Al Jazeera: In Afghanistan’s “theme park of challenges”, ethnic politics is becoming a key contested debate, alongside the usual and known issues. The Saturday terrorist attack that targeted predominantly the Hazara community has heightened political tension. From harsh exchanges among growing Afghan social media users to the controversy over how to name universities, the disputed 2014 presidential election
VOA News Lisa Schlein July 25, 2016 GENEVA—A new report finds a record number of civilians in Afghanistan have been killed or maimed in the first half of this year. The report issued by the U.N. Human Rights Office and U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan finds children account for nearly one-third of the more than
Press TV July 24, 2016 Afghanistan is observing a day of national mourning after a Daesh-claimed bomb attack left 80 dead during a demonstration in the capital, Kabul. People held funeral processions on Sunday for those killed at the Deh Mazang Square during a peaceful demonstration by Shia Hazaras against a controversial power line project. The Daesh
Press TV July 23, 2016 Afghanistan’s Interior Ministry says at least 80 people were killed and 231 others wounded in two bomb blasts in the capital Kabul. The blasts were carried out at the Deh Mazang Square, where thousands of Shia Hazara demonstrators had gathered from early morning in protest against a controversial power line project. The Daesh Takfiri terrorists
Al Jazeera: Living primarily in the rugged highlands in the country’s centre, the Hazaras are one of Afghanistan’s largest ethnic minorities, accounting for up to 20 percent of Afghanistan’s 30 million inhabitants. The Hazaras say they are considered outsiders in their own country and have been persecuted throughout history. In the late 1900s, Pashtun King Amir
VOA News Ayaz Gul June 26, 2016 ISLAMABAD—Syria’s main opposition alliance is conveying serious concerns over Iran’s campaign of recruiting and training thousands of Afghan men to fight in Syria. Officials in Afghanistan confirmed Sunday they have received a letter expressing the concerns from the Syrians. The letter urges President Ashraf Ghani to take urgent steps
Press TV June 8, 2016 At least 12 civilians have been killed and 50 others abducted in two separate attacks by unknown militants on passengers traveling in eastern and northern Afghanistan. Jawid Salangi, an official in the eastern Afghan province of Ghazni, said that armed men had stopped two cars, ordered all those on board out
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty June 4, 2016 The Taliban released 17 Shi’ite Hazaras who were hauled out of their bus and kidnapped in northern Afghanistan this week, officials said on June 3. The incident in Sar-e-Pul Province was one of a spate of attacks against civilian vehicles, suggesting the Taliban is taking a more aggressive
SARI PUL, Afghanistan, June 3 (Xinhua) — Some 24 kidnapped passengers had been released in Afghanistan’s northern province of Sari Pul, a local source said Friday. “After the provincial officials were aware of abduction of 24 passengers by the Taliban on Wednesday, efforts were put in place to secure the safe release of the abductees.
Global Voices: The prominence of stereotyping and name-calling on Afghan social media allows an insight into fragile interethnic relations in a country that has experienced more war than peace in recent decades. Click here to read more (external link).