate steps to protect diplomatic and consular premises against any intrusion or damage and prevent attacks on diplomatic premises, agents, and consular officers,” she said. “Afghanistan must no longer serve as a haven for terrorist groups like ISIL and al-Qaeda,” she added. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – September 29, 2022
Taliban Forbids Opium Cultivation, but Charges Tithes on Products
Taliban militants (file photo)
8am: The name and history of Taliban creation are associated with opium and drug trafficking, along with the implementation of strict and extreme religious practices. This spring, Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of this group, issued an order prohibiting the cultivation, production, purchase, and sale of narcotics. But the findings of Hasht-e Subh Daily show that the local officials of the Taliban in the provinces have not prevented poppy cultivation at all, and they have collected tithes from the poppy harvest this year. Click here to read more (external link).
Taliban Disrupt Afghan Women’s Rally Supporting Iran Protests
Ayaz Gul
VOA News
September 29, 2022
ISLAMABAD — A group of women in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, Thursday staged what was the first demonstration in support of protests in Iran before being forcefully dispersed by Taliban authorities.
The rally comes as nationwide protests continued in the neighboring country over the death of a young woman, Masha Amini, while in detention by morality police in Tehran for failing to properly cover her hair with a hijab.
Witnesses in Kabul said that about 30 female activists in headscarves gathered outside the Iranian embassy chanting, “Women, life, freedom” — slogans used during Iranian protests. They also held banners that read, “Iran has risen. Now it’s our turn!” and “From Kabul to Iran say no to dictatorship!”
Taliban security forces snatched and tore the banners before firing in the air to disperse the rally. Organizers later said the demonstration was held to show “support and solidarity” with the Iranian people and the women in Afghanistan.
“We are sure that one day, our people will rise in the same way as the Iranian people,” said a protester who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Since returning to power a year ago, the Islamist Taliban have instructed women to cover their faces in public and told many female public sector employees to stay home. The group’s vice and virtue ministry also requires women not to undertake long road trips unless accompanied by a close male relative.
The Taliban have barred teenage girls in Afghanistan from attending secondary school education beyond grade six.
The restrictions have outraged activists and students and have triggered relentless international calls for the Taliban to ease them if they want their government to be formally recognized.
The Islamist rulers maintain the restrictions are in line with Afghan culture and Islamic principles.
The protests in Iran have spread to at least 80 cities and towns. Security police have used tear gas, clubs and, in some cases, live ammunition to quell the protests calling for the end to the Islamic establishment’s more than four decades in power.
Iranian state media said 41 people, including members of the police and a pro-government militia, have been killed during the protests, although Iranian human rights groups have reported a higher toll.
Amini, 22, was arrested September 13 and died three days later in a hospital after falling into a coma. Her family filed a complaint this week against the Iranian police officers who arrested her, calling for a full investigation.
The Iranian police have denied responsibility for Amini’s death.
Some information in this report came from Agence France-Presse.
Taliban’s Resistance Against Enlightenment and Education Continue
8am: The officials of the Department of Virtue Promotion of the Taliban in Ghazni have closed an English language training center due to a girl’s presence in the boys’ class. Sources said that the Taliban agents, during their surveillance of Ghazni city, on Wednesday, September 6, sealed this educational center in the second security district of Ghazni city. Click here to read more (external link).
More than 10,000 Afghan refugees return home in past week
Ariana: The [Taliban] Ministry of Repatriation and Refugees (MoRR) says in the past week, more than 10,000 Afghan migrants returned to the country from neighboring countries. Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, spokesman for the MoRR, said Thursday that most of the returnees were those who traveled illegally to neighboring countries. In the past few months, some countries have reportedly treated Afghan immigrants inappropriately and forcibly deported them to Afghanistan. Click here to read more (external link).
Related