Taliban terrorists are controlled proxies, and strategic asset of ‘Pakistan’: Bushra Gohar

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Taliban militants (file photo)

Aamaj: Ms Gohar asks “how could they (Taliban) pull down the much touted fence without their master’s nod? No media outrage?” She believes that it is an orchestrated move to build national credentials for Taliban. Click here to read more (external link).

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Clashes Among Taliban Members Leave Three Dead and Four Wounded

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8am: Locals in Badakhshan confirmed that there has been an armed clash among Taliban fighters in the Maimay District of Badakhshan province. Two Taliban members and a civilian from Shekay district were killed and, at least, four others were injured in the clashes, sources told Hasht-e Subh on Thursday (January 6th). Click here to read more (external link).

Women Banned From Some Sports Activities

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Tolo News : Tahira Sultani is a coach of Taekwondo and mountaineering sports. She has earned awards at the national level as well as abroad in the past eight years.  “Since the Taliban came to power, I was not allowed to exercise. I referred to many sport clubs for training. But, unfortunately, they said that the women’s section is closed,” she said.  Click here to read more (external link).

Afghan Diplomats Scuffle At Embassy In Rome As Deputy Claims Taliban Appointment

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Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
January 5, 2022

Afghanistan’s embassy in Rome says it was forced to call Italian police for help after a sacked Afghan diplomat attacked the ambassador.

The embassy said in a statement on January 5 that the former diplomat — identified as Mohammad Fahim Kashaf — entered the embassy building a day earlier claiming he had been named ambassador by Taliban militants, who seized power from the government in August.

The statement said Kashaf “attacked the ambassador in the presence of an embassy employee but the ambassador defended himself and called the Italian police.”

Kashaf was escorted by police out of the embassy, it added.

The embassy in Italy, like many of Afghanistan’s other diplomatic missions, remains in limbo with most staff still loyal to the Western-backed government toppled by the Taliban.

According to the statement, Kashaf had lost his job recently due to a “lack of commitment to national values and the values of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.” The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is the internationally recognized name of the country. The Taliban calls the country the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

In Kabul, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the Taliban-led government denied Kashaf’s appointment as ambassador but also said he had not been dismissed.

Abdul Qahar Balkhi said the ministry’s records showed Kashaf was appointed first secretary at the embassy in Rome in December 2020, with a contract valid until December next year.

“But the ministry has also not appointed him as ambassador of the Afghan Embassy in Rome. Kashaf’s contract is valid, and his termination is illegal,” Balkhi said in a statement.

The Taliban-led government, which is not recognized by any country, hasn’t appointed new diplomatic representatives to most Afghan diplomatic missions abroad.

With reporting by AFP and BBC Pashto

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.

For Afghan refugees, traditional rugs offer comfort

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Chicago Sun Times: Rugs are so central to Afghan culture they often are used as currency. So it is a shock when refugees must leave their rugs behind. Having a traditional rug in their new place can help them adjust. Click here to read more (external link).

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John Ondrasik releases graphic video for ‘Blood On My Hands’ featuring footage of Afghanistan under Taliban

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Fox News: Singer-songwriter John Ondrasik released a graphic and chilling video for his song “Blood On My Hands” in which he uses news footage from around the world to criticize the U.S. government for its hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan. Click here to read more (external link).