ANI: Pakistani agents are robbing Afghanistan of its cultural heritage by smuggling ancient idols and other artifacts from the war-torn country, reported the Afghan Diaspora Network. The smuggling is done by a global racket of smugglers who are facilitated by local Afghan officials. Major support to the crime is provided by actors working from the territory of neighbouring Pakistan. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – December 17, 2022
No difference between God, Mullah Hibatullah’s order: Taliban’s minister of education
Nadeem
Aamaj: The Taliban minister of education, Mawlawi Neda Mohammad Nadeem, in his trip to Kandahar stated, “there is no difference between the order of God and the one of supreme leader of Taliban, Mullah Hibatullah.” Akhundzada, because both of them are derived from God’s book.” Click here to read more (external link).
Pashtunization: Kuchi Land-Grabbers Speed Up Construction Works on Hazara Settlements in Ghazni’s Jaghatu District
8am: Pashtun Nomads (Kuchis) in Jaghatu district, Ghazni province have accelerated the construction of residential houses in settlements under dispute. This settlement is located in the “Pushte Faqirshah” area, Sarab village, Jaghatu district. Local sources claimed that the sedentary population’s pasture lands have been usurped by nomads thanks to the Taliban’s support. Although locals have asked high-ranking Taliban officials in Ghazni and Kabul to stop the construction works in this vicinity, according to them, no one has paid attention to their call. Click here to read more (external link).
With Music Banned, Afghan Musician Now Sells Snacks To Feed His Family
Before Taliban rule in Afghanistan, Sardar Mohammad made his living and provided for his family by playing the harmonium, a traditional folk instrument that was popular at celebrations. Since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, playing and listening to music has been banned, with sermons or Koran readings replacing the melodies once heard at weddings. Now, some musicians have resorted to selling food on the streets while music shops stand silently in the Kabul district where they once thrived.
Why China’s belt and road plan is facing threat of jihadist terrorism
South China Morning Post: As global geopolitics continues to be driven by great power competition, China will feature more prominently in the transnational jihadist rhetoric. Jihadist groups like Isis-K require a bigger adversary to justify their extremist violence and attract funding and recruitment. For the past two decades, the raison d’être of transnational jihadism was the American interventions in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. Now, it is Chinese expansion through the Belt and Road Initiative that has become the bête noire of the jihadist groups. Click here to read more (external link).
Pakistan and America’s Common Problem With the Taliban
Khaama: With the reemergence of the Taliban to power and the American force’s withdrawal from Afghanistan after two decades, one of the key promises was not to provide safe havens for the terror groups. The growing instability, violence, bombing and attacks taking place across Afghanistan is of great concern to all stakeholders, including Pakistan and the US, in particular. The de facto regime in Kabul is yet to fulfill the initial promise and avoid providing sanctuaries to the terror groups. Meanwhile, the Pakistani Taliban, Tehreeke-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Afghan Taliban’s ideological twin, already broke down the shaky year-long ceasefire and apprehension is growing in Pakistan on whether the promise will hold, and TTP would not receive support from the Afghan Taliban. Click here to read more (external link).
Related
Tolo News in Dari – December 16, 2022
Motorcycle of Taliban’s Provincial Chief Judge in Ghor Stolen While He Was Busy Flogging Thieves
8am: Local sources in Ghor confirmed that the motorbike of the Taliban’s Chief Judge for Ghor province was stolen when he was busy flogging people suspected of robbery. The incident took place on Thursday (December 15th) in Firozkoh, in central Afghanistan, which serves as the capital city of Ghor Province. Sources confirmed to Hasht-e Subh that the thieves stole the motorbike of the Taliban-appointed head of the criminal court in Ghor while he was busy flogging 12 convicts. Click here to read more (external link).
Air Pollution Increasing in Kabul: NEPA
Photo: Akmal Dawi/IRIN
Tolo News: The burning of coal, plastic, and other cheap fuels as well as the exhaust emissions from old vehicles are the main sources of air pollution in Kabul. “To see the level of air pollution we just have one station that is in our department and for this reason we can’t check the level of air pollution all over Kabul,” said Mohammad Basir Amin, head of the Directorate of Regulation and Control of Air and Garbage Pollution. According to international experts, Kabul is among the most polluted cities in the world. Click here to read more (external link).